You are seriously AMAZING! A road trip on your own with little kids AND you shot footage for a CZcams video, too. Wow! You need a wonder woman merit badge ☺️
My mom could have taught a thing or two about long driving alone with kids back in the day. Forget dvds, iPads, audiobooks, bottled water, juiceboxes. None existed. Not even car seats. LOL We listened to AM radio and sang to the best decade of music ever. We had books to read. And all learned to read maps…no Siri or gps. Navigator got front seat dibs (remember, no car seat requirements). Guess, we survived. And mom had 5 kids. Still, you did well. Very organized. Good tips.
There are some great tips here for driving with grown-ups too - - like the prearranged snacks, and looking up nice places to stretch your legs. Really smart ideas.
My parents always put us in the car, to drive thru the night. That way the kids slept, you could make good time, and less traffic. STILL, to this day, if I'm not driving I'm sleeping, when going on a trip.
How did they handle arriving the next morning exhausted from being up all night yet having to keep up with well rested small children who are ready to go?? We tried that method and it didn't work well for us.
I am grandma, age 54 raising 3 grandchildren who are under 5....we literally have barely gone ANYWHERE, let alone a road trip. I really needed some inspiration and hope that maybe someday we can actually travel with these guys! Thanks for the motivation!
I went in a 3500 mile road trip with my daughter and her 4 kids: 2 in diapers (1 potty training); and 1 breastfeeding. We bought flip flops for the kids that were kept in a bag behind the front passenger seat. They put them on to get out of the van and gave them to me after they reentered. I also made snack sacks each night with the kids' names on them. There was no fighting if a sack was dropped and could easily be returned to its owner. My favorite game they made up was "Who Could Be Quiet the Longest?" The younger two ended up taking much needed naps and the other two got absorbed in books. All in all, one of the best trips ever
Another hack we tried is when we did need restroom breaks going to groceries that have gas stations because you can fuel up, usually get a better restroom, and kids can pick out a healthier snack or activity and feel like they went “shopping” for something. :)
When I was in my teens going on road trips to keep myself entertained I made a bunch of mix tapes I never had to listen to the same music twice and enough batteries with me for my Walkman and my game boy when I got tired of listening to music or playing games I had a camera took pictures of whatever I found interesting and every time we stopped I’d grab brochures to read now in the age of smart phones and tablets I have thousands of songs and shows in the palm of my hand and watch live events and read a book all on the same device and share my journey live on social media with friends and family
Great tips👍😊. I used all these with my kids when they were young (now they are older, they amuse themselves with mobiles and dvds, although stops, snacks etc I still do of course). I drive alone (single mum) the 20hr drive to my sisters. Then 5hrs from there to my parent's (the next day) multiple times a year, or elsewhere on holiday. One additional idea, which we did when they were young and needed "activities" was I bought "I Spy on my Journey" books so the kids could tick things off when they saw the things during the journey.. Then we had prizes.. The one that had ticked the most first (by the next stop) got to choose something special eg a food treat out of the snacks, the next movie to play on the DVD etc. If the diving wasn't to stressful.. I could play to.. I would ask them what we were looking for from the list and help them look. They loved it.
Kudos! All these tips are absolutely spot on. I've never done 13hrs but did a trip with 4 kids under 7 and 8 m pregnant and before in-car video was a thing, so well done me! I would recommend buying a cover for the back seat - sold for dog owners - they have holes to fit belts etc or you can cut them. It makes clearing out the car afterwards so much easier.
I can’t remember how many times since your last video I have suddenly thought I hope Steph made it Ok - probably every time someone mentioned the extreme weather in Canada. Really pleased to see this video. Enjoy your time with family.
Girl!!! You rocked this! And during a heatwave! Yes you deserve a medal 🏅 Early on in the video, I noticed those telltale red teething cheeks on your little guy, so I smiled when you mentioned it later. It looks like you all made it like champions!!! Way to go! Welcome to hot Calgary!
We use Tonie-Boxes for our kids. I don‘t know if it is available in Canada. It is basically a little speaker boy where you can put small figurines on top. These have a chip inside where a story is saved. The figurines are magnetic. Put the figurine on top, the story starts. Very easy for the kids. The have headphones so each kid can listen on its own or they can listen together but the parents do not have to. Also small books are great. And we have drawing boards. Kids can draw on them while sitting in the car seat. Water Wow is also great and window stickers to put on the car windows. We also pack a set of clothes for each kid in the day bag. Car sickness (curvy roads in 🇨🇭!), spilled food or water bottle, or small accidents happen fast.
Definitely not taking a real road trip any time soon, but I’m driving an hour and a half tomorrow and then 45ish minutes Sunday, so thank you!!! Mine are 4 in September, 2, and 7 months 🥴. Also the rest stops are recommended even if the kids are asleep because getting out and moving around helps prevent blood clots from being idle!
I find planning a stay over night ideal if the trip is over 8 hours. I also look for special places to stop, like monuments or special parks. My kids became great at the road trip experience. I also did all of the things you did.
You video helped me SO much. I drove yesterday from New Jersey to Maine with two kids- 4 and 2 years old. Your tips made it not only bearable but enjoyable!
🏅🎖🏆🏅🎖🏆 This is why you have a following! You are helping so many parents out there! I have 3 grandkids and these hacks are extremely helpful! TFS! 🌴😎Hello from Miami!
Way to go Steph! You deserve a medal for sure!! 🏆 I'll be taking a 15 hour road trip in November with my three kids 8 and under so I will be using these tips! Thanks so much for taking the time to film this!
You did a great job, look wonderful and gave us a great video “report” Thank you! God Bless you and praying you have a great visit and safe trip home🙏🏻
Great tips Steph! Being a mom of six children (now grown with their own kids) when we were traveling we preferred stopping in the various towns along the route and like you finding city parks for them to play and run in but of course the rest areas are nice in a “have-to-go” situation :-) :-) As always, Steph, thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights with us ♥️
I am a 100% city person and I don't have kids. However, the true fan that I am, I still watched ). I must say, those mountains and woods gave me anxiety ). I wouldn't be able to live in such a remote place
can't wait to see your cleaning plan upon arriving back home!! I always try to unpack ASAP after getting home otherwise my stuff just never makes it back to where it belongs.
We had just come back from a two week vacation. Immediately had relatives visit us for a week. Then my husband got a job interview in the same area we had gone on vacation at but almost NO vacation time left. We said goodbye to my relatives & hopped back into the car for a fast trip back up 1200 miles to the interview. The moment we started out, our daughter decided that was when she wanted to start potty training!! "I have to go NOW!" No bathrooms in sight but plenty of forest. Unfortunately she got so use to outside "bathrooms", she decided to do it again when we got home until the neighbor across the street called me to ask if I noticed it. Parenthood!!
We are a family of all adults, and do these things :) You did a great job ! Well done !!!!! I loved seeing the snow in the mountains ! tfs 🥰💐🌵🌷🌸🌼🌞🏜️💗🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
You definitely deserve that award. I do some of these already but don't have any way to play movies in the car so that might be a consideration before the next longer trip!
Great job mama!! Hey on your way next time we have an amazing beach in Slave Lake that would make a great stop!!! I’d even be your own personal tour guide!
I grew up in Vernon but have lived in Orlando my adult life. We are considering doing a few weeks in BC to see all the wonders. We have 6 kids and I would love to hear more about the specific areas you enjoyed in Banff and the Kootenays. It seems like everyone wants to explore national parks now!
Little unsolicited advice: the most important factor in getting car sick is visually focusing on something inside the car. So in that case audio books are much preferred over screens and books. Games like watching out for cars in a specific color or spot as many animals as possible work well too, because it keeps focus outside. If a child gets carsick easily, make them watch outside the car especially when on small local roads with lots of turns. On long stretches of straight highway at a consistent speed, it's a lot easier to watch a movie or do some coloring without getting carsick.
@@MsEgwene To this day, I cannot ride in a backseat without getting sick. So annoying! If I had to ride in back, I always tried to sit in the middle seat so I had a good view outside.
You are seriously AMAZING! A road trip on your own with little kids AND you shot footage for a CZcams video, too. Wow! You need a wonder woman merit badge ☺️
My mom could have taught a thing or two about long driving alone with kids back in the day. Forget dvds, iPads, audiobooks, bottled water, juiceboxes. None existed. Not even car seats. LOL We listened to AM radio and sang to the best decade of music ever. We had books to read. And all learned to read maps…no Siri or gps. Navigator got front seat dibs (remember, no car seat requirements). Guess, we survived. And mom had 5 kids. Still, you did well. Very organized. Good tips.
There are some great tips here for driving with grown-ups too - - like the prearranged snacks, and looking up nice places to stretch your legs. Really smart ideas.
My parents always put us in the car, to drive thru the night. That way the kids slept, you could make good time, and less traffic. STILL, to this day, if I'm not driving I'm sleeping, when going on a trip.
Me too!
How did they handle arriving the next morning exhausted from being up all night yet having to keep up with well rested small children who are ready to go?? We tried that method and it didn't work well for us.
I am grandma, age 54 raising 3 grandchildren who are under 5....we literally have barely gone ANYWHERE, let alone a road trip. I really needed some inspiration and hope that maybe someday we can actually travel with these guys! Thanks for the motivation!
I cannot believe that you made it without going crazy. High five, you are incredible 😀
I don’t have kids, but what you did is amazing.
I stayed for the beautiful scenery!
I went in a 3500 mile road trip with my daughter and her 4 kids: 2 in diapers (1 potty training); and 1 breastfeeding. We bought flip flops for the kids that were kept in a bag behind the front passenger seat. They put them on to get out of the van and gave them to me after they reentered. I also made snack sacks each night with the kids' names on them. There was no fighting if a sack was dropped and could easily be returned to its owner. My favorite game they made up was "Who Could Be Quiet the Longest?" The younger two ended up taking much needed naps and the other two got absorbed in books. All in all, one of the best trips ever
Another hack we tried is when we did need restroom breaks going to groceries that have gas stations because you can fuel up, usually get a better restroom, and kids can pick out a healthier snack or activity and feel like they went “shopping” for something. :)
When I was in my teens going on road trips to keep myself entertained I made a bunch of mix tapes I never had to listen to the same music twice and enough batteries with me for my Walkman and my game boy when I got tired of listening to music or playing games I had a camera took pictures of whatever I found interesting and every time we stopped I’d grab brochures to read now in the age of smart phones and tablets I have thousands of songs and shows in the palm of my hand and watch live events and read a book all on the same device and share my journey live on social media with friends and family
Great tips👍😊. I used all these with my kids when they were young (now they are older, they amuse themselves with mobiles and dvds, although stops, snacks etc I still do of course). I drive alone (single mum) the 20hr drive to my sisters. Then 5hrs from there to my parent's (the next day) multiple times a year, or elsewhere on holiday.
One additional idea, which we did when they were young and needed "activities" was I bought "I Spy on my Journey" books so the kids could tick things off when they saw the things during the journey.. Then we had prizes.. The one that had ticked the most first (by the next stop) got to choose something special eg a food treat out of the snacks, the next movie to play on the DVD etc. If the diving wasn't to stressful.. I could play to.. I would ask them what we were looking for from the list and help them look. They loved it.
Omg you DO deserve a medal Steph! Wow 3 kids for hours and hours. God bless you! And great planning and ideas for long road travels!
Kudos! All these tips are absolutely spot on. I've never done 13hrs but did a trip with 4 kids under 7 and 8 m pregnant and before in-car video was a thing, so well done me! I would recommend buying a cover for the back seat - sold for dog owners - they have holes to fit belts etc or you can cut them. It makes clearing out the car afterwards so much easier.
Kudos. Doing the same type of trip in two weeks. 5 littles. 😱
I can’t remember how many times since your last video I have suddenly thought I hope Steph made it Ok - probably every time someone mentioned the extreme weather in Canada. Really pleased to see this video. Enjoy your time with family.
Great tips! Beautiful scenery. Adorable kids 💜 Thanks for sharing.
Girl!!! You rocked this! And during a heatwave! Yes you deserve a medal 🏅
Early on in the video, I noticed those telltale red teething cheeks on your little guy, so I smiled when you mentioned it later. It looks like you all made it like champions!!! Way to go! Welcome to hot Calgary!
Thank you! 🥰☀️☀️☀️
We use Tonie-Boxes for our kids. I don‘t know if it is available in Canada. It is basically a little speaker boy where you can put small figurines on top. These have a chip inside where a story is saved. The figurines are magnetic. Put the figurine on top, the story starts. Very easy for the kids. The have headphones so each kid can listen on its own or they can listen together but the parents do not have to.
Also small books are great. And we have drawing boards. Kids can draw on them while sitting in the car seat. Water Wow is also great and window stickers to put on the car windows.
We also pack a set of clothes for each kid in the day bag. Car sickness (curvy roads in 🇨🇭!), spilled food or water bottle, or small accidents happen fast.
621 miles!!!! Wow, that's quite a long drive for one person with 3 children under 6. You deserve a medal for sure!
Ohhh. That’s a great one - “Only water in the car.” We do this day-by-day but for some reason on road trips that goes out the window. 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️😅
You are Super Mom! I’m so impressed. Beautiful scenery to drive through. Sounds like it was a fun trip! Thanks for sharing 🌞
Doing my first solo trip this summer with the kids, going to be using all these tips!!!! Loved this video :)
Total game changers!
Definitely not taking a real road trip any time soon, but I’m driving an hour and a half tomorrow and then 45ish minutes Sunday, so thank you!!! Mine are 4 in September, 2, and 7 months 🥴. Also the rest stops are recommended even if the kids are asleep because getting out and moving around helps prevent blood clots from being idle!
Good point! We are in the same boat age-wise!
My mom called surprise activities the magic bag
I find planning a stay over night ideal if the trip is over 8 hours. I also look for special places to stop, like monuments or special parks. My kids became great at the road trip experience. I also did all of the things you did.
You video helped me SO much. I drove yesterday from New Jersey to Maine with two kids- 4 and 2 years old. Your tips made it not only bearable but enjoyable!
Steph. You're amazing! Because you planned so well your kids were occupied and you didn't lose your mind. Congratulations!! XXOO ❤
It made a huge difference! Thanks Pat 💕
I can’t even imagine doing this! You rocked it! And yes you deserve a merit badge lol
What a hero you are!! You are so inspirational!! Love your videos!! Wishing you safe travels and a well-deserved rest once you arrive!
Congrats on your road trip adventure! Hope the leg back goes well too
Thank you! My husband will be with me on the way back but I will still use a bunch of the same tricks!
This is the video I didn't know I needed!!
Beautiful scenery!!!
Great tips, unfortunately my kids get car sick, so no activities and snacks have to be limited. Frequently stops to stretch and play are a great
🏅🎖🏆🏅🎖🏆 This is why you have a following! You are helping so many parents out there! I have 3 grandkids and these hacks are extremely helpful! TFS! 🌴😎Hello from Miami!
thanks for all these great ideas!
Way to go Steph! You deserve a medal for sure!! 🏆 I'll be taking a 15 hour road trip in November with my three kids 8 and under so I will be using these tips! Thanks so much for taking the time to film this!
Yes! The snacks and activities made a huge difference! No hungry or bored kids here!
@@TheSecretSlob so glad that worked for you! 😁
Thanks for al the great tips!
Very helpful. Thank you so much!
Beautiful scenery! Thanks for great tips
Great overall tips!
Glad you are safe. Enjoy your visit!
Great advice!
Great ideas. Glad you got there safely.
Wow unimaginable!! Great tips!!
Really good video. Thanks for sharing.
This video was so helpful thank you !
Great video Steph and super sweet pic at the end ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
What a nice and quite roads! Beautiful!
Great tips!!!! God bless you Stephanie and your beautiful family!
You did a great job, look wonderful and gave us a great video “report” Thank you! God Bless you and praying you have a great visit and safe trip home🙏🏻
Yes!!! This is so great! Going on a short road trip at the end of the month and this is soooooo helpful!!!!
What great tips.....and, what a beautiful drive, the scenery was breathtaking!
Hope you're all safe in the heat wave love your videos
Loved the plan you ve made with potential pit stops just in case
Great tips Steph! Being a mom of six children (now grown with their own kids) when we were traveling we preferred stopping in the various towns along the route and like you finding city parks for them to play and run in but of course the rest areas are nice in a “have-to-go” situation :-) :-)
As always, Steph, thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights with us ♥️
Good for you!! I'm impressed:)
I am a 100% city person and I don't have kids. However, the true fan that I am, I still watched ). I must say, those mountains and woods gave me anxiety ). I wouldn't be able to live in such a remote place
Perfect timing! I am leaving this weekend for a 13hr drive also, and really needed these tips! Thank you so much!🤜🏻
Good job! You did earn that badge!!
can't wait to see your cleaning plan upon arriving back home!! I always try to unpack ASAP after getting home otherwise my stuff just never makes it back to where it belongs.
My biggest issue is I can't seem to go more than an hour without needing to pee lol!
Haha I hear that!
We had just come back from a two week vacation. Immediately had relatives visit us for a week. Then my husband got a job interview in the same area we had gone on vacation at but almost NO vacation time left. We said goodbye to my relatives & hopped back into the car for a fast trip back up 1200 miles to the interview. The moment we started out, our daughter decided that was when she wanted to start potty training!! "I have to go NOW!" No bathrooms in sight but plenty of forest. Unfortunately she got so use to outside "bathrooms", she decided to do it again when we got home until the neighbor across the street called me to ask if I noticed it. Parenthood!!
@@eunicebenedict7831 my sister in law used to keep a small potty chair in the back of her car for emergencies like that...
@@brookewhite1984 lol…so did we. It was a life saver and helped with toilet training her by 18months…yay for us.
We are a family of all adults, and do these things :) You did a great job ! Well done !!!!! I loved seeing the snow in the mountains ! tfs 🥰💐🌵🌷🌸🌼🌞🏜️💗🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲
These tips work when traveling with in-laws, too! Especially packing snacks to avoid the "hangries" 😆
You are AMAZING 🤩
I love these tips! Except my youngest gets super car sick within 30 minutes. 😬
You definitely deserve that award. I do some of these already but don't have any way to play movies in the car so that might be a consideration before the next longer trip!
You have a beautiful country. Canada is on my bucket list 😊
Steph, these are such great hacks for traveling with littles! Have a wonderful time with your family! The scenery in this video is amazing!!!
Thank you! Yes, we live in a beautiful country
And a large glass of wine for mum on arrival!
Great job mama!! Hey on your way next time we have an amazing beach in Slave Lake that would make a great stop!!! I’d even be your own personal tour guide!
You are a rockstar!
Happy Canada Day 🇨🇦
Road trippin with 6 kids to the ocean next week- 8 hour drive!!
Woah! That’s a big one! You got this mama!
My mom did the surprise activity/gift on our road trip when i was 11 and i loved it! This “hack” works on older kids too! 😉❤️
I feel like this hack would even work on me! Lol
Well done ❣️❣️❣️
Those hacks work for us adult couples! 😊
Totally! It felt so much better to eat packed snacks than fast food all day!
I grew up in Vernon but have lived in Orlando my adult life. We are considering doing a few weeks in BC to see all the wonders. We have 6 kids and I would love to hear more about the specific areas you enjoyed in Banff and the Kootenays. It seems like everyone wants to explore national parks now!
I grew up in Canmore and Invermere! There is so much to do between hikes and lakes and camping! Definitely come visit!
Can you please create a video on your experience with Veneers?
👍
Unless they get car sick lol. Don't feed them while you're driving if they are prone to throwing up. We have two of those. Not fun.
Little unsolicited advice: the most important factor in getting car sick is visually focusing on something inside the car. So in that case audio books are much preferred over screens and books. Games like watching out for cars in a specific color or spot as many animals as possible work well too, because it keeps focus outside.
If a child gets carsick easily, make them watch outside the car especially when on small local roads with lots of turns. On long stretches of straight highway at a consistent speed, it's a lot easier to watch a movie or do some coloring without getting carsick.
@@MsEgwene To this day, I cannot ride in a backseat without getting sick. So annoying! If I had to ride in back, I always tried to sit in the middle seat so I had a good view outside.
My 8yo daughter "her kids are really cute"
Aww 🥰🥰🥰
im about to take a 10 hour long car trip with my two cousins and my brother who are all under 8. pray for me
God you are the powerful energy that flowed through your son Jesus who healed the sick and raised the dead. Nothing is impossible for you. 🙏
Try going with teens and preteens . Lol
Make a video for adults that act like kids on road trips
Our number one rule for traveling....No Cheetos in the car!!! LOL!
Cheetos were a special treat only offered on vacations when a pool or beach was nearby!!😂