Tips to Keep Your Kids Happy on a Road Trip

There are many ways to keep your kids entertained on a long car ride. There's always the option to install a built-in headrest entertainment system. However, you don't need to go to all that trouble for kids to enjoy a movie in the back seat.

Kids' tablets provide great opportunities to play games and watch shows. There are also various video games that come in a portable, handheld device. Smartphones can be used to read or listen to audiobooks. Just be sure to download e-books ahead of time if you might lose cell service during your drive. Additionally, portable DVD players are perfect for road trips and camping trips in which you won't have Wi-Fi or cell service. Whatever you choose, be sure to pack several pairs of kids' headphones so that not everyone needs to listen to the same thing.

If you want to give your kids a break from screens, bring small trivia games or card games. You can also find portable magnetic sets of classics like chess and checkers that are car friendly. Of course, you should never underestimate the appeal of games like I Spy, 20 Questions and other engaging activities that don’t require pieces at all.

The most important step for a successful road trip is to provide comfort for the miles ahead. Make sure personal luggage is stowed in convenient locations where it can be easily reached while not cramping personal space. Everyone needs the ability to stretch out.

When it comes to seating, be sure to keep sibling rivalries in mind. See if you can build a little space between kids who get in frequent spats. Think about including accessories like travel pillows so people can nap without leaning on each other. Furthermore, consider which side of the car will get the most sun, depending on direction and time of day. Sunshades for car windows are a great way to protect your kids from glare, heat, and UV rays.

If your child tends to get carsick, consider buying chewable motion-sickness relief tablets for kids. These are especially important if you will be traveling on winding, mountainous roads. Keep in mind that many of these tablets need to be taken before symptoms occur.

Kids need to stretch their legs, get out of the car, and run off energy from time to time. If you have a long journey, plan stops at interesting places along the way. These could be places like children’s museums, water parks, unique roadside attractions, short hiking trails, picnic grounds, or simply parks. Bonus points if these locations have access to public restrooms.

While it might be tempting to just keep driving so that you get to your destination as quickly as possible, making little stops along the way can make the whole experience much more enjoyable (and you might discover hidden gems you would never have found otherwise). If you stop at a park or picnic area, you can always bring along a portable lawn game, like bocce ball, to give everyone something fun to do together.

Snacks are an essential part of any road trip. Whether you’re on a short jaunt or traveling across the country, it's necessary to keep things to eat and drink readily available.

A few things to remember when packing snacks:

• Stick with foods that don't make a mess. Some great snack options are string cheese, berries, hard-boiled eggs, carrots, squeezy apple sauces, nuts, trail mix, and dried fruit.
• Pack food in reusable food storage containers.
• Include plenty of water by having a water bottle for each person.
• Prioritize proteins and complex carbs while keeping simple sugars to a minimum. You don’t want everyone bouncing off the walls of the car.
• For keeping things cold, it’s nice to have a travel cooler in the car.

Hopefully, with these items and considerations in place, your trip will be more fun and enjoyable for all involved.