5 Parenting Essentials to Remember When Taking a Road Trip

For many people, the simple thought of taking a long road trip with their children is enough to induce nightmares. Most road trips with kids are difficult solely due to lack of planning or because of expectations that are set too high. Children and adults have different responses to being out on the road. Adults may find the open road an escape from the office or other daily tasks. Kids, on the other hand, may feel like they are trapped in a tin can with nowhere to go and nothing to do. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to make any family road trip a delight. Enough preparation and our list of essentials will go a long way towards making your family road trip a success.

#1 Children’s Activities

To avoid boredom and fights, make sure to bring along plenty of activities for your kids. For smaller children can be toys, coloring books, travel games or even an e-reader. For older kids consider bringing along car or road related interactive games, audiobooks, paper books, and other items to hold their interest. You can even give each child a small backpack to fill with items of their choice to keep them company on the road. Make sure they only pack things they will uses as opposed to items they simply are used to having around. If you don’t want to risk losing any of their favorite toys, make a run to Target or the dollar store ahead of your trip. Depending on how far you will be driving or how many days you plan to stay on the road, it may be a good idea to also pack some outdoor toys they can play with during your rest stops. Nothing burns off energy like kicking a ball around for a half-hour after eating lunch.

#2 Sleeping Essentials

For long road trips that extend over several days, you should always pack essential sleeping items. Space is limited in an RV or camper, but that doesn’t mean that you can be comfortable. Pick up some high-quality inflatable pillows and mattresses. This will ensure that each person has a soft place to sleep at night while also conserving space in the daytime. Getting a full night’s rest is important for adults who will be driving, so make sure to pack accordingly. Items such as chamomile tea, warm compress pads for sore muscles, and CBD oils, capsules or soft gels to relax the body and melt away stress. A white noise maker or a CD of soothing sounds is also a great way to ensure that everyone gets the rest they require before getting back on the road.

#3 Food, Food, and More Food

You might be surprised a just how hungry kids can get sitting down doing nothing. The most common question during a road trip is “are we there yet” which is often followed by “I’m hungry.” If you are traveling in a car, pack a cooler with premade food such as sandwiches, cut fruit, and other healthy snacks. For those traveling in an RV or camper, you can store some pre-made items in your fridge as well as fixings for any variety of quick meals. This will cut down on the number of times you will have to stop at the gas station or a fast-food joint for food. One way to get your family involved is to have each person prepare a snack for the road before you depart. This will ensure that each person has at least one of their favorite snacks while also reducing the overall amount of work you have to do to keep everyone happy.

#4 General Supplies/Travel Aid Kit

When you travel with kids, you need to prepare for a broad variety of accidents and eventualities. A good first-aid kit for any road trip should contain;
• First aid manual
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Thermometer. Digital electronic thermometers are battery-operated and last for years.
• Soap to gently clean cuts and scrapes. Antiseptic solutions such as iodine or Mercurochrome.
• Premoistened wipes
• Scissors and safety pins
• Tweezers, to remove splinters, ticks, or stingers
• Cotton balls and cotton swabs
• Sterile gauze, adhesive tape, and adhesive bandages in several sizes
• Soft roller bandage to hold smaller bandages in place.
• Artificial tears (lubricant eye drops) to flush things out of the eyes.
• Cold packs.
• Disposable gloves
• An accurate measuring device for liquid medications. Here are tips on how to give medicine to children.
• An antibiotic cream for minor cuts and scrapes.
• Calamine lotion for itchy rashes or bites
• Common medications such as Motrin, Aspirin, motion sickness, anti-diarrhea, and your children’s regular medications.

#5 Maps, Directions & Navigation Gear

When you hit the road, chances are you are heading out on an adventure to a new location. The last thing you want to do is get lost on your way there. Make sure to pack maps for the area you are traveling as well as printed out directions from your home all the way to your final destination. If you have a GPS in your car, use it as much as possible but don’t rely on it completely. Cell service can drop at any time and sometimes roads can change or be missing from online maps. Having a hard copy and a map to get you where you need to go is the perfect backup plan for a seasoned road warrior.

The Bottom Line

Hitting the road with your family in a fully stocked RV is a tremendous way to bond and see the country at the same time. There is no reason that your trip has to feel like a journey down the rabbit hole so long as you prepare in advance for most contingencies. We hope that when you hit the road this season for your family trip that you are met will no traffic, angelic passengers, and clear skies.

- Written By Mollie Wilson