Out in the car

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Articles for general Ealry Years reading ..

Taking a car journey with children?

Even if it’s just around the corner to the local supermarket or a long haul trip it could be a wise precaution to plan ahead!

The most important feature in staying safe when out in the car in allowing the Driver to concentrate on driving.

So if your children get bored quickly & end up arguing, consider a few of these tips and ideas to help everyone enjoy the car journey and stay safe at the same time.

Teach your children how important it is that you are allowed to concentrate on driving.
Explain to them that you can’t be sorting out arguments and fights, as you need to watch the road and make sure you don’t crash into anything!
Take along another passenger adult or older child to help keep the younger children occupied.
Take drinks in non spill cups
Pens and pencils and a pad of paper
Teach children games that they can play with each other or with the passenger adult.
No mobile phones!
Have a selection of tapes/cds that your children can sing along to take a cd/tape player with headphones so the children can listen without disturbing the driver..

Car sickness?

Disorientation can cause dizziness and sickness so try to get your child used to a few strategies that could help with this

Try not to let your child have a bucket propped under their chin for the entire journey as this will only serve as a constant reminder that they ‘are about to be sick’ !!

Don’t have a ‘sick’ bucket in the car! Often the sight of a familiar bucket can actually induce the urge to vomit!

Carry discreet bags if you will be travelling along roads that you are not allowed to stop on.

Avoid hand held gaming machines

Pull over regularly and let your child walk around outside as this will help them to regain their composure and ‘feel their feet’ again!

A cool damp flannel may help if your child suffers from sweats ( again don’t let them have it all the time – you don’t want to remind them that they suffer from the sweats!)

Avoid reading / writing games - looking down and concentrating on these activities will disorientate your child even more.

Look out of the window and watch the world go by.

Maybe you could write up a few questions about the journey that you could test your child on when you reach your destination?

Eg.

Did you see the bridge we went on? Were there a lot of other cars on it?
What animal do you think you saw the most?
Can you remember any signs? Do you know what they meant?

Games to play in the Car

I SPY

Look around you and choose an abject that the other player/s have to guess by the first letter alone.

I spy with my little eye. Something beginning with…………….W……(wheel)

Give clues as necessary ……… eg. This one has 4 of them

Once the object has been guessed correctly that person is allowed a turn.

Links for some downloadable journey resources

Some good ideas for older children that you can adapt to your own location http://mainebackseatdriver.com/games/

Stay safe and have an enjoyable trip