10 tips to prepare your car, yourself and your kids for a family trip

1. Check the car

Observe the condition of the vehicle before driving. Find out what's wrong with the tires: check the pressure and tread condition - the residual tread depth should be more than 1.6 mm. The tires should not have deep cracks. If the tires are unevenly worn or you feel vibration in the steering wheel, the balance may be out of balance. Contact a specialist who will check it on a special balancing machine.

Check what is with the battery - this can be done, for example, with a multimeter. Connect the device to the battery at rest: if it shows 12.6-12.7 V, then everything is fine with the charge. Make sure the engine oil, brake and coolant levels are correct. As a rule, brake fluid is in a translucent container - you can estimate its amount visually. If the fluid level approaches the "MIN" (minimum) mark, it is worth replenishing it.

Before a long journey, replace the oil with fresh one - especially if you haven't done it for a long time. The oil should be changed after a run of 10-15 thousand kilometers or at least once a year, regardless of the distance traveled by the car. See if there is a first aid kit in the car and make sure that everything is in order with the expiration date of the medicines. Check for tow rope, fire extinguisher and battery charger. If you are traveling to an area where there may be no gas station along the way, bring a spare can of gasoline. For a winter trip, don't forget to put a shovel and a brush with a scraper in the trunk.

2. Keep your kids safe

A child under 7 years old can beResolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of 23.10.1993 N 1090 (ed. of 12/31/2020) "On the Rules of the Road" (together with the "Basic Provisions for the Admission of Transport means of operation and duties of officials to ensure road safety ") (with rev. and additional, entry. in force from 01.09.2021) / ConsultantPlus in the car only in a special seat. It doesn't matter if you are driving to the nearest shopping center or planning a trip across the country. A child from 7 to 11 years old inclusive in the back seat can be transported in a car seat or using seat belts, on the front one - only in a car seat.

Car seats are divided into several groups according to the age and weight of the child. But it is better not to be guided by numbers, but to try on a chair. If the child is cramped, and his head is higher than the back of the car seat, this model is not suitable. It is advisable to choose a device in which there is lateral protection for the shoulders and head: it will save in case of a side impact.

Chairs may differ in the way they are installed - in the direction of travel or against it. It will be safer to place the car seat in the back seat. If you want to install a rearward facing structure in the front seat, be sure to muffle the airbags.

3. Prepare documents

To travel within the country, you need a passport, driver's license, vehicle passport and certificate of registration. If you are traveling abroad, do not forget your passport and insurance. You also need documents for children: birth certificate or passport. When traveling to a country where a visa regime is in place for Russians, the child will also need a visa. As a rule, children under 6 years old get it free of charge.

Before traveling, be sure to consider all the requirements for visiting points of interest along the route. So, when traveling in Russia in some regions, a QR code may be required for those vaccinated and have had coronavirus or a negative PCR test result.

Domestic travel medical insurance is optional, but you can get it. The compulsory medical insurance policy does not always allow you to make an appointment with a doctor on the same day because of the queues. And if there is additional insurance, then it will be easier to get an appointment and undergo the necessary examinations.

4. Stock up on toys

Consider different entertainment options to help your kids get bored on the road. You can take with you coloring books, pencils and felt-tip pens, board games, cards, puzzles and books. The choice depends on the age and interests of the child. For example, a two-year-old may be interested in educational books with large illustrations, slide-out slides, flaps and secret windows. And a child who already knows how to read will be carried away by fairy tales, travel stories. It is better to take new or favorite toys. It is better to give them to the child not immediately, but in turn: so during the entire trip he will have something to do.

You can think of some word games that the whole family can participate in. For example, "The fourth extra". The facilitator needs to conceive three words from one group and the fourth from another. The rest must guess which word is superfluous and explain their choice. For example, the host names four items: pants, sweater, overalls, and boots. The child needs to choose an extra one - these are boots. Although, if he comes up with a good explanation, the correct answer may not be the one that the author intended.

5. Set up a gaming table

To make it convenient for your child to draw or read, take a play table for the car seat. When your toddler gets bored on the road, you can take a break and offer fun. The design will be securely held thanks to special straps, and it is convenient to store various little things that may be needed during the trip in the pockets of the table.

Some cars already have folding tables in the front seats. During the stop, adults and children can put food and drinks there. You can attach an organizer to the front seat and put toys in it so that the child always has them at hand.

6. Take a healthy snack on the road

The child can get hungry at any time. In order not to look for the nearest cafe at the most unexpected time, keep a supply of water and food on hand. Try to choose products that won't spoil or stain your interior. Dried fruits, nuts, or cereal bars are great. From vegetables and fruits, you can take on the road pre-washed and sliced ​​carrots, cucumbers and apples - unlike soft tomatoes and bananas, they will not get crumpled on the way. It is better not to take sweet and salty food - it only whets the appetite.

If you feel like having a drink or something hot, take a thermos filled with tea, broth, or soup. For food, by the way, there are special thermoses with a wide neck and a convenient lid - you can use it instead of a plate or mug.

7. Think about stops along the route

Before your trip, mark the places on the map where you can comfortably relax with the whole family. It is advisable to make stops every 2-3 hours. Children will run a little and it will be easier to endure the further trip, and the driver will take a breath.

Allow time for unforeseen stops so you will not be nervous that you will not have time to get somewhere on time. Even if your child sleeps well in a car seat, try not to drive without stopping around the clock. Better to spend the night at the hotel, and then continue the journey.

8. Make a playlist

Children's songs and fairy tales will help to pass the time on the trip. So that you do not have to remember them on the road, think over the playlist in advance. You can, for example, include in it songs about travel from cartoons ("The Little Engine from Romashkov", "The Bremen Town Musicians", "Merry Travelers", "Cheburashka" and others) and sing them in the car together with a child.

It will be useful to take a tablet: during the trip, one of the parents can watch cartoons on it with the baby. Choose the stories in which the heroes travel, such as Moana or Up.

9. Talk to your child about travel

Start preparing your child for the trip in advance. Do not keep intrigue - it is better to tell where you are going, why, how much time you have to spend on the way. Describe what you will do on the road. If you are going to your grandmother, tell, for example, that she will be waiting for you and will treat you to delicious pies upon arrival. And if you are going to a new city, show your child photos of this place and tell an interesting story about it.

Plan short trips before traveling so your child can get used to the seat. To begin with, you can get out to the nearest supermarket, and then gradually spend more and more time in the car.

10. Take care of your comfort

Think about what items you need to take on the road to ensure the comfort of all family members. For example, a thermo mug will keep your tea hot longer, or you can put home-cooked food in your cooler bag. In winter, you can take a few blankets and woolen socks on your trip. Add to this a spare set of clothes for the child so that there is something to change into if he gets dirty.

In order not to go with a small child to the toilet at a gas station, take a travel potty with replacement bags. They are soaked in a gel that retains moisture inside and are disposed of in the same way as diapers. Don't forget your first aid kit - it should contain all the essential medicines your family members may need.