Everyone looks forward to the December school holidays. Kids can’t wait to be done with school and parents swop the desk for the beach or a game park. However, there is one thing parents don’t miss about the holiday ─ the tedious trek with the worst back-seat drivers in the world ─ small humans strapped into car seats with frowns on their faces.
“Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?” One of the rugrats elbows his little brother in the ribs, one’s feeling sick, one’s hungry and another is complaining that it’s too hot or too loud or too shaky …. and you’re not even on the highway yet! This is the worst way to start a ‘relaxing’ holiday. Don’t fret, we’ve rounded up a few tricks to keep the little ones smiling and satisfied.
1. Blankets and Pillows
A pillow for a tiny, tired head and a light blanket is much more comfortable than layers of clothing. Dress them lightly and when the little heads start to nod, simply cover them with a light blanket and stick a pillow under their chins. In this way you don’t have to struggle with jackets and seatbelts.
2. Window shades
Keep the glaring summer sun off their faces. Look for the ones with the fun child-friendly prints. If you don’t make it to the store in time, a towel, blanket or a piece of cloth rolled into the top of the window works just as well.
3. Wetwipes
Alright, if we have to be honest, this one’s more for your own sanity than anything else. Anyone who has ever spent time with little kids will tell you that sticky fingers and dirty faces are the norm rather than the exception. Keep your car, clothes, face and hair clean by keeping them clean.
4. Toys
Let the hip-height members of your family choose their favourite playthings before the journey begins. Stuffed toys, dolls, action figures and a few interactive items should do the trick. And don’t forget colouring books, puzzles, lego, and books.
5. Water
Dehydrated children are cranky and may get headaches or feel nauseous, so don’t forget a big water bottle. Pack a child-friendly water bottle if you value your car’s interior and check that they hydrate themselves often – not too often because then pit stops will need to be frequent.
6. Fun snacks
Snacks for sanity on the road. Pack healthy, colourful, fun snacks and don’t forget a biscuit or two. Nuts, dried fruit, fruit roll-ups, zoo biscuits, popcorn and rice cakes are perfect. Pack the snacks in individual plastic containers and wrap them in fun colours. The little ones will enjoy opening each ‘present’. It will also keep them busy just a little while longer.
7. A colourful, interactive map
A GPS may help the grown-ups, but for the growing pains in the back seat a colourful, interactive map is a great boredom-blaster. Print out a map of the route you’re going to take and mark the landmarks and pit stops along the way. Give your children a few colourful crayons, let them keep track of your progress and draw the things they see at the pit stops.
8. Trays
Remember to take a tray with for each child. This is to give them a surface on which to play. They can draw, build puzzles or Legos and generally just have something to press on for all their activities. This will also prevent them from ‘losing’ items by dropping it onto the car floor.
9. Pit stops
This one is really important. Check the route and Google some fun places to stop along the way. Let them stretch their legs every now and again, reward them with a cold drink for being good so far, and show them something different such as a high bridge with a walkway or a petting zoo. Petting zoos are not always indicated on the internet, but farm stalls will often have animals around and are generally a good bet for a delicious pie.
10. Car games
Curb their boredom by playing car games, and you can even join in the fun! Here are a few of our favourites:
I Spy: Spot something, for example a scarecrow, and say ‘I spy with my little eye, something beginning with the letter S’. Everyone in the car tries to guess what the something you saw was. The one who gets it right wins and they get say I spy …
Car cricket: There are many versions of car cricket, but this is our favourite: Each person gets a turn and the ‘runs’ you collect are based on the colours of the cars passing you by. Complex or luxury colours, such as silver or gunmetal, can count for as much as 5 runs and white counts only 1 run. The rest are all sort of in-between and lorries count for a whopping 10 points. If a bakkie (pick-up truck) comes past, you’re out and it’s the next person’s turn.
Numbers game: This works particularly well for older children or pre-teen math geniuses. The adult in the passenger seat reads the number plate of the car passing by and the children have to add all the numbers. The one who gets it right first, wins. Pack extra treats for the winners.
Do you have fail-safe ways of keeping young ones occupied during car rides? Let us know in the comments section below!
Please remember to be safe on our roads and buckle up!
Featured Image: Jun 21 by Jessica Lucia (Flickr)
