Hacks for Your Next Family Road Trip
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Do you have a road trip planned this summer? Despite gas prices going up, a lot of us are itching to get out and about. Whether you are staying closer to home or going across the country, here are a few things to make your family road trip a little easier.
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Cargo Net for the Ceiling
When you go on a long road trip, your kids want their pillows, blankets, and even a stuffed animal. Even when you put limits on these, they still seem to get in the way. It's especially a problem when you are trying to get in or out of the car- everyone steps on someone's pillow accidentally.
There is a simple solution! A cargo net that hangs near the ceiling of your van is fantastic for LIGHT items- never heavy or sharp ones. Be sure to strap it up tight though so you can still see behind you- much tighter than in the photo- we learned that quickly! The net is now the first thing we put in the car to prepare for our trip.
Neck Rest for that Middle Seat
Extra neck support for that child that has to sit in the middle seat is a definite plus. The thing we ended up loving the most about it though, was the privacy barrier it ended up creating. We all get to a point when we need some space or quiet time on a road trip. When the arms of the rest are down that indicates that the person is either going to go to sleep or needs some alone time. It was a game changer for us! When they are ready to interact again, they can simply push the rests up and out of the way. It’s super easy to attach to too. We bought this neck rest but make sure you get one that works with the way your car's headrests are set up.
Window Markers
We always have window markers on hand for decorating the car on those special days but we have never used them for a road trip until now. The window markers were fantastic- even for teens! When your kids get bored, let them simply draw on the window. Some of our drawings were inspired by the King Kong window drawing in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" (If you haven't seen yet, add it to your road trip list). It was a good creative challenge.
Be sure to have some baby wipes on hand for easy clean-up. It can take a couple to get the windows truly clean.
The Claw
Yes, those toy claws or the ones you used to see on late-night TV for the elderly will quickly become one of your favorite road trip tools. It comes in handy for picking up that toy, marker, or sippy cup that was dropped and no one can reach with their seatbelts on. It is helpful as you pass back snacks or collect trash. My husband uses it when we need to entertain some of the kids too. You'll find yourself using it all the time. We snagged ours years ago but this grabber has good reviews on Amazon. You'll want one that can handle the weight and size of the objects you will be picking up most often.
Pro Tip: You may need a few strict rules about the claw to make sure it doesn’t become a nuisance though. For example, parents hang on to the claw at all times unless someone in the back needs to use it to grab something.
Travel Bingo
Travel Bingo is great because it can be done anywhere, it's reusable, and you don’t need to play with anyone else. Plan some awards to go with it and it's even more enticing. When people need a distraction, hand out the boards and announce the prize. Everyone can win if they choose to participate. We recommend short term prizes as well as long term to get everyone playing and to prolong the activity. For example if you get a bingo, you receive a small treat like a few pieces of licorice while a blackout means you can pick something out at the next rest stop. Some other prize ideas: extra Vacay Bucks, first dibs on which bed to take at the hotel, etc.
Depending on your board, you may need to sub out some of the items for new ones so be prepared to be flexible.
Backseat Organizers
These help with sanity. Add a backseat organizer in the middle seat and one in the back seat and stock them with things like tissues, bandaids, window markers, pens, paper, bingo boards, a trash bag, etc. Each day, pass out the snacks (more about how we pack snacks) and they can put them in the organizers until they are ready for them.
The organizers help give more control to the kids and keep you sane because they don’t have to ask for the same thing 100 times a day. Plus, a lot of organizers come with a spot to place a tablet these days so they can plop theirs in and watch their own movie with headphones if needed.
Vacay Bucks
This is an amazing way to curb the begging for constant souvenirs, enlist extra help when getting ready for the road trip, and teach your kids about budgeting. Make a big list of chores that need to get done before your next family vacation and post it on the fridge about a week before you leave. Your family can earn extra money for souvenirs by doing those chores- things like cleaning out the inside of the van, making travel notebooks, cleaning out the fridge, gathering items from everyone for the hotel suitcase, etc. It helps you stay within your budget because you’re not caving to a last minute wish. The kids learn the value of money as they put in the work for it and experience the joy of budgeting it. Some of your kids may go for a ton of chores and some only do one or two chores. That doesn’t matter- they get to choose and they know they won’t have as much to spend if they don’t put in the work. It’s a win-win-win for everyone.
Greenlight cards make it even easier to distribute the money and keep track of expenses. You can make the chore list in the Greenlight app and once a child does that chore, they get the money sent to their card. Your kids can track their spending on the app and know exactly how much they have left. Plus, young kids love using something adult like a debit card. Right now when you use our referral link and pay for the first month ($5), you can earn a $30 bonus! It’s totally worth trying out! Please note, offers and terms may change so be sure to check out their terms first.
Add Some Gospel Fun
Road trips are a great way to add little gospel lessons through fun. Shout Out for Latter-day Saints is a quick and easy game the whole family can play on the go. Take turns being the one in charge of the answers and seeing how many your family can get. While in the car, we have found it’s best to keep it a cooperative game rather than competitive so the road trip is more enjoyable for everyone. In between cards, add your brief testimony or thought. For example, with the “Animals in the Scriptures” card, ask your family if they remember where elephants are mentioned in the scriptures. Chances are, they don’t. So take a minute to look it up or explain it before moving on to another card. P.S. It’s Ether 9:19.
Bring a few index cards and pens on your trip for your family to create their own lists too. They can base the themes on your road trip like things found at Grandma’s house or things people always say in the car. Or base the new lists off your Come Follow Me studies for the week. It’s a neat way to introduce or review some concepts in that week’s lesson. It’s amazing to see what your family comes up with.
Going to church on the road? Get out the Shout Out cards that talk about things found at church (there’s one for inside and outside) and go on a scavenger hunt. Can you find them all? This is an especially great activity if you have kids that are nervous to go to a strange new place. Head to church a little early to do the hunts before sacrament meeting starts. Afterward, your kids can see how some things really aren’t that different than home and even if things are different, the gospel of Jesus Christ is the same everywhere.
