Keeping children entertained

All holidays are exciting for children, but over-excited children experiencing long car journeys can be potentially dangerous for the driver should they become bored.

Introducing a bit of fun along the way can make long journeys more bearable for children and also allow the driver to concentrate on the road ahead, making the trip safer.

Try the following tips to keep children happy:

• plan the journey well in advance, selecting a route that allows time for enjoyable breaks.

In addition, find places of interest along the way to make the journey seem like part of the holiday.

• Make regular stops and if it’s safe to do so, get out of the vehicle and take the opportunity to stretch your legs.
• Pack books, travel games and story CDs or DVDs which can help make the journey less boring for children.
• Ensure that enough refreshments are packed, so children won’t end up nagging about being hungry and thirsty, even if the plan is to stop somewhere for a meal, have snacks including sweets, biscuits or crisps on hand, and plenty of water and juices.
• Keep wet-wipes or damp face-cloths in plastic bags to wipe children’s hands or faces, and always ensure that there are extra plastic bags for rubbish or if a passenger should should become car-sick and it is not possible to stop on the road.
• Take a couple of cushions or pillows along to make the children more comfortable, should they want to take a nap.
• Children should be dressed comfortably.

In hot weather, loose layers of clothing so that they can keep cool, or when it’s cooler they should have warmer clothes to wrap up as needed.

Seat-belts may need to be adjusted depending on what the children are wearing.

Bear in mind that children can get sunburn through open car windows and sunroofs, so it’s advisable to ensure that their arms and legs are covered with loose clothing or that a high factor sunscreen is regularly applied.