Parents Survival Guide to Road Trips

Summer can be exhausting for many parents, especially those with young children. The thought of keeping the kids entertained day in and day out through the long summer months can be stressful. Perhaps it is for that reason that parents try to fill the summer with day trips and family vacations. These trips create lasting memories while keeping the kids entertained and out of your hair. The one dreaded part of any family destination is the road trip. If taking a fifteen minute ride to the mall is excruciating with nonstop bickering and whining, then how on earth could anyone be expected to endure hours of driving with impatient kids.

There is good news however, unlike our parents; we have technology on our side. There are many options available depending on your budget. Portable DVD players can be a very worthwhile investment while on the road. The portable DVD player ranges in price depending on manufacturer and store. Online shopping is suggested for maximum discounts. Bizrate for example, has the Sony DVPFX810 Portable DVD Player for the starting price of $152.00. Wal-Mart has the Coby 7" TF-DVD7005 Portable DVD Player for under $90.00. So shopping around is definitely worth it. Many new cars have the option of installing a DVD player right in the car, but for those of you who do not have such options, a portable DVD is a great way of keeping the kids entertained in the back seat. They can choose their favorite movies before hitting the road, or for a few dollars, they could rent movies that they haven't seen yet.

Depending on the age, handheld video games could prove useful. Many kids already have these; but purchasing a new game for them may be helpful in keeping them busy. Wal-Mart has Game Boy Advanced starting at 109.00 and games for under $32.00. Younger children may enjoy single game handhelds like the Disney Princess Pals Handheld Video Game ($37.49 on Amazon.com). Amazon is always a good choice for bargains. Whatever you choose in handheld systems, they are guaranteed to provide some quiet time.