When traveling to new and more interesting locales, it’s inevitable that it would entail a long period of time that would be spent in transit. Whether its spent on a plane, train, bus or car, it’s generally time that goes to waste due to the sheer boredom of it all. Unfortunately, these sort of delays and hang-ups eat into the already limited time that a family can spoil a well-planned vacation. In these types of situations, Mommy and Daddy better be prepared to have the tools to ensure that things don’t go sour.
Enjoy the scenery! As corny as it sounds, sometimes looking at rolling hills, clouds, mountain ranges and even the desert could prove to be enjoyable and interesting. Familiarizing oneself with the route along with the notable features of the landscape could enable your family to witness and experience sites that you wouldn’t necessarily get out of the car to see. These of course include road markers, monuments and other roadside attractions.
Play Travel Bingo! Before embarking on your trip, try making make-shift bingo cards with usual roadside sites as the “numbers”. Instruct your children to tick the boxes as soon as they see the item. The items could include large natural structures like mountains, boulders and lakes, while man-made infrastructure like dams, gas stations and train stops could also be included. If you feel like challenging your kids to be extra keen, throw in a roadkill or two. This would surely unleash their competitiveness and interest.
Sing! When all else fails, you might as well sing. It would help if the song you play on your car’s audio system is easy to sing to and carry a happy or energetic tune. Not only does this keep the kids excited and jumpy – it also helps the driver stay awake for the long drive.\
Travel safe!