Kids and long car journeys

purplepatch

Right, my two girls are 5 and nearly 2. We are driving to Brittany next week, doing it in two 4ish hour instalments.

We never do particularly long journeys so I'm a little apprehensive to say the least. We have invested in a twin dvd player and I've bought a travel art desk from the ELC. Also I have bought activity and colouring books for them both.

This is probably better entertainment for DD1 than DD2, who hopefully will manage a sleep during the journey.

DD1 has her MP3 player as well, so that should hopefully save us from 4 torturous hours of high school musical and lazytown, perish the thought!! DD2 will hopefully be happy to listen to mum and dad's choice of music.

So really just wondering what other people do on long journeys. Any tips on how to keep them quiet?! Especially the little ones.

Thanks.

RoxieW

erm, i think you've thought of the two things i would suggest. other than that, treats and snacks to bribe them along the way? just not too much sugar - goodies do great sugar free treats for kids buy in boots or supermarkets.

joannasmum

After our 6 hour drive to Dorset a couple of weeks ago I would say snacks all round otherwise you'll get stung at the services. Don't dismiss putting dd choice of music on the stereo I used to love having a sing song with my mum and dad in the car (used to go from NW England to SE France in approx 24 hrs when I was little). DVD players are a god send. Pillows/Cushions and a light blanket make sleeping easier. If there likely to fight put something in the car between them, my mum used a cool box. Playing games like eye-spy and spotting a certain colour car can also pass the time. Finally I would personally have a potty fairly near the top of the luggage French toilets on service stations are often the hole in the ground type and not great for LO's.

HTH

BillScarab

We've just come back from near St. Malo and ended up sat in a jam for 2 hours. My two are 8 and 6 so they take their DS Lites and MP3 players. Othe than that we stop for toliet breaks reasonably frequently so they can stretch theor legs and keep lost of snacks handy in the car.

Counting_Pennies_2

Agree with the others, snacks, drinks (if in nappies!), lots of small toys to pass back to them over different periods of time.

Make sure they haven't seen the toys for a while, they will then be played with on holiday, so two uses.

Try to travel at night, so they will sleep.

Beware of the dvd players, sometimes it can bring on travel sickness!

Amanda65

We travel down to the South of France every year on a 2 day trip and stop every two hours - first stop is a quick wee and change driver break, second a longer meal stop, third a wee stop etc.

Unless DD's are asleep - in which case I wouldn't wake them - I would recommend stopping every couple of hours. The French motorway stops are great and often have playgorund equipment / bouncy castles etc for the little ones.

Would re-iterate the snacks recommendation as well

elainew

We travel quite a bit so have some advice. My little girl is 4. We try not to give her anything straight away to play with or look at and she will often look out the window for an hour. Then she usually falls asleep for another hour. stop after that for a snack/wee/stretch of legs. Play eyespy type of games for a bit, make pictures out of the clouds etc. Then when the whining/moaning starts give into the dvd player or mp3 player. I find it better not to amuse her straight away and only give it to that once the moaning starts.

rsdiscos

We took two boys 3 and 6 to The Black Forest area of Germany by car and drove 1700 miles in eight days! We invested in DVD players and they worked a treat :jwe went via the toll roads and there isn't much scenery. Our youngest didn't like wearing the headphones so we had to listen to the films but it was much better than listening to arguements! ;)We didn't get on with one of the service area in France - it was swarming with wasps with 3 of us being stung within minutes and I didn't have anything in the 1st aid kit to deal with stings !!!:mad:

purplepatch

Brilliant guys, this is just the sort of advice I wanted. Keep it coming, just off to buy some insect bite/sting and travel sickness stuff as I had forgotten that!!

sarahc44

we are setting off tommorrow for la rochelle our 2nd year there. I have sticker books, crayola books with the majic pens, a dvd player and picnic. Each girl has exactly the same in their bag so no quabbles hopefully!!

sweetserendipity

Hate to say this but 'sick bags' can be useful!!!! My eldest daughter used to get travel sick even with medication so we always had some bags in the car. If using plastic carrier bags please make sure no holes in the bottom before using (yes we know that from a very bad experience!!!!!).
The bags can also be used as a 'rubbish bin' & just get rid in service station bins when you stop off - amazing how much rubbish you accumulate on a car journey!!!!
As for games, we still play girls names beginning with A, B, C etc. and then boys names beginning with... Also name a fruit/vegetable beginning with .... You get the picture!!!!
Hope this helps.:rotfl: