Roadtrip Survival Guide

Family road trips offer opportunities for parents and kids to spend uninterrupted time together, making memories that will last a lifetime. That's the plus side. The other side of the coin is that your entire family will be together, every single moment, for extended periods of time, which can get a bit unnerving. Proper planning is essential if you hope to look back on your road trip with fondness.
Getting Ready to Go
Before loading up the family and heading down the road, be sure that your vehicle is in sound condition. Schedule an oil change and have the car looked over to be sure that the brakes and tires are in good shape, all exterior lights are functioning, and all systems are working properly. Not only is this important to ensure the safety of your family, it may just save you from spending an entire day (or longer) with a broken-down car and a very grouchy family.When packing your bags, allow each child to bring a favorite toy or two. If your kids have a security blanket or other comfort object, be absolutely certain that it comes along for the trip. You will surely regret leaving "Bumpy the dinosaur" back at home once you are well down the road and your child begins whining that she wants to go home because Bumpy will be lonely all by himself. Check and double check that you have all of the essentials before leaving. You can always pick up new toothbrushes if you forget to pack them, but Bumpy is irreplaceable.
Keep them Busy
Bored kids will soon turn into grumpy kids, especially when they are confined in the car. Try to head off the boredom by packing a variety of travel-sized games, books, magazines, books on tape, hand held video games, headsets and some favorite CDs. Additionally, keep everyone entertained by playing some traditional road trip games. Here are a few ideas:- Begin a story and then ask other members to take turns adding a line or two to complete the tale. Whenever it is your turn, try to give the story a silly twist to keep everyone giggling and in good spirits.
- License plates can offer simple entertainment. Take turns making up silly nicknames for the other cars based on the letters on the license plates.
- Sing-alongs can be fun, choose familiar tunes and ask everyone to join in.