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Road Tripping with Toddlers

By Kids R Kids, Sponsored Content June 16, 2016
What do your summer activities involve? Perhaps this is your first summer where you will be taking a road trip with a toddler in tow. Traveling with children certainly changes the experience, but with a little advanced planning you can avoid some of the more predictable difficulties in traveling with young children.

1. Pack for the journey, not just the destination! – Packing suitcases and toiletry bags for what you will need when you arrive at your destination is a normal part of packing. But, when you have a child who will be in the car for several hours, you’ll need to pack an entirely separate set of items to help keep them busy during the trip. Here are some good staple items: a change of clothes, favorite portable snacks (Cheerios, string cheese, etc.), sunscreen and bug spray (for the sunny pit-stops along the way), favorite stuffed animal/blanket (for napping), and any toys or videos that will keep your child occupied.

2. Plan around your child’s sleeping routine – One idea to get your child to sleep for a large portion of the trip is to allow your child to eat lunch in the car (if they are old enough). This could also help build excitement for the trip if eating in the car is usually a no-no. After your child eats it’s likely he/she will fall asleep and take a nice afternoon nap. Whenever your child is sleeping, try not to stop the car for any reason if possible because that’s sure to wake them!

3. Pit-stop with open spaces in mind – Instead of trying to wrangle an energetic toddler in a restaurant, either pick up something through the drive-thru or pack a lunch and make a stop at a rest stop or nearby park. Your child will love having so much space to run around in after being in the car for a few hours. It’s also a nice break for you to stretch your legs and enjoy some sunshine. If the weather doesn’t permit a picnic, find a local mall that may have an indoor play area for your child. When traveling with children, pit-stops are not just about refueling and using the restroom, they are strategic and critical parts of the trip to keep your child (and all other passengers) sane for the duration of your road trip.

Whatever your plans are this summer, if you know you’ll be in the car with a toddler for a while, taking these steps to make it a positive experience for your child will make the entire trip more fun! At Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of North Peachtree City, we are all about summer fun! Check out our Summer Olympics Summer Camp and enroll your child for an unforgettable experience that will take them around the globe as we explore the cultures and customs of nations participating in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio!