We just completed a 12 hour drive from California to Arizona, twice, with a two year old. We survived, but we were all ready to scream by the end of each trip. What did we learn?
1. Take breaks
Road trips take longer with little ones. Just accept that. Their bladders are smaller and self control is not as strong as adults. So plan in rest stops. This time, we used rest stops and McDonalds play lands for stretch breaks. When our son gets older, we may plan the stops to coincide with the giant mechanical dinosaur or other exciting roadside attractions.
2. Lots of healthy snacks
We brought a collapsible cooler with fruit, cheese sticks, pb&j sandwiches, crackers and granola bars. We had enough snacks that we could time lunch for when it was convenient, rather than being starving.
Plus snacks are a good distraction.
3. Bring something new
Lots of excitement can be built up by knowing something new will be unwrapped for the trip. In our case, it was a reusable sticker set by Melissa &Doug. A travel game or cd could also do the trick.
4. Pay Attention
This applies to the passenger as well as the driver. The passenger's job is to entertain the kids, so the driver can focus on driving. As the journey drags on, this gets harder for everyone, but it is imperative for safety.
When I was driving, I was tempted to sing and play along, but when driving in LA traffic, that is not always prudent.
5. Stay positive
Kids pickup on your energy and attitude, so try to keep the attention on fun and adventure. If something unexpected happens, take a deep breath and reassure them.
I am sure this is not our last road trip, so there will more time to refine this tips in the future.
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