IAYL 07 - Front Section:Layout 1 03/05/2007 23:40 Page 14
TRAVELLING WITH
KIDS
IRELAND IS AN IDEAL COUNTRY TO DRIVE AROUND, NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BEAUTIFUL, PICTURESQUE COUNTRYSIDE, BUT ALSO BECAUSE IT DOES NOT
TAKE LONG TO TRAVEL FROM ONE END OF THE COUNTRY TO THE OTHER BY CAR. BEST OF ALL YOU WILL NEVER BE TOO FAR FROM A TOWN, VILLAGE OR PARK
WHERE YOU CAN STOP, THE KIDS CAN STRETCH THEIR LEGS, GO TO THE BATHROOM AND YOU CAN HAVE A MUCH NEEDED REST!
As anyone with a child can appreciate, children get bored, tired and Things to keep the kids occupied:
need to be constantly entertained; they also get motion sickness and can If you have a portable DVD player or handheld computer games, bring
very suddenly decide that they need to go to the bathroom. So here are them with you.
some handy tips to keep the kids happy, which will most certainly keep Bring a walkman for the children. Barney’s Greatest Hits might drive
you happy! you insane, but the children love it so let them listen to it – it will give
you some peace!
Pack a lunch box for each child, including a drink (preferably water or Colouring books, paper and crayons. There is a lot to be said for good,
juice), a snack such as a sandwich or crackers, and a yogurt or fruit. old- fashioned entertainment. If you give a child a pen and paper they
Wipes – children tend to get very messy when you leave them on their will invariably find something to draw. To make the trip interesting for
own with food, by giving them their own wipes they can keep them, let them participate in the car journey by asking them to draw
themselves clean and feel they are being grown up at the same time. and colour five things they’ve seen since they got into the car.
A tray – to give them something to lean on while eating or colouring Cards. Before you go on the journey, teach them simple card games
and drawing. like Snap or Go Fish, which they can then play on their own while
Bring a plastic bag - no matter how well you try to battle motion you’re driving.
sickness, it can still occur and usually will at the most inopportune A Frisbee or football. When you’re making stops, it’s a great way for
moments, like when you’re on a motorway, with not an exit in sight! children to stretch their legs while you sit down for well deserved rest!
To combat motion sickness try to drive on long, straight roads when “I Spy”. A game that has certainly lasted throughout the ages, this can
possible, discourage reading as this can compound nausea, ensure keep the children occupied while also getting them involved in the
there is plenty of fresh air circulating around the car and keep dry scenery outside of the car.
crackers to hand to settle a child’s stomach.
Make sure you have a light blanket and cushion for the children, to Once you have closed your front door you are on holidays. Relax and
ensure they are as comfortable as possible. enjoy yourself. Remember that not everything has to go to plan, you don’t
Try to incorporate plenty of stops into your journey; when the kids have to be on time for everything and if you’re worried that an extra stop
start to get restless and begin fighting, pull over. Ten minutes of might mean that you’ll miss your dinner reservation and have to eat at
fresh air and you will notice the difference when you get back into Burger King, some of the best memories you and your children will come
the car. away with are those times when something unexpected happens!
14 travelling with kids
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