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Traveling with kids can sometimes seem like the worst idea you ever had and you swear that this is the last trip! I have seen my share of disaster trips and have learned many valuable lessons. From my experience and expertise, I have come up with some simple and helpful tips on how to keep your kids happy while traveling!

Tip #1: Lower your expectations!

As a parent you should already know this but… life with kids never goes as planned! Take this trip knowing that there are going to be some bumps in the road (no pun intended) and don’t fret over every single mishap. Kids are notorious for making the smallest of tasks 1,000% harder, so don’t be surprised that a long trip isn’t going to be easy peasy with a kid. I have come to realize that stressing out during the trip makes for very exhausted and grumpy parents once you arrive at your destination. Let that frustration fly out the car door and just go with the flow!

Tip #2: Take your time

Our least stressful trips are the ones where we have not planned to be there at a certain time. This allows us to enjoy the scenery, discover amazing hole in the wall diners and create unforgettable memories because we aren’t in a rush! Enjoy the path you are taking, you will get there when you get there.

Tip #3: Don’t forget the first aid & medicine

Last November we drove from Georgia to Florida for the holiday and we stayed there for Thanksgiving break. Somewhere along the way, the kids caught an awful bug. Half a day into our stay and all three kids were suddenly hit with really high fevers and relentless diarrhea… it… was… awful. The only good part about it was that I had remember to pack medicine! This was a lifesaver in so many ways, don’t leave without it!

Tip #4: Pack an activity basket for the kids

The longest we have ever driven as a family was a few years ago when we moved from Maine to Georgia… yes, we drove the entire way. The night before the move I went to the store, grabbed each child a plastic basket, and filled it with snacks and craft supplies. I presented these baskets to them once we were in the car and ready to go… they were ecstatic! This kept them busy and entertained for so long, they even used them when we stayed in the hotel.

These don’t have to be expensive and over the top baskets, you will be surprised by how many simple items can entertain a child for several hours. A few ideas are coloring books, stickers, foam stickers (always a big hit), clay, notebooks to put stickers in and a snack. Something that kept my daughter entertained for a very long time was making bracelets with beads. She had so much fun stringing the beads and designing her own bracelets.

This is such a fun and inexpensive travel basket that will leave your child entertained in the car while making a long drive. Don’t worry about the mess, if there is anything that I have learned from traveling with kids frequently is that messes are temporary and can be cleaned… memories are a lifetime! So let them have fun with the baskets and worry about the cleanup later.

Tip #5: Have your vehicle serviced before the trip

One of my biggest travel tips for you is to always make sure you have your car checked out prior to the long drive! The last thing you want is for your car to break down in the middle of no where with children in tote. This happened to us when we were making the drive from Maine to Georgia for our big move. Long story… but defiantly an experience that has left us always making sure our vehicles are serviced before a big trip.

Getting your oil changed regularly is very important for maintaining the life of your vehicle, so do not skip out on those! My husband taught me very early on to always go for the synthetic oil. While you may hesitate to go for the more expensive brand, I can assure you that paying the extra cost is going to save you a lot of money in the long run. The Pennzoil Platinum® Full Synthetic motor oil with PurePlus™ Technology will actually keep your vehicle’s pistons up to 20% cleaner. What does this mean for your vehicle? Simple! This means that this leading synthetic oil is going to help keep your engine cleaner… which results in less future maintenance! Plus full synthetic oil performs much better in extreme hot and cold temperatures.

Anytime we are preparing for another adventure on the road with the kids, I always stop by my local Walmart. Many people may not be aware of this, but there are Walmart Automotive Care Centers in vast locations now. A major plus about this is that I don’t get stuck in a boring waiting room with the kids, we can go shopping for all of our supplies for the trip while our vehicle is being serviced. During our recent oil change, the Pennzoil® Platinum Full Synthetic was on Rollback ($49.88 Rollback to $44.88)!

Now that you know how to keep the kids happy during the trip, make sure to get your vehicle checked out before you leave! Walmart Automotive Care Centers in the following states are now able to score Pennzoil® Platinum Full Synthetic on Rollback ($49.88 Rollback to $44.88) through December 27, 2016:

• Florida
• Georgia (that’s me!)
• South Carolina
• North Carolina
• Tennessee
  

I hope these tips were helpful to you, we would love to know if you have any big travel plans with the family this holiday season! Let us know in the comment section below!