At last, a formula that predicts kids’ tantrums in cars

tAKING a long car journey with a screaming child in the back seat is most parents’ worst nightmare.

Now, hope could be at hand with an equation to keep the tears at bay.

for a statistician claims to have calculated the ‘exact formula’ to predict if – and crucially when – your child will turn the waterworks on.

for those of a mathematical bent, it is t = 70 + 0.5E + 15f – 10S, where t stands for time, E for entertainment, f for food and S for siblings.

Dr James Hind, from Nottingham trent University, found that children will take an average of 70 minutes to throw a tantrum during a long car journey. the chances are reduced by every 30 seconds a child is entertained while giving them a snack can delay the tantrum by 15 minutes. However, having siblings in the back of the car was found to increase the chances of a back-seat breakdown by ten minutes.

the research, which was developed alongside LV= Britannia Rescue, was based on responses from 2,000 parents.

It also found that children will ask ‘ Are we nearly there yet?’ around 32 minutes into a car journey and four times during the road trip. Boredom was the main reason for back-seat tantrums (cited by 68 per cent of parents) followed by the journey being too long (62 per cent) and the kids being hungry (57 per cent).

Dr Hind said: ‘If you have only one child, and you can keep them entertained and occasionally bribe them with food, you could manage two hours of tantrum-free driving. Unfortunately, two children with no entertainment and no snacks can brew up a tantrum in just 40 minutes.’ Although snacks and entertainment are important, he said there is a limit to how much they can help.

He added: ‘taking breaks to “reset the clock” is important for preventing tantrums, as well as making sure you are not tired while driving.’ Henry topham, of LV= Britannia Rescue, said: ‘Whilst the Bank Holiday weekend is the perfect opportunity for a final bit of family time... it doesn’t always come without long car journeys.

‘travelling with young kids in the back seat is never easy. So... make sure your passenger levels are regularly replenished, with snacks, pit stops, and entertainment.’