Don’t you love it when things work out just like you want them to? Over the school holidays we headed off on a family road trip to Adelaide. It’s a seven hour trip that takes us about eleven. If you have kids you’ll know the drill. Toilet stops, parks, meal breaks – you spend more time getting in and out of the car then you do driving! Anyhoo the night before we dragged ourselves out of bed at 4.30am to head off a package arrived on my doorstep filled with kids dvds and the Jungle Bunch to review. Bingo. Happy travellers ahoy. Now that’s the type of serendipity I love to encourage to visit me.
The pack was sent to us to celebrate the release of the Jungle Bunch on DVD in late June. It’s the story of Maurice, a penguin who was raised in the jungle and thinks he’s a tiger. When two penguins from his Antarctic homeland come in search of “The Great Tiger Warrior” to defend their colony from an invading herd of walruses, Maurice assembles a misfit team of jungle friends to save the day! Think Madagascar with a tad of Happy Feet thrown in for good measure.
Jungle Bunch is rated G and runs for just over an hour. Meaning it’s safe and short enough to keep little people’s interest from beginning to end. Miss four certainly enjoyed it while road tripping in Bessy Blue car. I was sitting beside her and didn’t hear a peep for the entire hour.
Got a road trip coming up or simply need some more DVDs to entertain the kids. Well the good people at Universal have set aside a copy of the The Jungle Bunch along with Despicable Me, Zhu Zhu Pets and Nim’s Island to giveaway. To enter follow these steps:
- Leave a comment below telling me your favourite advice for a happy road trip.
- If you are nice enough to share this giveaway on facebook or twitter please feel free to leave a second entry comment.
- Follow The Truth About Mummy in any way you like (facebook, twitter, email or reader feed)
- Giveaway is open until Midnight on the 2nd of August and has a total value of approx $100.
- (Check the T&C tab for full T&C).
- Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I received a beautiful set of sheets from I Love Linen to test drive for this post.
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The obvious activities such as colouring and DVDs are good, but don’t underestimate the power of the car games! Things like eye spy, making rego plates words and seeing who can spot the next organge car etc actually seem to keep the little ones occupied!!
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I’m all about the music. Hi-5 and Wiggles are great, but I love that my kids love the latest top 40 music too. Kids and Parents happy! We can sing for hours!!
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Take the kids and leave the husband at home.
Plenty of breaks out in the open where they can expend lots of energy.
That would be regular stops and a great destination at the end!
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Regular stops to break the trip are always helpful and car games.
Rather than take big bulky pillows on your road trip invest in the small travel neck pillows, less squashiness in the back seat!
We play ‘Spot It’. I have 3 laminated cards, one for each boy, with pictures of signposts, sheep, kangaroos, red car, yellow car, truck etc… It keeps them fully occupied and I prefer them to be looking out the window enjoying the scenery rather than watching a dvd in the car. Of course, regular breaks and snackfood are a must.
Great giveaway too! My boys love movies (but not in the car!).
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A great idea for road trips are activity packs – colouring books, crayons, cards, small toys, snacks, as well as educational stimulus and the children’s favourite cd’s.
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have plenty of games and books and food available and stop and take a break when possible
We regularly travel 8 hrs away and we leave early in the morning. We play easy games like spot a truck etc, listen to their favourite music and sing, have colouring in books within easy reach and if all fails and they start arguing have a lollypop on standby ..it works a treat
Make sure they go to the toilet before you leave, portable dvd player with headphones, books, water, favourite toy..
Always expect that things won’t go to plan. Be flexible and you’ll find the best road trip memories happen when things go ‘wrong’!
Travelling with kids makes my voice tremble with fear, the dread of ‘are we nearly there’ when we are half an hour in… and probably just passing grandmas house…..
My trick is to either travel at night so my two toddlers will stay asleep … That helps us to get a few uninterrupted hours of peace as we cruise to our destination. Alternatively find a DVD they have never seen before and get it ready for prime viewing as soon as the first ‘are we there yet hits’.
If you have a little one, take turns with your husband sitting in the back seat. Keeps your toddler entertained and gives the driver a break.
Don’t let the husband drive!
Have music to drown out the kids complaining in the back!
Or take ear plugs!
Don’t do it!!! Haha, not really. Take snacks, and plenty of little activities – just keep them in the front ready to hand out at intervals.
Put the kids in a different car to you. Make for a very happy road trip!
Lots of breaks….to stretch everyones legs and have a run around for the kids!
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Busy kids are happy kids
Happy kids means happy mummy
I pack a bag for each of them with different things to do for their age.
Changing the bags each trip.
Have plenty of snacks and drinks packed too.
We save the DVD player for the last hours when everyone is getting cranky and tired
I also ALWAYS have a secret weapon stashed in the front in case things go bad like a new book, new cd or something yummy like twisties.
We travel alot
CDs for singalongs…
DVDs for Mummy’s ‘peace time’…
“I spy” for interaction with Mummy
“Count how many motorbikes we see”..
Snacks for the kids…
Chocolate for Mum…
I agree with everyone who said leave them with the grandparents.! If that’s not possible, DVDs are fabulous for long trips.
plenty of food, bit of everything, maybe a park along the way just to let off some energry!
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We drove cross America at Christmas with three kids including a 22 month old, the wiggles and our portable DVD player and headphones saved our sanity. So did Maccas breaks with playgrounds, let the kids play and run off energy. we also give the cheap disposable cameras to take pics long the way they loved it, oh and lots of panadol!!!
I have a backpack that is filled with small toys, books, crayons and such. I buy things on sale throughout the year. The backpack is only opened for long car drives so it remains special and exciting.
Take a container of food with little small selections of their favourite finger food.They will giggle with glee and be quiet for awhile too
Take things along that make them feel happy and that makes them laugh.
Organisation is key to having all you want on hand to maintain happy kids.
Meaning a more pleasurable trip.
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My next advice would be always try & keep the trips short & sweet
make them fun with lots of treats
but just remember children get bored easy
so try not to be too cheesy!!
Make sure you have a portable dvd player with headphones for the kids
with their favourite cartoons & movies & don’t forget yummys & liquids,
Pull over for toilet breaks or so they can stretch their legs
And maybe if they have been good reward them with their favourite treat
that’s how I heep my little girl a happy little sweet!!
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A Happy road Trip would have no kids. However they must always come so I always have the in car dvd player a lunch box packed and the 2 older kids to entertain Mr3.5. A good radio to turn up and tune the kids out also helps:) lol
Kids on a car trip??? – I leave them with grandma!!!
Ipads – are a lifesaver – they can play, watch, entertain until the inevitable ‘Are we there yet’? question forms on their lips!
Plan ahead, bring snacks & drinks (save a small fortune) bring games, books, music etc and get a good nights sleep before you head out saves the crankies
we always begin each day early that way we get a little peace as the kids go back to sleep. Also keep a battery charger on hand to keep those hand held game machines going strong-we recharge when staying overnight in the caravan parks
Traveling at night is good idea. Pack a bag of activity books and pencil, light snacks etc. Great idea is to purchase a DVD player that attaches to headrest of front seat and they can watch their favorite movies.
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I’ve found what works best is leaving early in the morning. Even leaving at 5am means you have a few hours peace while they sleep some more in their car seats.
Regular breaks to refresh and re energise the kids is a must!
Buy some small new toys such as sticker sheets, a new toy car or colouring books. We all know kids love new things! Don’t give them out all at once though.
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Lots of healthy snacks, some new colouring books and pencils to keep them entertained, and most importantly no kids music- it will drive you mad!
Shared on FB (and sorry for the long comment, i cant pick just one vital tip, there are soooo many little things here and there that make for a happy family on a road trip- and my very last trip, if there is 2 adults, get yourself a pair of noise cancelling headphones so that you dont have to listen to the darlings for half hr while catching a nap – if your that lucky
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Hmm road trip… with kids? DONT GO! Send them and hide at home
I did the 7hr drive home from melbourne with my girls and WOW was an eye opener, mummy learnt lots. DVD players are NOT an optional extra!
But the bestest thing i learnt…. take heaps and i mean HEAPS of spare headphones, batteries, vomit bags and chargers for the mp3 players and dvd players. We borrowed our bits from friends but didn’t think to buy spare headphones so when one set died half way there of course it was the middle of the night and nowhere to get replacements! One very teary child for hours coz she couldn’t unwind to sleep (autistic and uses music to relax). Then the batteries in her torch went and she couldn’t read (also invest in booklights, their wrists get tired holding torches!) then of course due to all the crying we ended up with the vomits and well… my kids are sympathetic spewers, one goes and they all go! Oh that was a fun trip….
BUT I’m doing it all again soon and this time for 4 times as long as we are driving from Adelaide to Perth!
Other little things i learnt from that trip is to get the kids neck pillows, no tears coz thier pillow keep falling down, Add velcro tabs to the corners of blankets so they stick to the carseats (all mine are under 7 and need boosters or carseats), a waterproof tub for electricals is essential- stops not only drink spills but them being stepped on when the kids climb in and out, sunnies even in winter for the kids as well as everything is shiney and bright when its wet first thing, keep a video camera and pic camera handy at all times! (the funniest stuff happens when ur not ready) and over all HAVE FUN!!!! You love each other so make the most of every minute
I have lost a child in the last year and learnt that we need to make the most of every moment with our angels and have as much fun as we can while we can.
Lots of healthy snacks and plenty of games to play…singing silly songs helps too
Road trip treasure hunt complete with lucky dip for each item “found”… a bit of a twist on eye spy. My kids love it.
Plenty of good music on the ipod!
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i spy, choose a car colour each when they spot a selected number they get a reward, a few stops explore a town gives them memories when they are grown up.
The reality of it is it’s all about the snacks.
Beyond that, movies are a winner, books, games.
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well you carnt do anything without starting with a yummy breakfast the some pillows pack a bag of snacks drinks and some fresh fruits cut up cheeses meats biscuits a blaket each and put them in the car a book a puzzle book some lollies to nibble on a portable dvd player to watch a movie and some road games to play pack a picnic and stop on the way so the kids can eat run around stretch there legs take a look around town go to the toielt stop at the shop for refreshments in the car and off you go again we love to play music where you guess who is singing the song on the radio the one who guess’s the most gets a block of chocolate to share with everyone now you have a happy family and a great car trip
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Ensure the stops along the way are kid friendly. and make sure you bring plenty of snacks and entertainment in the car!!
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My best tip would be – Snacks, A Drink bottle, Cars, and Pencils and Colouring book! keeps my little man entertained for hours! Plus a Bob the builder or Vegie Tales CD so help him get to sleep
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Planning ahead is key,
Unlike the first time with me,
Got lost, we slept in the car,
Didn’t earn my gold star!
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We pack a little esky with food and play music to sing a long to.
Have lots of great music to listen to and lots of yummy snacks!
We are about to do an 11hour road trip. Best advice aside from DVDs and lots of snacks was stick a piece of ribbon up across the roof of the back of the car, with 1hr lines marked. Print a pic of your car or a car and loop it onto the ribbon. Move it along as you drive, so the kids can see how far and helps prevent the “Are we there yet?” questions.
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Hi Kylie, thanks for enter the Jungle Bunch DVD giveaway on my blog. Guess what? You win
Love your idea for keeping the kids amused with the ribbon and cut out car. Can you email me an address to have your DVD pack sent to? thetruthaboutmummy@gmail.com Thank for entering. Caz
Thanks so much! My kids will love this.
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I always have a big bag (for airplane trips to USA) or a box in the boot for roadtrips that has lots of small ‘surprises’ in it. New colouring books, pencils, rubbers, games or sometimes just a lolly. They only get brought out as we travel along and I see the kids start to get bored. Its simple, but it really does work and I find keeps them interested for awhile until the next ‘surprise’ comes out. Critical they don’t know you have a secret stash or whats in it or they will drive you insane and the whole concept backfires. LOL.
Take lots of breaks and lots of snacks to keep happy little Jungle Monkeys entertained!
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Leave when your kiddies are due for a sleep if you can. At least you might get to drive in peace and listen to your own music instead of Barbie or the Wiggles…..even if it is for an hour!
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Pack a backpack each with new coloring/activity books, pencils, their fave books and plenty of snacks. Bring a kids CD along too to instantly silence them when they’re whinging or fighting. Works for us.
Choose your music carefully-or take turns choosing the CD to be played or have a CD stacker on random. Nothing worse than listening to ‘bad’ music the whole way on a car trip. Also have lots of games for a toddler/family to play-makes the time go quicker!
We love road trips! The best advice we can give – have enough room to keep a space between each child (we have a seven seater car and play musical chairs as needed!)
Have lots of food (our boys eat all day long)
Leave while its still bed time – we usually get on the road by 3.30 to 4.00 am so they can sleep along the way
Have lots of water
Take lots of toilet breaks
Play “how many red (or any colour) cars can you see?” games
Play I spy Games
Have a DVD car movie player for really long trips
If all of the above fails – bribe them with “nice car travelling manners” pocket money (yes we have done this! Payed them $5.00 for being nice to each other!!)
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Sing along to music, play I Spy, tell stories or encourage games, such as finding letters from your child’s name on road signs or spotting the numbers 1-10 – kids love to be interactively entertained
My kids love movies, we are a self-confessed movie-holic family actually. On road trips, (we drove from Melbourne to Sydney in January, in fact this was our longest trip and the kids didn’t complain once!) my kids were happy to watch dvd’s all the way to Sydney. We also played “guess the next colour car to come along” and we had regular stops for breaks. All in all, I think we do alright. We are going on another road trip in September, this time in our own state
If in doubt pack it!! Better to have it & not need it, then regret leaving it behind.
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Playing I spy and McDonalds stops work a treat
Kids audio books but i also used to do times tables as we travelled:-)
Travel at night when they are a snooza looza’n for longer trips =)
i have 6 children under 7 years old. I have only just realised that when trying to go out for a family day trip or to visit family you need to do whatever it takes to keep the kids happy or things go crazy and we get nowhere. Our new game that’s working really well is i spy, but with differences, it can start with any letter and be anywhere in the world and be anything you think of and constantly change its first letter to whatever suits as long as they win.
when having so many kids let them think they are always right no matter what just play along.
Food, drinks, the kids DS and ipod’s and all essentials for a happy road trip.
food!
Food will keep the Husband happy … therefore he won’t be yelling at our toddler when she doesn’t stop talking ….. therefore everyone will be happy.
Food is my saviour for a happy and sane road trip.
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This is interesting giveaway. My kids love watching animation movies and this movie is great for kids. They would have a great time watching on this movie. I will purchase this in Amazon.
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You need: dvd’, books and heaps of food and drinks to have a good car trip, (opps, not to much drink unless you want to make lots of ‘I need to go the toilet’ stops)!
Have fun and have regular breaks at the park
Deep breaths and a some good songs, even ones that are being made up as you go along, can be very funny.
Leave the kids with Nan & Pa, and set off for a spontaneous road trip like you did before they were born!!! It’s win win, you get ‘grown up time’, Grandparents are tickled to have the little ones around, and the kids are thrilled to be sleeping at Nan’s, getting spoiled rotten
Plenty of snacks, drinks and a few good DVD’s (if you have a car dvd player) to keep them entertained. I also have a children’s soft lap table that Miss 3 uses to draw on.
My tip is to leave as early in the morning as possible! put the kids in the car while they are still asleep, they will then keep sleeping and wake up happy for the first pit stop! then Also bring snacks, and books and new toys to keep them amused
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Leave a bit before lunchtime. This way you can let your kids eat in the car, it keeps them occupied and you can make it into a fun activity.They’ll nod off in no time, and you can make some serious tracks in peace. Try not to stop the car while your child is sleeping – it’s a sure fire way to ensure they’ll wake up!!!
It’s a combination of being prepared and being open too. Have snacks, drinks, activities for the kids, dvd’s etc but also realise that you may need to stop and let the kids out to burn off some of their energy before they drive everyone in the car insane.
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Have plenty of snacks & drinks to hand out and to keep them amused kids mags, colouring/puzzle books and handheld games.. stopping every couple of hours for toilet breaks and leg stretches helps too!
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We always stop frequently at parks where the kids can run free for half an hour and use up some of their pent up energy!
Portable DVD players are a great idea to kill some time as are the hand held games – and if all else fails ‘I Spy’ is generally a winner that can involve the whole family!
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Leave the kids at home!!
Have regular scheduled breaks, a small individual picnic basket filled with some of their favourite healthy treats and a pop top drinks bottle, their favourite music, colouring in books, and games appropriate to be played in the car.
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I would have to say its a combination of things depending on the distance of the drive; but I always prepare a back-pack for each child with snacks, a drink bottle (non-spill of course), a colouring or activity book and pencils, and we also have the portable dvd players. Some cd’s of the children’s favourite music also help!