Holiday Travel Ideas to Make that Drive Seem Shorter

 

When our children were younger we would always be a little nervous before a long road trip. Who would say they were bored first? Who would poke someone else in the eye? And worst, who was going to throw up after being in the car for five minutes?

Some simple precautions helped give us a little peace of mind. First, each kid had their own Ziploc bag for car sickness emergencies. That's saved us a few times. (That, plus a little Dramamine.) Keeping the kids busy was a little more difficult. 

So, we thought we'd share a few holiday travel ideas that have helped us and our children have a more pleasant road trip experience. As for how to get along with your family once you arrive at your destination, well, you're on your own there.

1. Music and Audio Books

So this was hit or miss with us. One of our kids loves music and singing along. One of the others is okay with music, but goes ballistic when his sister sings in the car for too long. Music is still a sore point now that our kids are teenagers, but headphones help. The same goes for audio books. Sometimes they are in the mood, and sometimes they aren't. It's usually worth a try.

Some of our favorite audio books are Harry Potter, The Terrible Two, and The Worst/Best Christmas Pageant Ever.

2. Bribery Bags

Yes, you heard us right, bribery. Before our trip we would prepare small paper bags for each child to open every hour of the trip. In each bag we would put something small and new to (hopefully) keep them occupied and happy for a while. 

Some of the things we've included in the bags were suckers or other candy, a snack, a small toy, a game, coloring, or tiny toy sets. The dollar store is a great place to find items for your bags.

3. Family Games

First of all, Beaver. This is a game passed down from the grandparents. Whenever you see a yellow, diamond-shaped sign, you yell, "Beaver!" That's it. It's simple and noisy, but the kids enjoy it. 

Other noticing games for readers are the license plate game and the alphabet game. Eye-spy is a staple. For fewer arguments, set the rules beforehand. 

The singing game. To play this, family members take turns picking a word and then each take a turn singing a line from a song with the word in it. Whoever can't think of a new song on their turn is out. The last person out is the winner and gets to choose a new word.

4. The Last Resort

You've probably already thought of this one, but screen time is a good way to get some peace and quiet if you need it. We tried not to have our kids on devices too much, but sometimes everyone needs a break. Remember those charging cords!

Have any good car trip ideas to share? Comment below and let us know!