Holston says driving with young kids doesn't have to be torture
Vacation season is here. Families are grabbing their cameras, packing their bags and piling the kids in the minivan as they head off for summer vacation.
The problem is, hitting the road with kids, especially young ones, can feel like torture. Between the fighting over seat space, whining about boredom and those pesky hourly potty breaks, it can seem like the drive will never end. But Helena resident, Alycia Holston says driving with young kids doesn't have to be painful. The seasoned parent and author of 'While the Giant is Sleeping,' says it just takes some careful planning to make your next driving adventure a pleasant one.
The first thing she says parents need to do , is take a good look at how long they'll be on the road and then schedule their driving times around their kid's sleep schedule.
"My husband and I tag team our trips by driving straight through," she says. "Leaving at 7 a.m. may let you sleep in a little longer, but taking off at 3 a.m. buys more sleep time for the kids and makes breakfast a fun experience in a new town."
And on road trips, food is important - especially snacks. Holston says packing a collapsible cooler full of juice boxes, fruit, yogurt packets, water bottles and string cheese can save tons of time and money. She also recommends bringing along some crackers, pretzels, dry cereal, granola bars and dehydrated fruit.
"Don't forget the plastic grocery bags," Holston says. "They'll help keep trash out of the back seat and make it easier to toss at your next pit stop."
Holston recommends taking full advantage of those highway rest stops, allowing your kids time to blow off some of that pent up energy playing on the playground or racing across grassy fields. Even just taking the dog for a quick potty break and getting their legs moving will help.
Once you're back on the road, games like 'Would you rather…', 'We're going on a Picnic' and '20 questions,' can help alleviate boredom. As can coming up with lists for things like sports teams, Disney movies, states and colors in the Crayon box.
"We skip I-Spy," Holston says. "Traveling at 75 miles per hour tends to add frustration rather than create distraction. We also don't do the quiet game. It always ends up in a screaming match over which one talked first."
Holston says as your kids grow, car trips can turn into geography, history, art or reading lessons.
"The open road can be a wonderful educational tool for your kids," she says. "My oldest is learning to read the maps as we travel and watch the road signs to find the mile marker and then match it on the big atlas."
She says the younger kids are going to want a copy of their own, which is fine, because maps are easily picked up along the interstate at rest stops. And the best part is, they're free. She says it's also an ideal location to pick up the travel brochures to learn more about the state you'll be either driving through, or staying in.
"There's just something about holding those large maps that reach up to the car ceiling and imagining your car on the road weaving across the page," she says. "It's a wonderful way to engage your kid's imagination."
Alycia Holston is the author of, 'While the Giant is Sleeping,' the tale of the Sleeping Giant of Helena, Mont., who slumbers even as the world continues to grow and change around him. Published by CrossRiver Media, While the Giant is Sleeping is available at crossrivermedia.com and amazon.com as well as area bookstores.
For more of Alycia's travel tips, visit her website calmcreations.com or find her on Facebook at facebook.com/whilethegiantissleeping.
For more information on Ms. Holston, or to schedule an interview please contact Tamara Clymer at CrossRiver Media Group at 307.742.3035 or [email protected].
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