6 Tips to Survive Road Trips

At Electrodry, we’re big on helping you keep your home clean and organised. But keeping life organised when you’re on the road is important, too.

Here is how to keep your sanity and survive your family road trip this festive season.

How to Plan the Perfect Road Trip

“A road trip is a way for the whole family to spend time together and annoy each other in interesting new places.” - Tom Lichtenhand (children’s author).

I remember every year on December 27, jumping into the Tarago with my own family to set off on our trip up north. My siblings and I would bicker and sing and laugh and eat for 7 hours and once we got to the caravan park, leave our poor parents to set up the tent by themselves.

Thanks to technology, modern cars and better roads, however, the family road trip is a lot smoother than it used to be. Here are our top traveling tips.

1. Have a Game Plan

Post-Christmas holiday traffic is almost impossible to avoid but heading off early is one way to beat the crowd.

Plan your stops before you leave as well. There’s nothing worse than hunting for somewhere to stop with cranky children (or kids needing a bathroom) in the back seat!

Have a long drive? Pick out a couple of small towns along the way that you haven’t been to before for your stops. My family has uncovered great spots this way, even revisiting them for a proper holiday later on.

It’s recommended that you stop every 2 hours for at least 15 minutes; enough time for a bathroom break and stretch of the legs.

2. Relive The Good Old Days

Play some of the classic car games like I Spy, Spotto, Going on A Picnic, or check out these other great games for a little inspiration.

You can also keep everyone entertained with a classic Dad joke or two – they’ll scoff but you’ll get a laugh or two. Here’s a few of our favourites.

• Why is Peter Pan always flying? Because he Neverlands.
• How do celebrities stay cool? They have many fans.
• Why were the utensils stuck together? They were spooning.

On a roll? There are many more here for you to enjoy.

3. Stock Up On Tasty Snacks

You’re unlikely to get an hour into your trip before someone announces they’re hungry. Take a variety of snacks, such as muesli bars, fruit and nuts. Avoid snacks high in sugar for obvious reasons.

This will keep the kids satisfied but will save you from spending a lot on petrol station treats.

Bring an empty garbage bag along to keep the car clean once the kids finish feasting. Remember water bottles as well, to keep everyone hydrated and happy.

4. Entertainment Is Everything

Prepare a backpack for each child - include colouring books, writing pads, and a range of games (check out your local dollar store for cheap options).

Make yourself a backpack too, but with practical items like toilet paper rolls, tissues, kids Panadol, wipes, a first aid kit, hand sanitiser, extra blankets, and travel pillows.

If you have a long car trip, don’t underestimate the power of bringing along the iPad for a little Mum and Dad downtime (don’t forget headphones!).

Consider podcasts, too. They’re a fantastic way to keep kids entertained and screen-free. These are a few of our picks for children.

• But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids (all ages). ‘Why?’ is undoubtedly a child’s favourite question. This podcast answers some of your child’s most seemingly simple questions in an easy-to-understand and interesting way.
• Ear Snacks (younger children). A catchy soundtrack and discussion of topics the kids are into make this podcast a winner.
• The Past & The Curious (all ages). This fun podcast tells stories about history in an interesting yet humorous way. It includes a quiz section at the end, too as an added bonus.

Remember to make sure there is plenty of great music picked for the drive – a good old-fashioned sing-along brightens up a long journey.

5. Reconnect With Each Other

Quality family time is rare. Make the most of these hours together by actively listening to the kids’ stories because let’s face it, we’re all guilty of multitasking while our children are telling their often very long-winded stories.

Here's another idea. It sounds like a strange activity to do with your own children but write down a few questions as conversation starters.

Questions like:

• Would you rather be Superman or Batman? Why?
• What’s the funniest dream you’ve had recently?
• If you could change your name, what would you be called?

Here are some more to get you inspired!

Don’t forget to ask deeper questions as well. After such a long testing year, a couple of hours together in a calm environment is the ideal place to check in on how the kids are going.

6. Car Care

Breaking down on the side of the road with a car full of luggage and kids is the stuff of nightmares.

Here is what to check before you get on the road.

• Have Roadside Assistance – you’ll be glad you’ve got it if you ever get stuck.
• Check tyres have enough air in them (including the spare tyre). Ensure you have the tools you need to change a tyre while you’re checking the spare.
• Check oil and coolant levels.
• Test car lights and indicators, especially if you’re towing a trailer or caravan.
• Check windscreen wipers.

And there you have it. The kids will be so entertained and content, chances are you may not hear that dreaded phrase ‘Are We There Yet?’ at all … we don’t think.