Driving with your kids can be a wonderful adventure or an experience that can drive you crazy, and there’s usually a fine line between the two. Children are unpredictable and a very difficult to please audience, especially when you have a long drive ahead of you or when you’re on a road trip. One minute you’re all having a great time and the next chaos breaks loose. That’s the normal course of events parents expect when they get behind the wheel.
When traveling with children, you usually focus on countless other things apart from driving, and that can be extremely challenging, not to mention dangerous. So what can parents do to make sure everyone is happy and enjoying smooth and safe drives? We have a few useful tips for you that will help you keep your cool and make your next trips safer and a bit more pleasant.
Child car seats are a must
Until children are old enough to use the car’s seat belts, they must travel in car seats and booster. This is not a recommendation, but a rule all parents should know and follow to ensure their kids’ safety. Unfortunately, many people choose to ignore it and that can have disastrous consequences. Since each state has different regulations regarding the use of children car seats, you should learn about the rules that apply in your state. So, if you’re planning on driving to Indiana with your family soon, see here the Indiana car seat laws before you begin your trip. Also make sure to choose a car seat that is the right size for your kid and follow the instructions when using it.
Buckle up
Now that you’re properly equipped, you’re ready to hit the road, but not before you put your seat belts on. That goes for the driver and all the passengers in the car as well. What good would a child car seat do if you forget to buckle up your kid? Check if the seat is properly secured with tethers and latches every time you prepare for a drive and then make sure your kids have their seat belts on. Every person in the car must use a seat belt, regardless of their age or where they sit in the car. This brings us to another important aspect: where kids should sit. Children under the age of 12 should always ride in the back seats of the car.
Choose a reliable car
Driving a sports car might be your dream, but when kids are in the picture priorities change and you have to choose a car that is suitable for your family. That means you have a bit of research to do in order to find the right car. Whether you want to purchase a vehicle from a Lincoln dealership DFW or elsewhere, make sure you do your homework and ask all the right questions before you seal the deal. That includes learning about safety features, reliability, cargo space and every other aspect that is relevant for the safety and comfort of your family.
Avoid distractions
Yes, easier said than done when your kids are in the back seats fighting or when your 4 year old starts screaming for no apparent reason. But if these are situations you can’t really avoid most of the time and you simply have to get used to it, there are other things that can steal away your focus. Shall we call out the main culprit? You’ve probably guessed it already the smartphone. Using a smartphone when driving is one of the biggest mistakes you could make. It’s dangerous enough when you’re driving alone, but when you also have kids with you, the risks are even greater. So put the phone away until you’ve stopped and keep your eyes on the road.
Mind your luggage
It’s safe to assume that when you’re going on a road trip with your kids, you’ll have a lot of luggage with you. It’s also safe to assume that not all of the luggage will fit in the trunk of your car. So you might be tempted to pile as many things as possible inside the car, especially behind the back seats. We strongly advise you not to do that. If you brake hard or you get into an accident all these objects can fly and hit your children and other passengers in the car. Try to travel light and avoid crowding the vehicle with all sorts of items. If you do need to bring certain objects inside the car, it would be better to place them on the floor.
Keep kids entertained
We all know that kids can get bored easily, especially if they have to stay in the same place for too long, with nothing to do. Looking out the window and admiring the scenery can only entertain them for so long and then they’ll start complaining or misbehaving. That’s why you must find other entertainment options to keep kids busy during long drives. Try playing fun family games such as I spy so that everyone can participate. But if you find that’s too distracting for you, a selection of in-car movies and music can be fun as well. Also, you can prepare activity bags for your little passengers and include all sorts of items they enjoy, from books and coloring books to board games and healthy snacks.
Take breaks
No matter how entertaining your road trip might be, you can’t expect your kids to stand perfectly still for hours on end. Children have lots of energy and they need to move their bodies to consume it, which is something that can’t be done in a car. The smartest thing to do is to take frequent breaks and allow your kids to be active during your short stops. Physical activity will help them burn off excess energy and if you take frequent breaks, chances are your kids will tire themselves out running around so that when they get back in the car the only thing they’ll want to do is take a restful nap.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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