Everyday trips to places like the grocery store, my nemesis, or Target can seem daunting when faced with having to wrangle two tiny, sweet, lovable little terrors into their car seats. Imagine a 7-hour road trip!? We took our two toddlers on a road trip down to Virginia a few months ago and these were a few things that I have found to make things a little more bearable are the following:
A small storage cube bin (or even a container from the dollar store should do the trick) containing a few toys such as magnetic tiles, dolls, little people, fidget spinners, etc. Opt for items that won't vanish into the car's black hole and avoid noisy toys - because let's face it, a chorus of "stop looking at me!" is enough symphony for any journey. (You can get 6 for $15 on amazon https://amzn.to/4ecPvTj)
Activity books. These are wonderful tools to keep your little ones busy. The “Water Wow” books are "magical". The kids can color and create without the mess! Talk about a win! They also have reusable sticker books. Those are awesome especially if your little one likes to be creative.
Another compact container filled with snacks and beverages. We stay away from the sticky snacks and keep to the more “neater” ones although what is neat when you have two toddlers?! We usually do crackers with peanut butter or cheese, cookies, goldfish, fruit snacks (we love the Pure Organic ones), and M&Ms. We also added in extra wipes, hand sanitizer, diapers, tissues and paper towels.
M&Ms. These are great incentives for being patient, not throwing things, etc. They are also good teaching tools. They can be used to count, sort, and teach colors. Oh, and they “melt in your mouth and not in your hands” but keep the wipes handy just in case!
I-Spy. You don’t even need to purchase anything to play this game. Simply spot things on the road and see if your little tots can spot what it is! Rewarding correct answers makes this even more fun. You can use little stickers as prizes or even some candies, fruit, etc.
Freeze dried fruit. I tell my littles that it’s “candy”. It makes a great reward or special treat. My kids absolutely love it and its a healthier alternative to actual candy.
Tablets. I know many people don’t want “iPad kids” but sometimes screen time is a necessary evil. I preloaded my kid’s tablets with shows and games they both enjoy. I even got this contraption that hooks to the seat so that way they can watch their shows without pressing buttons and causing mass hysteria when “Cocomellon isn’t singing anymore!”
A dope playlist. Mix in the music you like (perhaps the edited version or not, to each their own) with the songs your kids like. I know I would lose my mind if I needed to listen to “Excavator” repeatedly by Blippi. Making a fun playlist to sing along to not only helps the time to go by faster but it’s a good way to bond and create some memories.
Don’t focus on “making good time” instead focus on comfort and just creating core memories. Stop at the cool picturesque places, walk into that Welcome Center, eat at the smalltown diner and just have fun. They are only this little once. The challenges you face today will become the funny stories you tell tomorrow. Although it may be challenging at times, I promise you’ll get through it and your kids will thank you later for the memories.
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