Tips to entertain children on travels from Bright Mind’s Alison Quill
For parents who have spent a week experiencing the half term horrors of travel with toddlers and children, now is the time to get prepared for the longer Easter spring break which is fast approaching.
To nip in the bud the “I’m bored mum, are we almost there?” conversation, Alison Quill, a former teacher and founder of Bright Minds has some tips to make the journey that little bit easier. Alison advises:
Pack plenty of supplies! You don’t want to be stuck on the motorway and run out of nappies, baby food or any other essentials; don’t rely on the service stations
Talk, Tell and Sing. If your child is old enough talk to them about the trip in a varied way. Sing songs about airplanes, boats or traffic lights, engaging them in the adventure
On a long drive, take notes of the rest areas you’ll find on the way and make the most of them. Taking breaks can really break up the drive
Travel when the kids are tired, stop when they are not. Happy, awake children are far easier to keep entertained than when they are tired and grumpy
Pack a diverse selection of activities to ensure the children are as entertained by their changing activities as they are by their new environments
New places can upset little ones, so bring something that reminds them of home especially for their bedtime routine – books, a familiar blanket or teddy
Relax! Don’t get all worked up – almost everybody who has ‘been there’ has confessed that preparation of the trip had been much tougher than the trip itself
Chopsy Baby loves these great ideas from Bright Minds, to keep the family entertained when the M5 starts getting a tad tedious.
The clever Family Funboard is a wipe-clean board containing hangman, noughts and crosses and boxes. Supplied with two colour pens and guaranteed to keep all the family entertained.
Keen little writers will love these colourful notebooks. Each has a wooden cover to lean on and a keep shut tab. £4.99
These Wikki Stix will keep little creatives amused as they make jewellery, shapes or anything else the imagination can conjure up. They are coated with a wax to allow them to stick to any surface without leaving marks. £12.99