Make family vacations stress free

By Nicole Moore

This summer many families will pack up their cars to head out on a family adventure.

According to the 2004 Travel Report, an estimated 170.1 million trips taken in 2003 included children under 18 years of age.

By planning, packing, staying entertained and taking good care of children's basic needs, vacations can be very enjoyable on the road.

Plan your budget by determining how much money to assign toward family travel before planning a trip. Overspending can result in tension and anxiety about unnecessary debt.

Figure out what you can spend then do some research on your destination, plan which sights the family will visit, make a checklist and establish rules and guidelines. Based on their ages, include children in the planning.

Children handle the changes of travel better when they know what to expect. Explain ahead of time and each day when you are leaving, how you will travel, how long you will stay and what you will do. Share brochures, map out destinations and routes or look up information online. Talk about the people and places you will visit.

Remember that children need a daily routine when it comes to meals, sleep, play time, bath time, etc.

Make the effort to maintain their routine as much as possible throughout the vacation. Children travel best when they are not hungry, they are rested and have frequent bathroom breaks. Expect a longer trip and add additional time.

Packing suggestions

· Pack light and limit each family member to one large duffle bag or suitcase.

· Make sure everyone is comfortable. Pack favorites such as pillows, blankets and stuffed animals.

· If the destination is to water, pack a separate beach bag complete with everyone's swimsuit and towel.

· Pack a variety of nutritious snacks. This will help reduce spending at convenience or fast food stores.

· Stock the vehicle with a flashlight, batteries and first aid kit in case of an emergency.

Keeping children entertained on long drives can be challenging so pack favorite items such as stickers, drawing pads, crayons and coloring books. Add a few new things or wrap them up and distribute at different stages of the trip. Take small travel games a child can do individually or that can be played together.

Also, talk about passing sights. Ask your child what he or she sees out the window and point out interesting sights. With younger children, ask them to identify colors, letters and numbers on signs, billboards or other vehicles.

Even if they have games to keep them busy, children get restless during long car trips. Make 10-20 minute stops every two to three hours so they can burn some energy. Stopping for meals also will help kids to relax and sleep when back on the road.

Part of the traveling adventure is exploring new things. Stop on the side of the road and allow the children to admire the beauty and take pictures of interesting spots. This is also a good time for everyone to stretch their legs and get some exercise. Have some fun by letting the kids run around in a park or rest stop, play catch with a ball or Frisbee disc, jump rope, blow bubbles or have a picnic.

Technology is also very popular when traveling. Make sure each child has his or her own headphones with a CD, DVD or MP3 player. Check that cell phones are charged and use hands-free devices.

For safety and to reduce conflicts, discuss some rules and decisions in advance. Make sure that proper car seats and seatbelts are used for all travelers without exception. Determine seating arrangements and how they might rotate. Also, talk with children about being considerate of other people in the vehicle.

Try to keep a positive attitude and laugh at the little things. Keeping children quiet and well-behaved at all times when away from home with different routines probably is not realistic. Realizing that children may be cranky and charged up by all the changes will help you be less upset when it happens.

Make your family road trip stress free by preparing ahead of time. Vacations are a great time for family bonding and discovery. Take this time to make it enjoyable.

Nicole Moore is a family and consumer science educator at the Norman Oklahoma State Extension Center.