Quite possibly the most daunting, intimidating, panic-inducing aspect of a cross-country road trip with kids in tow is how to pass all the hours of time spent sitting in the car.
It can produce doubt and uncertainty in even the most patient, most easy-going of parents. Questions start to arise… “Is a long road trip worth it?” “Are the kids going to hate it?” “Are they going to hate me afterward?” “Do I let them play on a phone the entire time??“
Like anything involving an outing with children, there needs to be a plan…or at least the semblance of a plan…especially with an outing as long and as involved as a road trip.
Memory Bank has put together a simple yet effective plan for managing your time in the car without completely relying on a glowing rectangle! And we want to assure you…this plan wasn’t calculated by a soulless AI. Rather, this strategy has been implemented in our own family and has been super helpful in keeping our children engaged and content.
We hope this helps you as much as it has helped us on our long journeys down the interstate!
Memory Bank’s Strategy For Passing The Time:
We like to call it “Mom’s Dream Screen Scheme”
(try to say that fast!)
It’s all about rotation! And moderation! Not confiscation! By creating a scenario in which large chunks of time are on a scheduled rotation, everyone in the car will have access to things that they enjoy…without it becoming something that takes over.
These are the 4 main categories that we rotate:
1. Screen Time: This includes playing games on devices or watching movies.
2. Listening To Music: The rider in shotgun is responsible for taking requests and cranking
up the volume!
3. Listening To Something Educational: This could be a podcast, a sermon, or an
audiobook. And can Memory Bank throw in a shameless plug for a moment? The absolute BEST, FUNNIEST, MOST WHOLESOME, RELEVANT radio program on the planet is The Rick Burgess Show! Trust us implicitly on this one!
4. Quiet Time: This is time meant to be spent looking out the window, checking off the car
tags that you see, napping, or chit-chatting in the car. Typically this time is
a favorite of the adults’.
How It All Works:
Each category gets one hour! After the hour is up, you move to the next category. Amazingly, time really seems to fly when you follow the hour-by-hour rotation!
These are the guidelines:
1. Everyone must put away their devices during the other 3 categories. No overlapping! Let the phones and tablets charge, and enjoy the new category that you’re in.
2. Votes can be taken for choice of song, podcast, audiobook, etc…but at the end of the day Mom and Dad make the final decision!
3. Have fun! Don’t ever forget the obvious…you are HEADED SOMEWHERE with your family and there is much to be excited about! Oh, and it always helps if you throw in some really fun car snacks. 🙂
[A follow-up blog will become available soon that will include helpful lists such as recommended road trip playlists, podcasts, games, and more!]
Road trips are THE BEST, and half the fun is getting there! Memory Bank Road Trips hopes that you can feel confident about the drive itself and be excited about the time you get to spend in the car with your family.
What have your experiences on the road been like? How did you help your kids
pass the time? Share in the comments!
Leave a Reply