As all parents know, traveling with children on long road trips can be quite the adventure, if not a nightmare. Even as grown adults, we still get that - get me out of this car - feeling after a few hours on the road, but sometimes children feel that way after thirty minutes!
Usually, with luck, the little ones fall asleep after a few minutes giving the parents an hour or two of silent commuting. But what do you do if nap time is over, and there is still another 3-8 hours of drive time? What tricks do you employ to keep your toddlers entertained and happy?
Let me share a few popular ideas that have worked well for me. The first one is a car seat tray. They fit over the child’s car seat to form a desk-like tray for eating on, playing games, coloring, and so forth. There are many brands on the market, some are better then others. Prices range from $18.00 to $30.00. Look for brands that have proven safety testing for car accidents.
Many new automobiles come with built in dvd players found in the roof the the interior or on the back of the driver and passenger seats headrests. If your car doesn’t have this feature, there are many inexpensive dvd players that attached to the head rests of the front seats through velcro straps. Prices range from $20 to $60. Do a consumer watch report for the model you’re considering, to make sure they will endure the frequent kicks, taps, and pushes the kids will do against the screen.
Reading books in the car is still a great entertaining tool for kids. Even though the idea may seem a little old fashioned, kids love using their imagination and listening to their parents voice as they read a fun story. I recommend very short stories for children under 7, but for the older kids, books like Harry Potter are perfect for the road.
Music can assist in getting the kids to fall asleep for a nap. Especially soft sounds that include nature noises in the background. One rule of thumb, if a music tone put you too sleep, it very well could do the same for you kids. The best times in the car seem to be when the kids are asleep. Take advantage of some good soothing music, and let your kids doze off.
If the kids are awake and just aren’t tired, there’s nothing like a fun snack to eat and play with. I’ve found that small animal-shaped crackers and cookies keep the little ones busy for a good ten to thirty minutes, which may be all you need to keep your nerves calm. These snakes work great with a solid car seat tray that keeps the mess contained and off of the floor.
Traveling with kids can be one of the best experiences as parents, it can also be on of the worst if you’re not prepared. It’s amazing how a few little ideas can make the difference.
It is very easy to attach the Taby Tray to the car seat. There is a black strap that slides under the seat, and snaps together on the other side. The straps allows you to tighten the tray in place for a snug fit. This will keep them busy for some time. And if that gets old, just add some new cool stuff to play with.
Will Smith is an avid ecommerce strategist and promotes consumer awareness within the online market place. Increase your awareness of the Taby Tray by visiting http://www.tabytray.com.
