Everyday Blog

Picture this: You’re driving along the road, checking all the signs looking for your exit. In your rear view mirror, you can see your one way truck rental following you, with your significant other manning the wheel. You can also see your kids in the backseat, and they’re getting restless. What now?

The key to taking care of this situation when it comes up is being prepared ahead of time. No matter where you are moving to with your moving truck rental, having kids in the mix can create many different issues that will need to be dealt with. Here are some things to remember when you’re going to be moving with kids:

• Plan to stop often. Kids need the chance to run and jump around a little bit as often as possible. And don’t forget potty breaks on stops like these too. Rest stops are also a good place to get food. Make sure that every stop lasts at least ten to fifteen minutes, and that you stop as soon as possible when a child lets you know that they need to use the bathroom.

• Bring games along with you. Many companies make magnetic games and other travel games, such as license plate bingo. Make sure you get the right kind of games for the number of kids that will be traveling with you. Tic Tac Toe boards are good for two kids, but if you’ve got three kids, they probably aren’t the best idea. They also wouldn’t work for one child. If there’s only one kid, things like magnetic tangrams, coloring books with crayons, and handheld video games are probably your best bet.

• Bring food. Even stopping every two hours or so won’t solve every hunger issue. It’s a good idea to carry a cooler with things like juice and string cheese in it for those times when all the kids need is something to keep their mouths busy. Dry cereal is also a good choice. Taking them to the store before the trip and letting them choose a few things is a good idea too. Knowing that the food is waiting for them creates an anticipation of the trip which will help keep them calm during the actual thing.

Of course, the most important thing to remember during the trip is to try to have fun with it. You should be able to set aside some spending money for the trip, especially if you have gotten a cheap truck rental. If you’re traveling through any states that are especially pretty, make sure to point it out to the kids, but don’t forget to look yourself. Remember, it is OK to take a few rest stops for yourself in there too. After all, you’ve got the hard job.