Are We There Yet?
There is no fool-proof way to ensure that family car trips always run smoothly. But there are ways to help yourself avoid the usual yells of 'Are we there yet?' before you've even turned out of the drive, temper-tantruming kids and the emergency loo stops on the hard shoulder.Preparation is key, from strategically planned loo breaks to deliberately packing engaging and fun toys. The difference between a stressful trip and a fun family experience really can be as simple as making the correct pre-trip choices.
Leading child developmental psychologist, Dr Janine Spencer suggests that parents find activities to keep little brains engaged, and to distract the kids from fidgeting too much.
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"All parents will know how difficult it is to hold a child 's attention for any period of time, let alone when travelling in the car. So why not take advantage of this down-time and plan a selection of activities that get the children flexing their brains and combining learning with games. Focus on products and activities that are fun, but will engage your children.
Dr Janine 's tips for stress-free car travel:
 Invest in or swap with a friend some new toys and books for the journey.
Have a variety of fun activities planned, for example sing-along tapes and CDs can make the miles fly by, or even a simple game of I Spy can be a welcome distraction.
Let the kids get artistic and supply pads and crayons. Encourage them to draw pictures of what they hope to do this summer, the surrounding scenery, etc. Stick to crayons to avoid any accidents with ink and make sure you pack plenty to avoid panic when one rolls under the seat mid-journey!
If you can keep your brood entertained, and the atmosphere 'chilled' in the car everyone will be much happier! Keep the inside of the car in a controlled state of calm and then 'backseat stress ' won't rear it 's ugly head when the holiday traffic jams begin:
"In-car tensions often arise though poor planning and preparation" said Adam Cracknell RAC spokesperson. "So make sure Mum and Dad stay happy too by planning the route before leaving the house and ensuring the car is ready for a long family journey."
The RAC 's Top Holiday Congestion Points To Avoid:
1) M25 between J10 and J19 (Western section)
2) M4 between J4 and J12 (Heathrow to Reading)
3) M25 between J21 and J27 (St Albans to M11)
4) M6 between J16 and J22 (Crewe to Warrington)
5) M1 between J6A and J12 (Watford to Toddington)
LeapFrog Toys are worth taking a look at for their range of toys to keep children's minds and fingers busy!
September 2006 |
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