What to do when a mom travels with a crying child? What should parents prepare first when traveling with kids? Traveling with children on a nice day can be a wonderful experience. To ensure a safe, happy, and worry-free trip, what can we prepare for our kids?
Traveling with kids is indeed more convenient with a car, and it has become the top choice for short trips. However, the car can get stuffy, the space is limited, and children can easily feel uncomfortable or bored. As a result, they may turn into little troublemakers—crying, banging, jumping around, touching car features, and other behaviors that distract the driver.
Let’s take a look at what parents need to pay attention to.
1. Car Seat
A car seat is an essential item for traveling with children. Install a car seat on the back seat behind the driver’s seat, and use the child lock on the door where the child is seated. This way, you don’t have to worry about the child suddenly opening the door or other unexpected situations.
Some car seats may be too thick, making the child feel hot or uncomfortable while sitting. You can buy a corresponding cushion to place on top.
What if the child doesn’t want to sit in the car seat?
Use your imagination to highlight the uniqueness of the child’s seat.
Kids are naturally drawn to mystery, excitement, and active participation. So, tell your child: this is a spaceship, and when you sit here, we can fly to space together; or this is the throne of a king or princess; or even something unique, like pretending the car seat is a gun held by your hands. Adding a story element makes it even better—the child will definitely be captivated and willingly stay in the car seat.
2. Games
You can still play many games in the car. Here are two examples:
1. Observation Game
Compete to see who can spot more things outside the window, based on the child’s age.
Younger children can just name objects: trees, mountains, sky, white clouds, houses, etc.
Older children can say full sentences. For example: “I see a tree,” “I see two balloons.”
Even older kids can add more details like quantity, color, or other characteristics.
This is a game that kids never get tired of.
2. Reverse “Rock-Paper-Scissors”
Everyone has played rock-paper-scissors, and kids love it. But when they get bored of the regular version, you can switch it up and keep them entertained for another ten minutes or so. Here’s how:
The parent throws any rock-paper-scissors hand gesture, and the child must throw the gesture that would lose to the parent’s to win. For example, if the parent throws paper, the child must throw a fist (rock) to win.
Since we’re used to trying to win, this game is a small challenge for the child. It also helps train their reverse thinking.
3. Snacks
Preparing some snacks before getting in the car can also help pass the time during the journey.
You can bring some of the child’s favorite everyday snacks. Here, we especially recommend preparing fruits:
Cut apples, pears, etc., into small pieces and put them in a lunchbox for the child to eat slowly with a fork (make sure the fork is used safely).
Peeling oranges, mandarins, or grapes can also attract the child’s attention as they observe or try to do it themselves.
4. Toys
Choose 2–3 of the child’s favorite toys that are easy to carry and tidy up.
There are also sticker books that the kids really enjoy.
Bringing along some plush toys allows the children to play house as well.