It can be exhausting! What is even more frustrating for the kids is being restrained by a seatbelt.
Properly installed child car seats present a safer option.
Statistics show that 70% of child seats are not. This presents a disaster waiting to happen and one that could haunt you for the rest of your life.
Children from four to seven years must travel in a forward-facing child restraint, with an inbuilt harness, or a booster seat with a seatbelt or child safety harness. Toddlers should never travel in the front seat of a vehicle.
“Children, especially toddlers, get fidgety when sitting still for over two hours. It is important to stop at regular intervals to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs and refuel for the next leg. Try to pick pit-stops with fun activities for children such as jungle gyms.
This gives kids a chance to work off some energy without distracting mom or dad while they drive,” says Dewald Ranft, chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association (MIWA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI).
He also reminds parents to ensure that their cars are in a good condition and fully serviced before they set off on long distances. A breakdown on route is, under the best of circumstances, a stressful experience.
He offers the following advice to take the grumpiness out of your holiday travel experience:
- Pack lots of healthy snacks in the car to reduce the amount of hours wasted at often crowded roadside restaurants along the way. Juice boxes, cereal bars and the South African favourite, biltong, are always a good idea for hungry little people.
- Pack lots of water to prevent dehydration, and wet-wipes to clean sticky hands and spills.
- Revisit the traditional car games of 21 questions, eye spy and or number plate cricket.
- If these don’t appeal, load smart phones and tablets with games that will appeal to a range of ages, and with the increase in educational games, could even teach your child a new skill by the time you reach your destination.
- Separate the kids. If you are travelling with more than one child in the car, try to keep the kids apart as far as possible to avoid fighting when monotony sets in.
- Make lots of stops along the way to allow kids to get out and stretch their legs and play. Most garages these days have kid’s areas or small playgrounds which are ideal.
- Listen to kids’ music or audiobooks which can actually entertain the whole family.
Source: Cathy Finley PR
