Navigating a long roadtrip by Joelle

By Joelle · 11 items added

Family time - it's precious. Family time in the car - it's torture. Except when it's not. Our family chooses to drive 18 hours, each way, every winter holiday to get to our favorite ski mountain. We drive with 2-3 adults (if the au pair comes) and 3 children from pre-K to 5th grade. Two boys and a girl. And it's become terrific family time that forces us to slow down, connect and be together. Don't worry - the list includes digital dope.

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Set expectations before the trip

Joelle says: "We have a one-hour digital free period after every stop AND an automatic digital off if there is bickering."

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Set expectations before the trip We have a one-hour digital free period after every stop AND an automatic digital off if there is bickering.
Don't overstuff the car - get a roof box

Joelle says: "Long drives need everyone comfortable. The car is for food, water, activities, blankets, neck pillows and layers of clothing. Everything else. Outside!"

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- Jennifer Michaels: This is great. We definitely need the Thule on a long road trip. However, we found out last month that they are not fool proof. As I was driving Amanda to college in Colorado by myself with the twins the lid of the roof box blew off during a short storm. We lucked out. Not only were the four duffle bags still on the bottom half of the box which was still attached to the car but her clothes remained dry in a heavy downpour. Also, Thule replaced the seven year old box with the original receipt from REI and
- Joelle: Jen - we lost the top of a Yakima box. REI was great. We sent a child's ski flying on the 101. Lucky no one was hurt. It's really important not to overstuff and to make sure the hinge and latch work easily.
Don't overstuff the car - get a roof box Long drives need everyone comfortable. The car is for food, water, activities, blankets, neck pillows and layers of clothing. Everything else. Outside!
Knack Healthy Snacks for Kids: Recipes for Nutritious Bites at Home or On the Go (Knack: Make It easy)...
http://www.amazon.com/Knack-Healthy-Snacks-Kids-Nutritious/dp/B0058M96O6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1315888170&sr=1-1

Children will snack, and fortunately health experts now tell us that snacking is in many ways an ideal way for humans to eat. But it’s not easy to keep track of what children are eating. A plan to make healthy snacking part of a family’s...

Joelle says: "Pack food in the car that isn't pure junk. Protein and healthy fats will keep them satiated. And that reduces whining. "

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Knack Healthy Snacks for Kids: Recipes for Nutritious Bites at Home or On the Go (Knack: Make It easy)... Pack food in the car that isn't pure junk. Protein and healthy fats will keep them satiated. And that reduces whining. Children will snack, and fortunately health experts now tell us that snacking is in many ways an ideal way for humans to eat. But it’s not easy to keep track of what children are eating. A plan to make healthy snacking part of a family’s...
Lots of water bottles - one per passenger plus a refill bottle

Joelle says: "There is no other drink (other than coffee for the driver) needed in the car. Other drinks stick, stink or stain when they spill. But water is magical. Good for them. Color code the bottles to minimize "that's mine"."

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Lots of water bottles - one per passenger plus a refill bottle There is no other drink (other than coffee for the driver) needed in the car. Other drinks stick, stink or stain when they spill. But water is magical. Good for them. Color code the bottles to minimize "that's mine".
Individual neck pillows

Joelle says: "Everyone is expected to sleep for part of this trip - and everyone should be comfortable. Neck pillows are fun to play with AND they keep children from resting their heads on one another. Again - no reason to argue."

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- Rebecca: Neck pillows are also crucial for safety because they can keep older kids in their boosters, which is a monumentally safer way to ride.
Individual neck pillows Everyone is expected to sleep for part of this trip - and everyone should be comfortable. Neck pillows are fun to play with AND they keep children from resting their heads on one another. Again - no reason to argue.
Personal blanket makes climate control a breeze

Joelle says: "Fellow practical parent of four Jen mentions that lots of fleece blankets make everyone cozy and prevent arguments over climate control. Color coding keeps the bickering to a minimum."

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- Erin: Great idea. Plus maybe a bag for them for when you get to your destination so they don't get trampled during your stay.
Personal blanket makes climate control a breeze Fellow practical parent of four Jen mentions that lots of fleece blankets make everyone cozy and prevent arguments over climate control. Color coding keeps the bickering to a minimum.
Find a few camp songs you remember and teach them to your kids.
http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/classic-camp-songs.page-1.html

Joelle says: "They will be enjoy singing and making up lyrics to fun songs. And if they cannot carry a tune, this doesn't have to be hours and hours of song."

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Find a few camp songs you remember and teach them to your kids. They will be enjoy singing and making up lyrics to fun songs. And if they cannot carry a tune, this doesn't have to be hours and hours of song.
Select an audiobook that generally interests everyone

Joelle says: "We listened to a Harry Potter book on one drive. This year, we're thinking Mark Twain or Rudyard Kipling. Classics work well for this part of the drive. During the digital free hours, we can listen to the book and then talk about it over meals. "

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- Eden Godsoe: Thanks for the audiobook recommendations. I tried audiobooks myself for my former long commute but never w/ the kids.
- Erin: We have loved audiobooks for years. Great practice for them to imagine things in their head vs. having a movie playing.
Select an audiobook that generally interests everyone We listened to a Harry Potter book on one drive. This year, we're thinking Mark Twain or Rudyard Kipling. Classics work well for this part of the drive. During the digital free hours, we can listen to the book and then talk about it over meals.
Great Kid Books
http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com/

Great blog for kids books and audiobooks. Find something for the whole family here.

Erin suggested: "A friend writes this blog and we have gotten nearly all of our ideas for car-trip audio books from her blog. Everything from kids version of The Odyssey by Mary Pope Osborne to Harry Potter to A to Z Mysteries and more."

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Great Kid Books A friend writes this blog and we have gotten nearly all of our ideas for car-trip audio books from her blog. Everything from kids version of The Odyssey by Mary Pope Osborne to Harry Potter to A to Z Mysteries and more. Great blog for kids books and audiobooks. Find something for the whole family here.
Nighttime is sleeptime

Joelle says: "After the dinner stop, there is no digital activity. It's dark, the car is quiet, and everyone other than the driver and navigator are expected to sleep. For us, this is when it generally snows and makes us very nervous."

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Nighttime is sleeptime After the dinner stop, there is no digital activity. It's dark, the car is quiet, and everyone other than the driver and navigator are expected to sleep. For us, this is when it generally snows and makes us very nervous.
Give in to digital dope
http://www.practical-parent.com/home/2010/1/4/digital-dope.html

Joelle says: "The only time my children have almost unlimited screen time is on the roadtrip. Makes them very excited for the trip. After the hour digital free, we're all ready for some distraction. We control the power cord. They play the games."

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- Eden Godsoe: Agreed that digital dope is a necessary evil for long road trips. I do love your idea of the digital free hour.
Give in to digital dope The only time my children have almost unlimited screen time is on the roadtrip. Makes them very excited for the trip. After the hour digital free, we're all ready for some distraction. We control the power cord. They play the games.