My family loves to travel. When I was young, my mom and dad were always tossing a bag into the car and taking me on quick weekend adventures. I’m sure that’s where my love for traveling started! Now that I’m a mom and I’m in charge of all the travel planning, I’ve realized how hard it is to travel with children. Gone are the days of relaxing vacations with just my husband. Traveling with children is really just “parenting in a different location.” But even through all of the challenges, it’s worth it to me. I love experiencing things through my children’s eyes and making memories with my family. When we travel, I’m always a little anxious and worried about safety. We typically drive to our destination, and I’ve gathered a few safety tips for road trips with children that I wanted to share.
Safety Tips for Road Trips with Children
1. Teach your kids your phone number.
I started singing my phone number to my kids when they were tiny. I made a little tune for it and sang it over and over whenever I remembered. They learned it quickly that way.
2. Teach your kids to stay close to you in stores and in public.
Any time we’re out in public or at a store, I remind them to stay close.
3. Teach them to look for safe people to help.
I’ve always told my kids that if they ever get lost and can’t find me, they need to find another mom with kids and tell her they are lost. We practice exactly what to say, and I remind them to tell the mom my name and phone number. They also know they can talk to a policeman or woman, or a store employee if they don’t see any moms with kids.
4. Teach them what to say if someone tries to grab them.
I’ve always told my kids that if someone grabs them, they need to yell “This is not my mom! This is not my dad!” That way, others around will know that they are in trouble and not just a child throwing a tantrum with their parent.
5. Check the car and car seats before you start driving.
Before hitting the road, I like to take a quick look around the outside of the car to check for any issues like flat tires. I also double-check the car seats and boosters to make sure they’re installed correctly.
7. Never let your child go to the bathroom alone.
I always bring my kids into the bathroom with me when we’re traveling. Even my 8-year-old son goes to the women’s restroom with me. If they don’t need to go, I have them wait outside my stall close enough so that I can see their shoes.
8. Keep your phone fully charged.
We always start our journey with fully charged cell phones in case of emergencies.
9. Get a full night’s sleep.
This tip is so hard for me! I’m always excited and anxious the night before we travel, so I never get enough sleep. But it’s always a good idea to make sure you’re fully rested before you hop in the car to drive a long distance.
10. Consider investing in a roadside assistance program.
We’ve used AAA in the past and also have roadside assistance through our credit card company. I love having the peace of mind that we’ll be able to get help if we need it.
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