CONSUMER

Preparing Your Kids For A Long Summer Road Trip

May 24, 2019, 6:43 PM | Updated: Feb 7, 2023, 11:18 am

LEHI, Utah – Thousands of Utahns are taking their kids on a road trip over the Memorial Day weekend, and that could mean thousands of kids saying, “Are we there yet?”

Jessica Sanders makes the ten-hour drive to Southern California at least monthly, sometimes more. She needs to, in order to keep the readers of her blog, “The Happiest Blog on Earth” apprised of the latest happenings at Disneyland. And, she often takes her kids. So, we asked her what she does to prepare her kids for a long road trip to anywhere.

“When I’m setting up the car for the kids, I like to have it done the night before so everything is ready to roll in the morning,” Sanders started. “One of the most important things I have is a snack bag. I put in one different snack for every hour of our road trip. That way, they can decide what tastes best for them, what they want to eat, when they want to eat it. Less for me to do as a driver, or a passenger up front.”

Jessica Sanders, the writer behind “The Happiest Blog on Earth,” explains how she gets her kids ready for the 10-hour trek to Disneyland

Jessica Sanders, the writer behind “The Happiest Blog on Earth,” explains how she gets her kids ready for the 10-hour trek to Disneyland

Sanders typically packs beach towels, they’re always useful in Southern California. Pillows are useful anywhere.

“I put in little travel pillows, so they can be comfortable on the ride. We’ve also got their insulated water bottles so they can keep their drinks cool.”

Her kids take a small library with them: from activity books like “Where’s Waldo” to plenty of materials from an actual library. Those materials, she said, always stay in the car so they are not accidently left behind at the hotel.

“And, then of course, bring their tablets fully charged with extra chargers and batteries and earbuds for little ears so that everything is smooth and quiet as we drive,” Sanders added. “Sunglasses are also a great accessory for when the sun is beating down during your drive.’

Extra snacks and drinks are stashed under the front seats, but Sanders also stows them in compartments beneath the cargo area, out of her kids’ reach.

FILE: Sanders packs a snack bag for her kids, one snack for every hour of the road trip. Activity books, library books and fully-charged tablets and extra cables are also included. Extra snacks and drinks are stowed away beneath the cargo area, out of her kids’ reach. Sanders includes a beach towel and a small travel pillow for her kids’ comfort.

“I don’t want the kids to have access to these all the time, because they’ll be gone before we even make our way back.”

And because kids will be kids, Sanders said disinfectant wipes should be a must.

Other tips from Sanders include: Making sure you have jumper cables and a first aid kit. Always take paper maps because there is not cell service everywhere and because navigation systems can still misdirect you. And for the kids, never take crayons. They melt.

And, if Disneyland is your destination, Sanders warned against driving to there on a Sunday. If you do, you will likely get caught up in the crawling traffic of Southern Californians returning home from their Vegas weekends.

KSL 5 TV Live

Consumer

two men sit at a table and look at a phone...

Matt Gephardt

Imposters stealing Utah restaurant names to deceive drivers and customers on food delivery apps

When a popular Provo pizzeria couldn’t get a food delivery app to remove an impostor account, the owners decided to Get Gephardt to investigate.

2 hours ago

a stack of fabric...

Wyatte Grantham-Philips, AP Business Writer

Crafts retailer Joann files for bankruptcy as consumers cut back on pandemic-era hobbies

Fabric and crafts retailer Joann has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, as consumers continue to cut back on discretionary spending and some pandemic-era hobbies.

10 hours ago

The Insignia 10-qt. Digital Air Fryer Oven model NS-AF10DSS2 (stainless steel) is part of a Best Bu...

Ramishah Maruf, CNN

Best Buy recalls over 250,000 Insignia air fryers due to fire, burn and laceration hazards

Best Buy is recalling more than 287,000 air fryers and air fryer ovens due to an overheating issue that can cause potential fire and laceration risks.

3 days ago

FILE — (Ladd Egan, KSL TV)...

Alex Veiga, AP Business Writer

Real estate lawsuit settlement upends decadeslong policies that helped set agent commissions

A powerful real estate trade group has agreed to do away with policies that for decades helped set agent commissions, moving to resolve lawsuits that claim the rules have forced people to pay artificially inflated costs to sell their homes.

3 days ago

High-tech cell phones...

Tamara Vaifanua

Consider these high-tech gadgets when packing for spring break

Here are some high-tech devices you should consider packing for your spring break trip.

3 days ago

This conversational AI system is rewriting the rules of property hunting here in Las Vegas. Potenti...

Abel Garcia, KTNV

Las Vegas company introduces AI real estate agent to help families find homes

Across the nation, artificial intelligence is redefining the way companies operate and a Las Vegas real estate agency is hoping to be one of them.

3 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Modern chandelier hanging from a white slanted ceiling with windows in the backgruond...

Lighting Design

Light Up Your Home With These Top Lighting Trends for 2024

Check out the latest lighting design trends for 2024 and tips on how you can incorporate them into your home.

Technician woman fixing hardware of desktop computer. Close up....

PC Laptops

Tips for Hassle-Free Computer Repairs

Experiencing a glitch in your computer can be frustrating, but with these tips you can have your computer repaired without the stress.

Close up of finger on keyboard button with number 11 logo...

PC Laptops

7 Reasons Why You Should Upgrade Your Laptop to Windows 11

Explore the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 for a smoother, more secure, and feature-packed computing experience.

Stylish room interior with beautiful Christmas tree and decorative fireplace...

Lighting Design

Create a Festive Home with Our Easy-to-Follow Holiday Prep Guide

Get ready for festive celebrations! Discover expert tips to prepare your home for the holidays, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for unforgettable moments.

Battery low message on mobile device screen. Internet and technology concept...

PC Laptops

9 Tips to Get More Power Out of Your Laptop Battery

Get more power out of your laptop battery and help it last longer by implementing some of these tips from our guide.

Users display warnings about the use of artificial intelligence (AI), access to malicious software ...

Les Olson

How to Stay Safe from Cybersecurity Threats

Read our tips for reading for how to respond to rising cybersecurity threats in 2023 and beyond to keep yourself and your company safe.

Preparing Your Kids For A Long Summer Road Trip