Travelling with children can sometimes be the making of an arduous journey, for both parents and children alike. Keeping bored youngsters entertained can sound easier than it actually is, and in-car entertainment can be the last thing on your mind in the pre-travel rush. Read up on our long journey hints and learn how to keep everyone’s tempers on an even keel.

• Puzzles and travel games can be can all be useful tools in keeping children entertained during a road trip. Try keeping a stash of games and treats in the car boot which you reserve for journeys. This way the toys will remain novel and you also won’t need to worry about organising entertainment if you go on a spontaneous drive.
• Try to involve your children in activities that involve looking out the window in order to avoid motion sickness. Point out any interesting sights along the way or start up a game.
• Useful games to start up whilst in the car are ‘I Spy’ or the registration game, where phrases are made out of the letters on number plates (for example, SGM 787 could stand for Small Grey Mouse).
• Comfortable kids are generally content kids. Make sure that your children are fed, watered and not in need of the toilet. Bring plenty of snacks and drinks with you and remember to make regular pit stops. Fizzy drinks are likely to mean more stops!
• Books on tape and music are another good way to prevent your children from becoming bored and fractious. If you don’t want to share the latest chart-toppers, however, walkmans might be a good idea.
• Cries of ‘How many miles?’ and ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ often punctuate car travel. A good way to pre-empt such questions is to appoint an older child as map-reader, or to point out any road signs and discuss your journey with your passengers.
• If you are taking luggage with you then try to pack it into the boot or on a roof rack. Avoid putting any luggage in the back with the children as it could cause them to be cramped and uncomfortable.
• Breaking up a long journey can make it feel far more bearable. Try to plan your journey in advance and make room for stop-offs in scenic places for walks or picnics.
• Song singing is always a good way to keep morale high and keep everyone entertained. Old Macdonald, One Man Went to Mow, The Wheels On the Bus and Oranges and Lemons are all classics that can help to pass the time pleasantly. If you sing the green bottle song think about starting at 10 green bottles rather than 100 green bottles!