{"id":1263,"date":"2015-04-29T12:55:46","date_gmt":"2015-04-29T12:55:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1263"},"modified":"2018-08-20T14:43:39","modified_gmt":"2018-08-20T14:43:39","slug":"are-we-nearly-there-yet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.littlebird.co.uk\/blog\/2015\/04\/are-we-nearly-there-yet\/","title":{"rendered":"Are we nearly there yet?"},"content":{"rendered":"

May is just around the corner and that means an abundance of Bank Holidays and a half term to boot. We have lots of great ideas and inspiration for family days out and things to do with the kids plus plenty of savings too.
\n<\/i>Family days out can often mean car journeys and Bank Holidays can often mean traffic jams so we’ve asked our friends at What’s On 4<\/a> to give us their top tips for fun and games on the move.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

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At What\u2019s On 4<\/a> we are always being asked for our recommendations for fabulous places to go with children \u2013 like our fantastic awards venue for 2015 \u2013 Drayton Manor Hotel and Theme Park – but there\u2019s no point planning a fantastic family outing or trip if you all arrive frazzled and fractious!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s our top tips for car journeys with the little ones and if you need any inspiration on where to go \u2013 check out the three\u00a0What\u2019s On 4 sites with reviews from those who know best<\/a> \u2013 parents of course\u00a0or see our \u2018days out\u2019 reviews\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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Survival tips for Parents\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Plan ahead, be prepared and involve the children from the start –\u00a0\u00a0look at the route you will be taking on the map, discuss landmarks, timings and allow children to pack a bag of their favourite things \u2013 toys, books, snugly blanket etc.<\/p>\n

Consider your travel time \u2013 leaving very early in the morning or later in the evening can mean a much more bearable trip. Children are less likely to be irritable, the roads calmer and little ones more likely to sleep. We have found that changing direct from swimmers to PJS and heading home straight from the beach early evening can be a great way to make the most of the last day of the holiday.<\/p>\n

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In Car-Entertainment<\/b><\/p>\n

Parents increasingly rely on tech for long (and even short journeys) – IPads, mobiles, DSs, DVD players etc and these can work well for a while but can also inevitably can lead to frustration and tension \u2013 children squabbling over devices, dvds jumping, screens sliding around with the car motion, flat batteries\/low charge and head phones that stop working or won\u2019t stay in little ears. For the driver the cacophony of noise from different games in the back seat can be very distracting, as can the passenger parent, straining between the seats to try and fix some random IT crisis on the move and don\u2019t forget car sickness can also be caused by endless concentration on a small screen. Sickness and tech are often an unfortunate and costly combination!<\/p>\n

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And we are often warned of the dangers of excessive screen time so what other options are there?<\/b><\/p>\n

Car journeys are a great opportunity to really catch up with children. It can be rare to have the whole family in one place for a considerable time so value it, talk to your children, raise different topics and listen to them express themselves and their opinions.<\/p>\n

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Audio Books<\/b><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a fabulous range out there and choosing a book or an author\/character everyone is familiar with works well. There are so many books that appeal to both children and adults on different levels and both genders \u2013 you can\u2019t go too wrong with Roald Dahl, David Walliams and JK Rowling. Certainly all our sanities were saved on a very tedious journey to Devon on a hot, bank holiday weekend by \u2018The Prisoner of Azkaban\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Varying your route<\/b><\/p>\n

Don’t just keep to the motorways \u2013 that\u2019s boring for everyone and look out for those landmarks that show your progress. Take regular breaks and try to include some physical activity – a park, playground, beach or an attraction that requires some walking will give everyone a chance to release pent-up energy.<\/p>\n

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Fun and Games on the move<\/b><\/p>\n

Reading and writing best avoided unless you want to run the risk of travel sickness (again) but there are lots of other fun alternatives…<\/p>\n