Beat the 'Are we there yet' blues: Tips for your festive family road trip
In December many families hit the long road.
Image: Kampus Production / Pexels
The December holidays are in full swing, and this weekend, many will be hitting the long road.
Packing done, padkos sorted, and granny and grandpa eagerly awaiting their grandkids' arrival.
But as any South African parent knows, the excitement of a family road trip usually lasts about as long as it takes to get through the first toll gate before the dreaded question echoes from the back seat: "Are we there yet?"
Surviving a long trek across the Karoo with kids requires more than just patience. It requires a tactical game plan.
Here is how you can keep the peace and arrive at your destination with your sanity intact.
Keep little ones happy on the long road.
Image: Lucretius Mooka / Pexels
Timing is everything
If you want to avoid the "Are we there yet?" loop, try to make sure the kids are asleep for as much of the trip as possible.
Many South African families swear by the 4 am start.
By the time the sun is up, you have already knocked out a few hours of driving while the kids were dreaming.
Alternatively, a late afternoon departure can work well if your kids are good sleepers in the car.
The magic of the snack box
Hungry kids are grumpy kids. Instead of handing out one big bag of chips that will be finished in no time, give each child their own ration pack.
Fill it with a mix of healthy stuff like biltong, dried fruit, and nuts, along with a few treats.
This gives them a sense of control and keeps their hands busy for much longer.
Classic car games
Screens are great, but they can lead to car sickness on winding roads.
Lean into the classics:
- The yellow car game: Spot a yellow car and shout "Yellow Car" to get a point. The one with the most points wins a special prize.
- Alphabet eye-spy: Instead of just random objects, you have to find things outside the window, starting with A, then B, and so on.
- The quiet game: This is the parents' favourite. The first person to speak loses. The prize is usually a choice of the next song or a snack.
Curated audio content
When you cannot look at another screen, turn to audio.
Download a few family-friendly podcasts or audiobooks before you leave.
Stories like The BFG or Harry Potter can captivate children for hours.
For younger kids, a playlist of South African favourites or Disney soundtracks can turn a boring stretch of road into a full car karaoke session.
Strategic pit stops
Do not just stop at the first petrol station you see.
Please be sure to look for specific stops known for having decent playgrounds.
Letting the kids run wild for fifteen minutes at a stop makes a massive difference in their behaviour for the next two-hour leg.
The long road is part of the South African holiday experience.
It is the time when memories are made, even if those memories involve a bit of whining and a lot of Wimpy coffee.
Keep your cool, keep the snacks flowing, and remember that every "Are we there yet?" is just a sign that they are as excited for the beach as you are.