Part of the fun of a family road trip is supposed to be about traveling to your destination. But if you picture endless whining, constant ‘Are we there yet?’ chants, or breaking up fights in the backseat, you might wonder how much fun a family road trip can be. Don’t let your negative thoughts win! Survive your next family road trip with these helpful tips from caregivers at your favorite preschool in Silver Spring, MD.
Even though you want to hurry up and get there so you can start your vacation, traveling with kids requires frequent stops. Make sure to take a break every couple of hours or so. Frequent stops are necessary for bathroom breaks and to let kids stretch their legs and burn off excess energy.
If your kids can’t handle driving to preschool in Silver Spring without screaming, this may not be the best summer for that cross-country road trip. Start small and build up over time. Figure out what time of day is best for driving–early morning, overnight, or in the afternoon? By knowing your limits–how many hours you can reasonably drive each day without a total meltdown–you can plan a more enjoyable road trip!
To keep your family road trip as stress-free as possible, you shouldn’t drive more than eight hours a day. One day of travel is about 500 miles. Fair warning though, this recommendation doesn’t account for any stops you might make along the way or any traffic you might hit.
Before you leave on your trip, map out your planned route and find some nice places to stop along the way. Your smartphone maps app is a great tool to use when you have service, but you also want to bring along a printed map. When traveling with kids, you never know when you might have to stop in the middle of nowhere.
Another idea is to travel overnight, letting the kids sleep during the drive. Just keep in mind that car sleep usually isn’t as deep or restful, so just a heads up, kids might do great during the trip but could be a bit cranky the next day. If you go this route, you won’t get much sleep either!
Hand each of your kids a small backpack and tell them to fill it up with some of their favorite things. Putting your kids in charge gives them some control over what they bring along for the trip, and it gives you one less thing to do!
If you’ve got little ones, you can help them pick out what to throw in the bag or limit how much they can grab. A road trip is not the best time to pack noise makers or a whole bunch of Hot Wheels cars!
Lots of parents love books, audiobooks, and educational apps on road trips. While those are great ideas, don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
Kids can stay entertained for hours by wrapping toys with pipe cleaners or making cool sculptures with aluminum foil. A dry-erase board and some dry-erase markers eliminate the need for paper and can be the hub for all sorts of fun activities.
Some of the best caregivers at a Silver Spring preschool recommend setting limits on screen time in the car. Staring at a screen for an extended period in a moving car can lead to headaches or make you feel queasy, and it can make you a bit grumpy when you have to stop using it.
The most challenging part of the road trip is keeping the car clean. Wrappers pile up, crumbs scatter everywhere, and unfinished snacks end up in every corner of the car. Asking your kids to take all their trash out with them at every stop never works out well! Instead of constantly reminding your kids, create a makeshift trash can with a plastic cereal container and a small garbage bag.
Line the cereal container with the plastic bag and put the lid back on. Pop open the lid to throw something away, then close it back up to prevent it from spilling. The small container is easy to pass around where needed and won’t take up a lot of space. When it’s full, you can easily empty it at your next stop!
No matter where you are, your kids are going to ask for snacks. This snack trick solves that problem; you just need one thing besides your snacks. Keeping some healthy snacks around is a solid way to steer clear of junk from gas stations. With a “snack box,” you can pack specific snacks for each kid—trail mix, popcorn, some candy, whatever you like!
Even if your kids bring things to do, long road trips can get boring. When boredom sets in, meltdowns happen. A distraction is one of the best ways to prevent a meltdown. To distract your kids, give them something fun to get excited about, such as a new coloring book or a favorite treat.
Instead of stopping at rest stops for picnics or bathroom breaks, get out of the car and do 10 to 15 minutes of exercises with the kids. This could include jumping jacks, lunges, and making up obstacle courses on the spot. Since there’s usually a lot of room, it’s a great way to move around.
As you start your family road trip, keep in mind that a good trip is not just measured by the number of miles traveled, but also by the memories and laughter shared along the way. There will be surprises, problems, and fun times when you travel as a family. When you embrace it all your family road trip will be an unforgettable adventure that brings you closer together and gives you a lot of stories to tell.
MCCA has been recognized by the Maryland State Legislature for its commitment to Montgomery County issued a quality programs and special needs child care Proclamation in 2016 to MCCA for its commitment to Montgomery County child care for more than 50 years. MCCA was also selected as a 2018 nonprofit finalist for a MOXIE Award for boldness and innovation
MCCA is the oldest nonprofit licensed child care provider in Montgomery County and started its work in 1968 as a Community Action Project of the War on Poverty. Recognizing the need for quality child care programs in their neighborhoods, a group of local activists formed an association to establish centers in Montgomery County that would serve a diverse population and establish high standards for child care. Now, more than 50 years later, MCCA’s dedicated and expertly trained staff continue their tradition of providing high quality child care and play-based education for children.
Families with school aged children who can afford their child care expenses during the school year often struggle to afford the all-day programs they need when school is out for the summer. The Richard Krampf Summer Adventures Scholarship Fund was established to help provide children a safe and stimulating place to spend their weeks when school is out. Please contact an MCCA Director for details on how to apply.
