Contents
Before departure: prepare your itinerary
Establish a clear and readable roadmap (e.g. on www.mappy.fr). Locate the rest areas in advance (list on www.autoroutes.fr). Think of baby relays (www.nestle.fr or 0811.812.813) for the youngest: you will find everything you need to change or feed your child comfortably.
Of course, avoid the busiest hours in traffic, and if possible, hot days. Do not drive at night: your children will certainly sleep, but night driving tires out faster, it has been proven. If you choose to do so, don’t skip a good mid-afternoon nap beforehand. And take a look at the road safety advice (www.preventionroutiere.asso.fr).
Prepare your car the day before
Buy foggers, put on sun shades, keep things neat and tidy. Check that car seats and other safety devices are in place. If your vehicle is not equipped with one, you can get adaptable tablets (in auto accessories stores). Indispensable for drawing or playing!
In the car, we play
Prepare a “bag of tricks”. Your child will draw from it without disturbing you too much his favorite objects (blanket, toys, bottle of water or small bottle of water). If he gets impatient, slip him a “surprise” toy that will capture his attention again.
For older children, as soon as they feel like it, there are magnetic travel versions of board games that are very useful. Safe bet: a game of Uno will certainly be very successful at one point or another along the way. Of course, think about colored pencils and sheets of paper.
Otherwise the classic games also work well: guessing games, the portrait game, “neither yes nor no”. “The first who saw a steeple, a red car, a motorcycle”. And presto, 30 km won! A gold mine: The Big Book of Car Travel (ed. Seuil Jeunesse): songs, stories, short jokes to keep them busy for a long time.
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Let the music !
Adults or children, listening to music in the car puts everyone in a good mood. You can also try the personal music players. As for the choice of CDs, the offer is wide: compilations of songs, rhymes, there is something for all styles and all tastes. Some CDs are even already in the mood: “In the car with the king of papas” (Vincent Malone, ed. Naïve), or even “Songs for a long journey in the car” (Jean Humenry, ed. Naïve) make everything swing. the family with funny texts inspired by vacation travel stories!
From the age of 5, you can also opt for audiobooks. Here again, the choice is vast, from the classics Snow White or Peter Pan to Harry Potter. The older ones will love historical tales: “Marco Polo meets Asia”, “Christopher Columbus discovers America” (ed. La Cie du savoir), or even Ulysses, Robinson Crusoë (ed. EPM), in versions suitable for children.
Remember to take breaks
At least 20 minutes every 2 hours, more if you or your children feel the need. And systematically in the event of a bickering. In this case, it is urgent to change the atmosphere and take a big breath of regenerating air.
We know it but we don’t always think about it: the motorway areas organize activities during the period of great departures. Great for stretching your legs and getting some fresh air.
If you prefer to fend for yourself, prepare a bag of outdoor games (ball, jump rope, frisbee) in advance. And above all, do not tell everyone the time of arrival: hazards are always possible, and their disappointment would only increase their impatience. Go courage, soon the beach!