By Kathy D Lee
The weather along the northeastern seaboard has been so mild this December-January 2011-12 season that it's hard to write anything that has to do with enjoying fun, cold-weather activities with children. There has been no snow to speak of, and it's already the first of February. In fact, it's getting so close to spring and the balmy weather is already reminiscent of a beautiful summer afternoon, that I decided to turn my full attention to a summer vacation trip with the little ones aboard. If by some coincidence the weather reverts to the type while I'm writing this article, I'll of course get busy penning my snowman building instructions.
But, for now, whether it's a day trip, a long weekend, or a full week at a remote vacation spot, taking along an infant or toddler requires some serious planning ahead. Some of us can remember our own experiences when we were children, when once the car was in full motion, we were lulled to sleep by the confines of inactivity and the rhythmic hum of the engine. But if you have children who are not susceptible to this, here are a few suggestions to help you get your trip off to an enjoyable, stress-free beginning.
Dress the children in their most comfortable outfits. When it's warm, a short-sleeved bodysuit for the baby and a cotton tee and shorts or pajamas are fine for your toddler. If you're looking to impress Grandma, if that's where you're heading, you can always change them to special outfits just before you arrive. Important: Don't forget your child's lovie (special stuffed animal or blanket). This works wonders, especially if they're tired and you're stuck in traffic. Remember, familiarity breeds content. And while you're at it, keep your diaper bag close by filled with plenty of wipes, diapers, binky, and a fresh change of clothes. Keep all your bottles in a cooler filled with ice packs. If baby needs her bottle warmed, be ready with a compact bottle warmer that plugs into the cigarette lighter. This all makes perfect sense, but consider the impact it would have on your trip if you omitted any of these things. This is a list worth going over several times before leaving.
Provide entertainment. You can burn your children's favorite music on CDs and create your own "mix" from your experiences with them. Bring along plenty of books, and if possible, consider moving into the back seat to read them some stories. You can even play car games with your toddler, like counting trucks or red cars, and other fun and simple exercises.
Make frequent stops. You might be able to get where you're going in under four hours if you keep on truckin', but your little ones might not be able to sit in position in their car seats for that long. Stopping along the way gives everyone a chance to unwind, get some fresh air, and at many rest stops, run around on the grass.
Pack plenty of snacks. Having an impromptu picnic can be a lot of fun for infants and toddlers. Pack cut-up cheese into your cooler, along with a sufficient amount of yogurt, cut grapes, apple slices, Cheerios, crackers and pretzels. Add a cool cup of water and you have a yummy snack for the entire family along with a drink that doesn't make you thirsty (or sticky) once you're on the road again.
Finally, make a surprise bag the night before. This was a favorite for my daughters. I'd give them each a paper bag filled with a few surprises, like books, stickers, and paper to affix them to, plus a snack and pipe cleaners. The night before heading out on our trip to Hershey Park, (when the girls were two and six), we watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Once the show was over, I gave them each their own special "Golden Ticket", just like in the movie. That set the stage for our road trip the next morning. We left in our jammies, sang the songs from the movie, and wondered what we would see on our way there.
Going on a car trip with your children doesn't have to be along the road to disaster. You can create your own theme based on where you are going. Often, the giggling and laughter that comes from little ones can make the trip much more enjoyable for the adults as well. Enjoy yourself... and relax.
Kathy Lee is the Assistant Director at the Alice Brown Early Learning Center at Adelphi University. Her experiences in a long career as a classroom teacher and Early Childhood Specialist has contributed to the knowledge base supporting her informative website designed exclusively for solving the child care concerns relating to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. You can enjoy more of her collection of helpful information by visiting her unique website at http://www.AllAboutChildCare.INFO
The weather along the northeastern seaboard has been so mild this December-January 2011-12 season that it's hard to write anything that has to do with enjoying fun, cold-weather activities with children. There has been no snow to speak of, and it's already the first of February. In fact, it's getting so close to spring and the balmy weather is already reminiscent of a beautiful summer afternoon, that I decided to turn my full attention to a summer vacation trip with the little ones aboard. If by some coincidence the weather reverts to the type while I'm writing this article, I'll of course get busy penning my snowman building instructions.
But, for now, whether it's a day trip, a long weekend, or a full week at a remote vacation spot, taking along an infant or toddler requires some serious planning ahead. Some of us can remember our own experiences when we were children, when once the car was in full motion, we were lulled to sleep by the confines of inactivity and the rhythmic hum of the engine. But if you have children who are not susceptible to this, here are a few suggestions to help you get your trip off to an enjoyable, stress-free beginning.
Dress the children in their most comfortable outfits. When it's warm, a short-sleeved bodysuit for the baby and a cotton tee and shorts or pajamas are fine for your toddler. If you're looking to impress Grandma, if that's where you're heading, you can always change them to special outfits just before you arrive. Important: Don't forget your child's lovie (special stuffed animal or blanket). This works wonders, especially if they're tired and you're stuck in traffic. Remember, familiarity breeds content. And while you're at it, keep your diaper bag close by filled with plenty of wipes, diapers, binky, and a fresh change of clothes. Keep all your bottles in a cooler filled with ice packs. If baby needs her bottle warmed, be ready with a compact bottle warmer that plugs into the cigarette lighter. This all makes perfect sense, but consider the impact it would have on your trip if you omitted any of these things. This is a list worth going over several times before leaving.
Provide entertainment. You can burn your children's favorite music on CDs and create your own "mix" from your experiences with them. Bring along plenty of books, and if possible, consider moving into the back seat to read them some stories. You can even play car games with your toddler, like counting trucks or red cars, and other fun and simple exercises.
Make frequent stops. You might be able to get where you're going in under four hours if you keep on truckin', but your little ones might not be able to sit in position in their car seats for that long. Stopping along the way gives everyone a chance to unwind, get some fresh air, and at many rest stops, run around on the grass.
Pack plenty of snacks. Having an impromptu picnic can be a lot of fun for infants and toddlers. Pack cut-up cheese into your cooler, along with a sufficient amount of yogurt, cut grapes, apple slices, Cheerios, crackers and pretzels. Add a cool cup of water and you have a yummy snack for the entire family along with a drink that doesn't make you thirsty (or sticky) once you're on the road again.
Finally, make a surprise bag the night before. This was a favorite for my daughters. I'd give them each a paper bag filled with a few surprises, like books, stickers, and paper to affix them to, plus a snack and pipe cleaners. The night before heading out on our trip to Hershey Park, (when the girls were two and six), we watched Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Once the show was over, I gave them each their own special "Golden Ticket", just like in the movie. That set the stage for our road trip the next morning. We left in our jammies, sang the songs from the movie, and wondered what we would see on our way there.
Going on a car trip with your children doesn't have to be along the road to disaster. You can create your own theme based on where you are going. Often, the giggling and laughter that comes from little ones can make the trip much more enjoyable for the adults as well. Enjoy yourself... and relax.
Kathy Lee is the Assistant Director at the Alice Brown Early Learning Center at Adelphi University. Her experiences in a long career as a classroom teacher and Early Childhood Specialist has contributed to the knowledge base supporting her informative website designed exclusively for solving the child care concerns relating to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. You can enjoy more of her collection of helpful information by visiting her unique website at http://www.AllAboutChildCare.INFO
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