While it's great to get away for a few days, spending a long period of time in a confined space with bored children is not always an enjoyable experience. So to combat the unending chorus of 'Are we there yet?', try these tips to ensure your sanity is still intact when you reach your destination...
Eye spy to make time fly
Kids love playing observational games like eye spy, but as this requires parents to make up countless things to 'spy', it can get old very fast. A better idea is to prepare a worksheet of things for kids to spot on the trip before leaving home. Fill the sheet with things you are likely to see on the road. For younger kids who are not yet reading, draw or cut out pictures of the items they need to spy, for example a 'red car' or 'a car towing a boat'. Increase the level of difficulty for older kids. For example, they may need to check off number plates from each state, or find a list of different road signs.
Make it a competition to see who can check off the most items by the time you reach your destination, with the winner receiving a prize.
Stop, revive, survive
Stopping for a rest every two hours is vital to avoid driver fatigue, and it's also a great way to break up the trip for children.
Take a ball and let the kids run around and stretch their legs at local parks or rest stops. Use this opportunity to go to the bathroom, swap driving duties and get some fresh air. Plan where you'll stop, factoring in meal breaks. Give everyone in the car a copy of the itinerary - a long drive is much more bearable knowing when and where the next stop is. Plus, when it comes to meals and bathroom facilities, you don't want be left hoping you'll find them in the next town.
Snacks and drinks
On a long drive it can be hours between stops, so pack some healthy snacks, even if you plan on stopping somewhere for food. Sugar can make kids more fidgety - not a good idea when trapped in a car - so skip the lollies and pack snap-lock bags with things like nuts, popcorn or cheese slices and crackers. Swap soft drink for watered - down juice or cordial. You can hand out snacks between rest stops to keep them occupied a little longer, and kids will have less to complain about if they aren't hungry or thirsty.
Embrace technology
If you have a portable DVD player, a handheld video game console or an MP3 player, now is the time to use it. DVD players with their favourite TV shows or movies are a great distraction for younger kids, while older kids and teenagers much prefer their own music over Mum and Dad's.
If you don't have access to these items, why not let each member of the family choose a CD to play on the trip and take turns listening to each one?
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