I’m a parenting expert – these are my top tips for handling kids in the summer vacation traffic

TRAVELING with kids isn’t always the easiest job in the world – especially when you get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic.

But with a few simple tricks, moms and dads can help avoid the summer chaos — and all the tears that come with it.

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Education and behavior consultant Sophie Boucher-Giles, founder of the Gentle Start Family Consultancyadmits there are “many backstreet drivers under the age of ten”.

But the expert, who has worked with children for more than 20 years, says parents can use a number of tools to manage them.

Here are her top tips for traveling with kids on long road trips.

Pack the right snacks

“Make sure the snacks you pack are age-appropriate,” Sophie told The Sun Online.

“You don’t want them choking in the back seat if you can’t reach them. I also put the snacks – so I don’t put two healthy snacks for each.

“I can also use timers or clocks so they can anticipate when the next snack is coming.

“And for younger kids who don’t have a lot of time yet, I’ll use a tactile queue – so it’ll be ‘after we finish the game’.”

She added: “If you really want to keep them off I say ‘the snack comes after you see a cow’. Or, ‘as soon as we see a sheep, you can have your snack’.”

Plan your route

It can be helpful to plan your route in advance so that both you and your children know what to expect.

Sophie advised, “Once they’re a little older, or reading age, I’ll do some research and map out the route.

“I’ll write a few destinations on a list — or draw a map for them — along the way so they can check them off and know when they’re almost there.

“I can also have them follow Google Maps on the phone if they want a very visual idea of ​​how far they are.”

She also says avoiding highways can help kids who may need more attention, adding, “If you have a really fussy child and avoid highways, just stop in the car if something happens.”

Are we almost there yet?

When it comes to asking the same question over and over, parents can try “repeating the answer” until their little one is satisfied.

Sophie explained: “When they ask ‘are we almost there’, you say ‘ten minutes’. They say ‘are we almost there yet?’ and you repeat “ten minutes.”

“Eventually you ask them instead, ‘How long will it take us to get there?’

“They will then answer you and that usually stops them from asking the question.”

When to take a break

Sophie says the “absolute maximum” a baby should be in a car seat is two hours – “ideally one hour for babies six months and under”.

Getting them out of the car for a break and getting some fresh air is so important.

She explained, “It’s because when they’re slumped forward in that position, they can’t hold their airway for very long, so their heartbeat can do funny things.

“Their oxygen levels can drop a bit, so you need to check them regularly. My baby is four months old, so I tend to stop every hour. I take her out, let her stretch and take some breaths.”

She added, “A newborn should not sit in a car seat for more than 30 minutes without a break.”

Sensible screen time

When it comes to screen time, parents can be divided on the matter.

But according to Sophie, that’s totally fine – as long as kids don’t have free play.

She explained: “It’s up to you. I tend to say only [use screens] for trips of a certain length and manage their expectations in advance. So tell them whether or not this is going to be an iPad journey or not.”

The expert added: “Then make sure you preload and turn off the internet just because you want to check what they’re watching – you don’t want a kid jumping on inappropriate things on YouTube while they’re in the back of the car. and you can’t see what they’re looking at.”

Prepare for quarrels

When it comes to avoiding backseat fights, Sophie said it can be helpful to divide your little ones with a barrier.

“If it’s two, maybe I could put something soft in between,” she said.

“They’re less likely to fight with a barrier between them.”

Play a lot of games

And of course, come armed with “lots of games” games, which can help “manage expectations”.

Sophie said, “I’ll explain that ‘Now we’re going to play a game, then we’ll have a bite to eat and then we’ll have a break’.

“Then they can keep it in their head.”

Eye spy, alphabet games, music, podcasts and coloring with a magic pen [which doesn’t leave stains]can all be great ways to keep your kids entertained, according to the expert.

And she believes time in the car can be a great opportunity to learn from your kids too and a great time to share.

She said, “Use it as an opportunity to find out what they’re thinking and how things are going at school as a captive audience.”

Watch your safety

Above all, protect your child.

Sophie said: “Some kids are climbers and you don’t want to have to stop the car all the time – so if you have a child who likes to get out of their car seat, and you’re on a longer journey, you can buy a car seat safety clip that fits. the top of the car seat so they can’t get out.”

She added: “Make sure you have plenty of water, sunscreen and a car seat cover for any accidents. You can also bring jars, wipes and the like.

“If you have young children, some people tie things to their car seats to play with. It’s actually not a good idea, because they could flip back and injure the child in a crash.”

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