Archive for Road trip
Making a Road Trip Go Smoothly
“Are we there yet?” These are the dreaded words that anyone who is driving with small children or even older adults dread hearing. Nowadays, you don t typically see too many people driving around or prepping their vehicles for road trips. Not only are road trips costly with such expenses as food, fuel, lodging and the unexpected emergencies that crop up, but road trips also put a lot of wear and tear on whatever vehicle is being used.
My vehicle is only two years old and has well over forty five thousand miles on it all because of the fact that I do a lot of long distance driving to visit family who live out of state or across the state. And while I typically enjoy the occasional long drive, lately I’ve been considering the fact that I may need to significantly scale back the amount of driving that I do because it is simply beginning to cost too much money. Just the other day, I had to bring my vehicle in to be serviced because the battery had corroded and on top of that, the air conditioning quit on me. Ironically enough, when did I choose to have my air conditioning fixed but on a day when it was supposed to be 97 degrees outside! »» Making a Road Trip Go Smoothly
Traveling With Children
In a lot of ways, parents today are extremely lucky when they get behind the wheel of a car with children in tow. This is due, in large part, to the fact that there are so many gadgets and distractions available to keep your child/children busy as you drive. Not only do you now have the peace of mind to concentrate on the road before you, but you don t have to be distracted by your children as much.
When possible, always try to travel with another adult. This is a great idea because it will free you up to fully focus on the road while the secondary adult keeps an eye on the children. Additionally, having another adult in the vehicle will help out if a child needs something or even if there is an emergency. I cannot tell you how many times I have been driving and seen a parent fully turned around in their vehicle to tend to their child s needs…while they are driving! As a responsible adult and/or a responsible parent, it is up to us to make sure that our children s lives are safe while we are traveling.
Prior to getting into a vehicle with children, make sure that the children are safely secured in their car seats and/or seatbelts. If they are old enough, ask them if they need or want anything. Explain to them beforehand where you are going and how long you expect to be in the car. They may not remember this, but it is still a good idea to let them know anyway. Prior to even stepping foot in the vehicle, explain to slightly older children the safety rules of traveling in a car. You don t want to scare a child, but let him or her know that there are certain dangerous things that can happen if they touch certain things or do certain things while an adult is driving. Let them know the proper way to address you if they have any needs while on the trip. »» Traveling With Children