Six tips to keep your children busy when travelling

For those with children travelling normally means quite a process that involves sticky seats, constant questioning as to when you will be arriving at your destination and the inevitable sibling in-car fight.

So what can you do to make this process as painless as possible?

We have come up with a few tips to help you this festive period.

1. Give them electronics- Whether it be your smartphone, tablet or even a camera the children will find something on one of these devices to keep themselves busy. A few child-friendly apps on your device would help too.
2. Ensure that the children are dressed for the weather- If its chilly in the morning make sure that they are warm, if it is baking hot make sure that they have rear Ventilation. Should your car not have rear airconditioning, small fans that plug in to your 12V socket in the car can be purchased. The children are more likely to be less agitated if they are sitting in a cool climate.
3. Watch what they eat- The sugary sweet stuff might be what they want and some time demand, but it could also cause irritability and restlessness so try to keep in-car snacks healthy and filling. A child with a full stomach is more likely to take a nap as the body wants time to digest the food.
4. Hydration- Ensuring that everyone in the car is well hydrated is essential as even slight dehydration can lead to a headache which leads to restless, irritable kids in the car.
5. Play games- Games like who can spot the most of a certain colour car or ‘I Spy’, we don’t suggest punch buggy as this normally lead to tears.
6. Audio books and videos- There are a number of audio books available for children. These can be downloaded from apps on your smartphone while movies and videos can also be laoded on to these devices to keep the little ones busy.