The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
How to banish driving moans for Christmas
Road tips: A simple set of rules can keep your family’s festive show on the road. AA president Edmund King explains how
If you’ve got young children, Christmas can be a magical time. But if you’re spending the festive season away from home and are facing a long car journey with the kids, the Yuletide magic can quickly turn into a festive fracas.
The longer the journey, the harder it is, of course, to keep the kids happy while confined in the back of the car. But to keep travelling as pleasant as possible for the whole family, all it takes is a bit of planning, says AA president Edmund King.
The motoring organisation is expecting many Christmas journeys to be made just ahead of Christmas and Mr King points out: “Luckily, Christmas gives an extra bit of inspiration for games and tricks to make your journey as much a part of the fun as the big day itself.
“With a little bit of planning you can help ensure your journey runs smoothly and doesn’t turn into a nightmare before Christmas.”
His top tips for surviving long Christmas car journeys with children are…
KEEP THE KIDS COMFY AND RELAXED
Make the back seat as comfortable as possible for young children, as the journey will be a lot easier if they can sleep for at least some of it. “If you’re travelling over naptime or bedtime, let your children choose teddies, pillows and blankets to have in the back with them to help make them comfortable and sleepy,” suggests Mr King.
BE SAVVY WITH THE KIDS’ DRINKS
There are bound to be several toilet stops on your journey, but it’s a good idea to keep the stops to a reasonable number by keeping an eye on what the children drink as they travel. Mr King says: “Limit the number of ‘I need a wee’ moments by only giving children water in the car instead of flavoured drinks. They are less likely to ‘over-drink’ water.”
GET YOUR GAME FACE ON!
Be armed with lots of games you and the kids can play during the journey. “If you have an adult passenger or older child, make them the games master of the car,” Mr King suggests. “Spotting yellow cars or AA vans is a classic car game and a few sweets as prizes
will help keep them interested.”
BE PREPARED FOR HEAVY TRAFFIC
The roads are going to be busy in the days leading up to Christmas – and that means traffic jams and possible breakdowns, too. Mr King advises: “Plan ahead so you’re prepared if the worst does happen and you’re stuck in traffic or break down. Plan your route, pack extra snacks and drinks, and make sure your phone is fully charged.”
REWARD THEM FOR NOT ASKING ‘ARE WE NEARLY THERE YET?’
Parents can discourage children from asking the dreaded, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ with the sweetie cup game. “Let them choose some pick and mix sweets before your journey on the understanding they can have them when they arrive – but every time they ask, ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ they will lose a sweet from their stash,” Mr King explains.
MAKE USE OF AUDIOBOOKS
Keep everyone in the car entertained with an audiobook. “Stephen Fry narrating Harry Potter is a classic and at eight hours and 25 minutes it should see most people through
their Christmas journey,” says Mr King.
PREPARE A CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST FOR THE CAR
Start the party early with a Christmas playlist on Spotify, he suggests. “Get it all set up in advance and leave any changes to your passengers.”
AVOID ‘HANGRY’ KIDS
Make sure you have plenty of snacks in the car to keep everyone going. “Don’t let hangry (hungry and angry) children – or adults – put a downer on your journey,” advises Mr King.
PLAN BREAKS IN YOUR JOURNEY
Mr King stresses that drivers should take a break every two hours, and suggests: “Plan these ahead and make the break more fun for the kids by stopping off the motorway at a garden centre or park where the children can burn off some energy.”
Make an older child the games master of the car
ENLIST HELP OF AN ELF ON THE PARCEL SHELF
If you’ve got an Elf on the Shelf in the family, use it to help keep the kids entertained. “Start the journey with your elf having made some mischief in the car,” Mr King says. “It will get the children in a good mood and the elf can travel with you to encourage good behaviour.”