Moving With Kids: How to Keep Them Busy During a Long-Distance Move

 The age-old question: How do you keep your kids busy on a long road trip? Whether you're moving across the country or the street, you need to keep your children occupied for hours on end. And the truth is, it's not as easy as it seems. Even adults find it challenging to keep their attention for extended periods of time. 

If you're moving with your kiddos, there are some tricks to keep your kids occupied and busy on the road. Here are four tips for keeping your children happy while on a long road trip.

Plan Ahead

Just like you will plan your house move, packing, and the logistics for long distance moving, so will you need to go for the trip with your kids.

How long will the trip take, how often will you be stopping, and what amenities are on en-route? These are all questions you will need to prepare for when planning your long trip during a move. Children don't have the attention span to sit in vehicles for extended periods meaning you will need to plan in plenty of breaks to help them stave off boredom and stretch their legs. Knowing your route can help you to do this.

Talk Them Through The Trip

One way to keep your kids busy and happy is to talk with them as you go. Depending on where you're moving, you may be able to drive there. But if you're moving via a long-distance flight, you'll want to talk with your kids about the trip. You can discuss the flight in general. You can talk about the people on the plane. You can even talk about the movie you're watching together. If you're going on a road trip, you can talk about the various cities you'll be visiting.

Pack Snacks

If you're moving long-distance, you'll want to pack snacks for everyone. Stick to dry snacks and avoid too many foods and drinks that can spill and cause a mess. Great ideas include using bento-style lunch boxes with all of your kid's favorite finger foods and sealed drinks or non-spill beakers to reduce spillages when driving. Don't forget snacks for yourself too to keep you all going between breaks.

Keep Them Occupied

Make sure to pack their favorite toys and activities for the duration of the trip. Allow them to do what they need to do to keep them happy and relaxed and make the journey easier for everyone. If you are using electronics, make sure you have chargers available.

Play games and engage them as much as possible to avoid any meltdowns, so everyone is happier during the trip.

Consider Travelling When They Sleep

Many parents prefer to take longer trips by car overnight when younger children are likely asleep. This can help you avoid restlessness and cover more extended parts of the trip while everyone is asleep. So not only are you trying to stick to their routine as much as possible, you get to avoid having to keep them occupied for the whole journey.