Road Trip Survival Tips

by Bright Horizons Family Solutions

“Are we there yet?” “Johnny hit me.” “Suzi is on my side of the car.” Traveling with kids can be crazy stressful. We’ve got tips to help you survive the car ride and keep your cool. Hint: It’s all about the packing!

1. First Aid Supplies: A first aid kit, sunscreen, self-activating ice pack, insect repellent, thermometer, fever-reducing and pain-reducing medication with correct dosage chart based on child’s weight and age.

2. Extra clothes: Take extra clothes for every child, even the 12-year old. Keep these clothes in the car. It’s no fun digging through the luggage at the bottom of the trunk to find what you need. Keep a sweater or sweatshirt handy. Children on the sunny side of the car get warm and the children in the shade are often cool from the air conditioner.

3. Comfort stuff: Pack blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals. Limit one to a child or you won’t be able to see out the back window!

4. Food and snacks: Freeze a few of the juice boxes or water bottles to keep the other beverages cold and toward the end of the trip the frozen ones will be ready to drink. Think healthy. Sure, vacation time is indulgent time, but save the goodies for the hotel to avoid sugared up kids in confined areas.

5. Out-of-the-car toys: Pick up some bubbles, small balls or a Frisbee to play with at rest areas or parks when you stop for a break.

6. In-the-car entertainment: Pack a small bag of hand-held goodies: tape, calculators, pipe cleaners, protected mirrors, small flashlights, crayons, and paper. Buy some new items such as markers, coloring books, crossword puzzles, etc. Make a list of songs to sing or games to play on the road. You can also get books on CD at most libraries.

7. Clean-up supplies: Keep rolls of paper towels, a box of heavy duty wipes, plastic grocery bags for dirty clothes and garbage, fragrance-free disinfectant spray, antibacterial lotion, toilet paper, and disinfectant wipes for yucky roadside bathrooms.

Sure, it sounds like a lot, but your sanity is worth it!

It’s that time of year once again!  Join PLAYGROUND Sunday, May 6th,  at our 4th Annual Music & Art Fest at Cranes Roost Park at Uptown Altamonte. The fun starts at noon and lasts until 5 p.m.  There’s sooooooo much to do, it’s hard to describe…but I’ll try.

If you’re looking for something educational and enjoyable for the kiddies to do this summer, the summer camp expo is a must. You’ll find tons of info on cool summer camps, from music to dance to tennis to soccer. You’ll get a sneak peak at the fun with instrument petting zoos,soccer workshops, and other interactive workshops.

SEE!

Be visually inspired during the Fused Fashion runway show. Watch belly dancers perform exotic dances and teach you some new moves along the way. You won’t believe your eyes during Victory Martial Arts’ high-energy choreographed display of flexibility, power, agility and weapon training.  Grab a pole and try to reel in the biggest catch at the Fishing Derby, and be amazed at the S.C.SO. Helicopter Demo at 1:45 at the center of the lake. Enjoy three bounce houses, a rock wall, kiddie yoga, train rides, a mini nail polish bar and an artsy splat zone.

TOUCH!

Design a masterpiece at any (or all) of the exciting arts and crafts workshops; Get a quick lesson on guitar at the Rock ‘N Roll Camp for Girls tent; Hold a snake with one of the animal experts from the Central Florida Zoo; Build a rocket ship at iBrick Academy’s gigantic play station; Feel the skins and test your percussion skills in one of the drum circles.

TASTE!

From Heavenly Hot Dogs to sweet and salty Kettle Corn to Bubbaloos BBQ the culinary styles are endless. Grab something quick at one of many snack vendors’ tents, or cool off at the Police Explorer Snow Cone tent. Everyone can enjoy some great food while still being right in the heart of the activity.

HEAR!

The Radio Disney Road Show kicks off the party at the Main Stage at 12 p.m. with some ear candy and will continue the fun all day long!

You’re probably wondering how much this will cost you…a million bucks, right? Think again! Admission is FREE.  So bring your sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, and cousins too.  This is something NO ONE will want to miss.

Bring your mini Martha Stewarts to the Crisco Kids Creation Station where they can decorate pies, scape a pie, create some pie art, and much, much more! While the kiddies bake away or jump to new heights in a bounce house, you can enjoy the stage where chefs from across the country will be wowing the audience with demonstrations and entertainment.

And of course let’s not forget the most important part of any festival … the pie eating contests!! There will be kid and adult contests and tons of delicious pies to indulge in. Be sure not to leave without everyone visiting the Never Ending Pie Buffet. Click here for more information.