I love road trips. Why?  The sense of freedom they provide, and the ever-changing landscapes are just the start.  The glimpses they offer into the lives of rural folk area are a bonus.  Our kids have traveled thousands of kilometers of Australian and international highways with us.  Of primary importance is their safety of course; however keeping them occupied is also essential for our own sanity.

Keeping kids safe on road trips.

• Before long road trips service your vehicle.  At a minimum check the oil, brake fluid, tyre pressure and windscreen water.
• Ensure that kids are restrained in the appropriate car seat.  Seats must be the right size for the child, correctly installed in the vehicle and properly adjusted and fastened on the child.  Children under 6 months must be restrained in a rearward facing child restraint.  Children over 6 months should be restrained in a rearward facing child restraint as long as possible as this is the safest means of travel.  Children that have outgrown a rearward facing child restraint should be restrained in a forward facing restraint until they are 4 years old (or older if they still fit in a forward facing restraint).  Once a child is 4 they may be use a booster seat and continue to do so until they have outgrown it (Victorian legislation dictates until 7 years of age.)
• Only drive at times you would normally be awake.  Avoid driving at night.
• If traveling in a bushfire region take heed of bushfire warnings.  Similarly do so if traveling in a flood prone region.
• Never drive through flood water
• Carry enough water in your vehicle to keep the entire family hydrated in case of a breakdown.

Keeping kids occupied on road trips. 

A one size fits all approach to keeping kids occupied on road trips doesn’t apply.  Unfortunately some babies don’t like being in the car at all.  Unless you are immune to the tortured screams of your offspring it is best waiting until these babies outgrow their car phobia before undertaking any long road-trips which they usually do by 12 months.  Being realistic about how far you can drive in one day is also important.  Our own kids are 3 and 5 and we would rarely drive longer than 6 hours in a day (ideally not longer than 4).   So flexibility, and a willingness to cut journeys short if need be are essential.   We also time our drives to coincide with naptime, and ensure they have adequate playtime along the way.  Researching attractions and playgrounds along the route helps to keep them happy and gives them something to look forward to when they are restless.

Our own car is a Wiggles free zone, that is we don’t play kids music on road trips (the Wiggles and Co. get plenty of air time in our living room though so don’t feel sorry for them).   We do entertain them with music though and ensure the ipod is stocked with their favourite (Pink and Katy Perry) as well as our favourite tunes.

Ipads have revolutionized our travel as a family and our own kids are only allowed to use them when we are traveling.  By uploading kids games and movies before a road trip we are able to drive further during the day.

Finally, don’t forget to pack healthy snacks with at least one treat to use as a reward for good behavior.

This post is sponsored by John Hughes.  

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