In the Good Old Summertime: Road Trip

Summer is the time when many families venture out from their home on the ever popular vacation.  If you are planning amily vacation far from home with children, preparation is key to having a great time.  First, pack light.  You don't want to spend half your vacation lugging suitcases to and fro.  Even teenage girls can pack light if they know that they will be carting their own luggage around.  Check to see if the place you are going has washing machines just in case the need arises. 

Second thing to consider is planning age appropriate activities for each child during the trip.  Whether you are going by plane, train or automobile, the children will have down time.  Better that they have something to do rather than annoy you.

Third suggestion is to pack snacks.  I have learned from experience that this is best down by setting out a variety of food and drink options that I don't mind having in my car and letting them pick what they want.  I keep the snacks separate in baggies with each child's name on it to prevent arguements down the road.  Operative words in this sentence are "I keep".  I hold on to the snacks to prevent gorging early in the trip and starving at the end.

Hope these few tips help make your next family vacation a little more restful for you.  Not very likely though.

In the Good Old Summertime Series: Sunscreen, Bike Helmets and Other Sporting Equipment

As summer vacation approaches, I hope you and your children are fighting this nation obesity problem by spending more time outside.  If you and your children are spending more time outside doing things, encourage them to wear sunscreen and reapply it throughout the day.  Trust me on this one.  Having lived for Florida for  good portion of my adult life, I have learned this one the hard way.  People get sunburned even when they are not tanning.  Who could have guessed.  Save youself and your children some very uncomfortable and sleepless nights, wear sunscreen.  Learn from my mistake.

Head injuries can be life changing or life ending.  Falling from a bike can cause irreversible damage.  So no matter how hard heading you think you and your children are, wear a bike helmet when riding your bike, skateboarding or rollerblading.  Your children will resist this one but there are some things you can do to get them to wear it:  wear one yourself, start them out wearing them when they are young, and take their equipment away for a period of time if they are caught riding without a helmet.  It is that important.

After the long winter months, check all your sports equipment to make sure it is in top working order.  Air up those tires, make sure nothing is torn or broken and most important check those sporting shoes for creepy crawly things.