Traveling with your Toddler on Turkey Day
Author: Stef Daniel
If you are one of the millions of families who celebrates the Thanksgiving holiday out of town, chances are you will be traveling with toddlers. Long car rides and wiggly kids don't often go together and parents suddenly gain an understanding of why the dad in "A Christmas Story" was such a grumpy old dad. But, with careful planning and a little advice you can endure the trip with your sanity in check and your toddlers acting like little angels 'almost' the whole time!
Chances are you already have the DVD player installed in the family grocery getter. And, you realized just a few short weeks after you put it in that it doesn't work quite as well as you had hoped. Still, take along a new movie or an old favorite and try to kill at least 30 minutes in the car with the movie. If you are lucky, you can get away with doing this two or three times during a 7-hour trek.
The most important thing to do when taking a care ride with toddlers is to consider the circumstances. They are strapped into 5-point harnesses that rarely provide enough room for movement of any kind and toddlers have energy to spare. The best advice is to take your trip at night when the kids would normally be sleeping. Make sure that mom and dad had a nap that day and leave just as the sun dips behind the horizon. This way you can drive a while with the movie, stop for some dinner to go and then hopefully the whirring of the engine and vibration will lull them to sleep. If this is not possible and daylight driving is a must, make sure you think about the predicament from your toddler's point of view.
One way to make the trip fun is to set up a theme for the car ride. Perhaps you could be a bunch of pirates or princesses that are trying to find a lost treasure or golden unicorn. Plan a few things that will be used as costumes and take the lead and the kiddos will follow. You can talk like pirates, spot commercial signs and be creative; making the car ride an adventure. Pack a special pirate or princess lunch box, make sure you bring pirate patches or princess crowns and even provide some background music. The imagination is the limit and kids will have so much fun stepping out of the box (as will you) that the ride will be over before you know it.
Bring lots of sing a long music. Kids love music and it naturally enhances the mood of the group and will provide endless hours of fun. Certainly, you will get sick and tired of hearing the same songs over and over again but as long as the kids aren't fussing or fighting, it will be music to your ears. The Thanksgiving ride is also a great time to bring along a Christmas CD and start heralding in the Yule season in the car.
Toddlers aren't quite old enough for the license plate game, but giving them a preprinted made at home, bingo card will keep their attention on something else besides being stuck in a car seat. You could put things like colors, stores or restaurants they may be familiar with and every day things like a white car. Spending 15 minutes at your computer will provide at least 2 hours of a road trip scavenger hunt that will keep everyone entertained.
Another ride to Grandma's favorite activity is anything they can do with their hands. Simple items like pipe cleaners, aluminum foil, yarn, string and any other craft items that aren't sticky or edible can have toddlers making mini masterpieces to give to grandma once they get there. This is just another way to get down on your toddler's level and unveil some creative freedom that will make them proud of their accomplishment.
The one thing you have during a car trip that can make you see the ride in a different light is time together. It is a rare commodity to spend so much time in one place together, uninterrupted as it is to take a car trip with your kids. Talking, singing and ensuring that they have plenty to do while in the car will set your family up for a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Keep in mind, no matter how much pressure you may feel to get to your destination, take time to stop and never worry about being late. If something sparks your interest, pull the car over and enjoy it together as a family. The less anxious you feel about the car ride and the more prepared you are; the more fun your kids will have along the way. Happy Thanksgiving!
