Road Trip Vacation Planning and Camping Guide

Only parents with kids know the difficulty involved in road trip vacation planning and when that vacation includes camping the things required to take just keep mounting up. I can not guarantee you will not forget something (don't we always?) but we can help to make the road trip vacation planning and camping run a bit more smoothly.

Things to do before setting out

Make sure younger children understand where you are going. Don't just say "We're going to Ningaloo" or "We're going to see Nana". Show them your destination on a simplified map (in our case Australia). Describe unusual places along the way and highlights they can look forward to - for example, sleeping in a tent, riding a camel, going on a joyflight. Make all arrangements well in advance. It will make for a more interesting and enjoyable drive and avoid any last minute panic that could agitate both the parents and the children. You do after all want to have an enjoyable family vacation :)

In the weeks (or for those who leave everything to the last minute - days) leading up to you leaving, keep a vacation planning memo handy and jot down things you need to take as you think of them. Crikey, yes this includes taking your road trip vacation planning memo to bed with you, because I am sure you will wake up in the middle of the night and think of something else you need to take. When that happens just write it down on your vacation planning memo and then you will be able to go back to sleep instead of worrying about whether you will remember that in the morning.

Here are a few things you may need just to get your brain ticking over...

• pillows and rugs
• books, toys, games (without pieces which could get lost)
• favourite cd's
• paper and colouring pencils or felt-tipped pens for colouring activites for kids
• clipboards or trays for spreading out games and food
• so then obviously some food and drink
• sporting equipment
• baby needs such as a safety net for the basinet which attaches to the car's seatbelts. Or if the child is a bit older don't forget their car seat
• nappies and nappy wipes
• pram/pusher (this can be bulky - do you really need it?)
• a map. Crikey, the last thing you want to do is get lost (How many arguments has this caused? - yes I know, lots)

We have also included a more comprehensive checklist if you are going camping.

Obviously this list will change depending on the age of your child/children.

Give each child their own small bag and help them to pack the things they will need. Let each child choose a favourite toy or book to take. If you will be looking after someone else's child during the trip, find out as much as possible beforehand about the child: their food likes and dislikes, sleep habits, hobbies, any behaviour problems ... and whether they get car sick. (See link to preventing car sickness).

Time your departure carefully so it does not disrupt your children's eating and sleeping habits too drastically. Sometimes a child is apprehensive about going away, even on a road trip vacation. They may be reluctant to leave the familiarity of home. They may not want to be separated from a loved relation, friend or pet. (If you can take your pet see our link to travelling with pets in the car). Or they may fear travelling by an unfamiliar means of transport or going to unknown places. Acknowledge their fears and try to reassure them.

If a teenager is reluctant to go away, parents must look for ways to make the family vacation more varied and appealing. Alternatively you may allow the teenager to stay behind at a friend's home, or send them to a holiday camp for their age group.

These are just some of the simple steps involved in road trip vacation planning.

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