The majority of Austrians travel by car for their holidays. This is according to an Innofact survey from 2020. Are you also planning a car trip with your offspring for the next vacation? Ask yourself the following questions before you set off. This will help you make the journey calm and pleasant.
1. How can you ensure the right preparation?
If you are facing a long car journey alone, you can minimize the stress factor with planned breaks. Use the same method when you are traveling with your child. Before starting your journey, research where child-friendly rest stops and service stations are located along the route. These are characterized by the following factors:
- Playground with at least three different play options in the outdoor area
- Indoor play corner
- Separation of play areas from the road and parking lot
- Bottle warmer or microwave in the interior to heat up baby food
- Children's meals on the menu and child-friendly snacks in vending machines
- changing room
Then make the journey comfortable for your offspring by equipping the back seat with a cozy blanket. A sunshade on the window prevents your child from sweating excessively during long car journeys in the summer.
2. Which child seat does your child need?
If you take your offspring with you in the car, their safety is the top priority. In Austria, children under 14 years of age need a suitable Child seat, provided they are shorter than 135 centimeters. Buy an age-appropriate model with extensive safety equipment.
A large selection of child seats can be found at Motointegrator, an online shop for vehicles, spare parts, and accessories. The company, whose product range includes over 5,000 car spare parts, distributes its range in six European countries. These include Austria, Germany, and the Netherlands.
3. How do you pass the time during the journey?
Once your child is sitting comfortably and safely in their child seat, the journey can begin. It usually doesn't take long before the well-known question "Are we there yet?" comes up. If you don't want to hear this repeated every five minutes, keep your offspring occupied. Prevent boredom from arising by:
- playing an exciting audio play for children on the car radio
- giving your child a picture book or age-appropriate reading book
- storing enough toys on the back seat
You can also pass the time for yourself and your fellow passengers with fun travel games. Classics include "I spy with my little eye," "I'm packing my suitcase," or "Storytelling." The latter game is recommended for children aged five and up. One of the vehicle occupants begins to tell a story, and you take turns adding to the plot.
4. How do you prevent bad moods in the back seat?
Meaningful and varied activities for children are recommended to prevent boredom and frustration. You can also prevent both by planning enough breaks during the journey. With toddlers, head for a parking lot or rest stop at least every hour and a half. This gives you and your offspring the chance to get some fresh air and stretch your legs.
With older children, it is enough to take a short break every two hours. Preferably, choose a child-friendly place for this, such as an exciting sight. In summer, rest areas with green spaces for playing or a swimming opportunity are worthwhile intermediate destinations.
During the breaks, eat the packed snacks with your family. Preparing them takes extra time. However, they cost less than treats from the gas station or a restaurant. In addition, you know more about the ingredients and prevent your child from consuming too much fat and sugar.
5. When does your offspring usually sleep?
For small children, a car trip means stress. Sitting still for a long time combined with boredom leads to a bad mood. This affects the other vehicle occupants, and ultimately the vacation begins with a tense atmosphere.
You can prevent this by taking advantage of your offspring's sleep rhythm. Start the car journey at a time when the child usually goes to bed. If tiredness overcomes them, they will sleep through most of the journey, and you will arrive at your destination relaxed.
An additional advantage of night trips: The roads are usually clearer than during the day. This allows you to avoid traffic stress or traffic jams. Get enough sleep before starting the journey so that you can concentrate on the traffic despite the late hour.
