I recently returned from a trip to Indianapolis to visit my family and get ready for my sister's wedding later this month. Because my husband's work schedule wouldn't allow him to take off time for two trips to Indiana in one month, I loaded up the van and hit the road with my four kids myself. It took us 12 hours to get there and about 10 1/2 hours to return home 5 days later. Most people think the idea of spending 10+ hours in the car with 4 young children is crazy and that I'm crazy for doing it. I guess I am, but it wasn't really that bad. People ask all the time, "How do you do it?" so I thought I'd tell you. Maybe it'll inspire you to pack up the kids and take a road trip of your own, especially as the weather gets nicer!
Music: This trip we had a varied collection including Veggie Tales, Raffi, Laurie Berkner, Jump 5, VBS Songs, Barlow Girl, Jeremy Camp, and Tree 63. Bring something for everyone and let everyone take turns selecting what you listen to next.
Books on Tape: This trip we listened to Focus on the Family's Radio Theater Broadcast of the Chronicles of Narnia (The Horse and His Boy & Prince Caspian). Other trips we've borrowed CDs from the Library.
Books/Coloring Books: I always bring along a backpack full of books, coloring books, MadLibs, and activity books. Sometimes, I create special books from on-line resources (at Thanksgiving for example). I also include clipboards and blank paper. I usually bring older, paperback books that I'm not attached to as they can sometimes get torn or crumpled.
Car Toys: View Finders, Battery Operated Toy Steering Wheel, Leap Pad products, miniature dolls/figurines/cars...
Snacks: Dry snacks (like pretzels, trailmix, M&Ms, Reesee's Pieces, Skittles) packed in individual zip lock bags, and juice boxes or water bottles with pop-up caps. I'm very strict about when these are distributed. My first rule is, "Don't ask for anything in the first 2 hours of the trip!"
DVDs: We have a portable DVD player with straps that can be attached between the front two seats in our van. We only take the DVD player on LONG (3+ hours)car rides or when we're riding at night for more than a couple of hours. Even when we bring it along, the daytime use is limited and I typically save it for the last couple of hours of the trip after dark. For example, on this past trip, we left the house about 9am and around 1pm they watched a 30 minute video. A few hours later they watched another 30 minute video. Then, I made them wait until dark and until we were 2 hours from my parents' house and then they watched a 110 minute long movie. They were so excited that they didn't even complain much when 1ds8 accidentally pushed a button to switch the language to French and couldn't make it switch back to English. Does that count as foreign language class? teehee On the way home, we didn't use the DVD player at all until it got dark and then watched a few shorter movies.
My philosophy with the DVD player is use it but don't allow it to use you. If you allow the kids to watch a DVD every time you go to the corner store, it won't be as effective and soothing after 10 hours in the van! I encourage the kids to be creative and entertain themselves during the daylight hours, but it is tough once it gets dark and you can't see to read or color or even play I Spy anymore. If we didn't have the DVD player, we would probably listen to more books on tape, but the DVD player has been a wonderful investment for us.
Minimize Stops and Maximize Rest Areas: Because the weather was nicer this trip, I decided to do drive through for lunch and have the kids eat in the van and then stop for bathroom breaks at the rest areas. When I stopped for lunch, I went to the drive-through first, then over to the gas station. While the gas was pumping, I got the kids settled with food and they ate while I continued driving. At rest areas, everyone goes to the bathroom and then the kids run. If they don't run on their own, I design races for them (running around trees, zig-zagging around picnic tables, running up the hill and down). If I think ahead enough, I pack lunch and we eat at the rest area (saving both money and time). Before we get back in the van, we straighten up and throw away trash. Then I get everyone situated with a book or toy and we're off again.
Field Trips: It may sound especially crazy to extend an already very long car trip by adding a "field trip" stop, but sometimes it's worth it. This trip we stopped at Sideling Hill in Maryland. We all enjoyed getting out of the car for about 1/2 hour, and the kids learned about the three main types of rocks. That counts as science right?
Car Games: The Alphabet Game (work together to find all the letters of the alphabet in order on the billboard signs), The License Plate Game (make a list of all of the different states' license plates you can find), I Spy, Car Color Game (everyone is assigned a color and they tally how many cars or trucks they see of that color).
Drive the Speed Limit: It can be a challenge to obey the speed limit on long car trips, but it's a matter of integrity. Plus, the car trip is much less stressful when you're not racing the other cars and not on the look-out for the police. God will bless your obedience and don't forget, your kids are always watching. Set the cruise control and you'll get there when you get there.
We've lived away from my family since we've been married, so my kids are accustomed to these long car rides. In the early years I would do more fun stuff like wrapping presents (new boxes of crayons, fun pads, boxes of animal crackers) that I passed out incrementally throughout the trip. They don't "need" these as much anymore, but those are fun for kids who aren't used to being in the car so much.
Happy Road Tripping!
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