Long Drives with Kids: Tips for a Smooth Journey

They’re your pride and joy and you’d do anything to make them happy but there’s no getting around it - having children changes your entire relationship with driving. 

Driving with kids is a whole new experience, and it presents a brand-new set of challenges, too. Remember how that friend of yours traded in his souped-up sports car for something less flashy and more family-friendly? Or how your back seat once functioned as its own independent island for whatever function you needed? 

Things change when children enter the picture. Oh, and it’s not just form and function - kids tend to be naturally impatient passengers, particularly on those longer journeys. They can also steal some of your attention away when you really need it elsewhere. 

But don’t worry; a smooth, stress-free experience is possible. Let’s find out how…

Pre-Trip Planning

Impatience doesn’t just apply to the little ones, but don’t let it conquer you before you’ve even got the kids into the car. Simply put - planning your trip in advance is going to remove a lot of hassle from the equation. 

Vehicle Check

Pretty standard and yet incredibly vital - be 100% certain that your vehicle is in pristine condition and will meet the demands of a long drive. 

Check the pressure and performance of your tyres and make sure you have a working spare packed in the boot. Ensure all your fluids are in working order - engine oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield washing fluid, and coolant. 

Test all your lights. Check that your brakes are responding as they should. Is the car battery fully charged? Do you have enough fuel? Is there a first-aid kit on board? Do you have emergency tools, should you need them? 

Have a checklist and work through it. Twice. 

Route Planning

If you get lost, you will be reminded of this. Spare yourself the additional embarrassment and plan your route in advance. 

The old-school map has gone the way of the dodo for most modern drivers, so opt for a good GPS or mapping app to guide you both strategically and safely. And keep an eye on the weather or any last-minute barriers that may pop up, such as road closures. 

Packing Essentials

You won’t want to bring the whole house with you, but you will want a wide array of items to account for any minor or major issues that could crop up. 

As for as essentials go, consider packing the following: 

• Change of clothes (for all passengers)
• Food and drink
• A surprise or two (works as a morale-booster, or a calming down technique)
• Comfort items such as pillows and blankets 
• Medication (if required)
• Wet wipes and hand sanitiser 
• Insurance and any other documents you may need

Emergency Contacts

There’s no harm in letting a non-travelling friend or family member your plans in case of emergency, nor having emergency contact numbers saved in your phone. Hopefully you’ll never need to reach for them and they can merely serve as peace of mind. 

Rules

Admittedly not the most fun word in the dictionary and there’s no need to go full military commander here but consider laying out a few ground rules before setting off to ensure the kids are on their best behaviour and understand that you have their safety in mind. 

Keeping Kids Entertained

And now for the tricky part. How to combat boredom on long car journeys with children? 

You’ll need to come prepared with some good entertainment options, be they of your own making or assisted by the wonders of modern technology. Your conversational skills may only serve you for so long, you see. 

Old-school car games like I Spy, 20 Questions, or a road scavenger hunt may do the trick, or it could be that they’ve lost their spark depending on your child’s level of engagement - don’t worry, they’ll let you know. 

Depending on their age range and your own attitude towards gadgetry, a laptop or tablet with their favourite streaming service could provide a lengthy distraction. If so, be sure to download some films and episodes in advance to account for potentially spotty WiFi, and insist on the use of headphones - you need to concentrate, after all. 

On a similar note, video games can also keep the younger brains occupied if there’s a handheld console in play - again, plan ahead here and make sure everything is charged accordingly and/or you have portable chargers to keep things lit up. 

Ensuring Comfort and Well-Being

A long road trip is likely to feel twice as drawn-out if everyone is uncomfortable, so make it your mission to transform your vehicle into a cosy mobile hotel of sorts - within realistic reason, of course. 

We’ve mentioned them already, but snacks and drinks are a must, and so too are the inevitable eventual bathroom needs so factor in rest stops and comfort breaks along the way, preferably with a garage or two noted on your map. 

Provide pillows and blankets for the kids - this may even encourage a nap or two, which will take some pressure off you in the process. Prepare for speed bumps like possible motion sickness and headaches, and perhaps the odd mild disagreement or two. 

Road Safety for Everyone

As you well know, children are delicate and vulnerable creatures even at the best of times, and when it comes to road safety, there are no half measures.

When travelling with children, your vehicle needs to be a safe and secure fortress. The Road Safety Authority has highlighted some alarming trends concerning child safety in cars, with many recorded instances of parents not restraining their children properly, thus putting their lives in serious jeopardy. 

Don’t leave anything to chance. We know that most children don’t want to be tied down for a long period of time, but their safety comes first. They may squirm and shout, but there’s really no room for negotiation here - keep your child safe in the car at all times. 

To begin with, master the vital art of the car seat - there are too many reports of incorrect car seat fittings in Ireland as it is, and you don’t want to add to that. If you’re struggling, this handy booklet from the RSA should help you solve the problem. 

Next, brush up on the rules of the road that are specific to children. 

By law, all children under 150 centimetres in height or 36 kilograms / 79 pounds in weight must use a child restraint system while travelling in a car - such as a car seat or booster cushion -  suitable for their height and weight. There is no law against children sitting in the front seat of a car, but they need to be suitably restrained while doing so. 

Tip: Learn about Irish child car safety rule and avoid common mistakes.

Keep airbags in mind, too. It is illegal to have a rearward-facing child car seat in the front of the car where there is an active airbag, as a deployed airbag in the event of a collision could result in serious or fatal injury to the child. 

Making Memories

But of course, let’s not lose sight of why you’re going on a journey with your family in the first place - to have fun, to escape, to adventure, and to capture memories you’ll remember for the rest of your life. 

One such way to do that is via photos and videos, but try not to be glued to your phone the entire time, nor permit the little ones to do the same with their respective devices. 

Try to keep everyone engaged as much as possible so you can all embrace the spontaneous moments that a road trip can bring. 

Conclusion

Maybe every single thing won’t go according to plan - we are talking about the unpredictable nature of children here, after all - but by planning smartly in advance, you can look forward to the best possible experience with your family. 

Remember the importance of checking your vehicle thoroughly before setting off, review your packing essentials and ground rules, take steps to make the environment as comfortable and safe as possible, and don’t forget the wholesome point of all of this. 

Allow for the odd calamity and keep morale up. This is quality time with your loved ones, and you’ve worked hard for it, so enjoy the experience, stay safe, and come home with some stories you can tell for years to come. 

And you can feel even more secure with insurance coverage that puts you and your family first - check out our wide range of options today.