How to survive a family car trip

It pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the kiddies occupied when you're on the road. Photo / Thinkstock

It's school holiday time, so if you're heading out of town with your little darlings in tow, here's a few survival tricks you might need up your sleeve.

School holidays are upon us and that means many of us will be heading out of town with our little ones.

It pays to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep the kiddies occupied and everything in place to make the journey as pleasant as can be.

These are the best ideas I've come across, thanks Pinterest.

Window art

Ages 3 and up

Drawing is fun, especially when you get to draw somewhere you're not supposed to. Washable markers and glass cleaning wipes are all you need for this activity. Kids can doodle whatever they like on the window, and simply wipe it off when done.

I went to the shops...

Ages 4 and up

Begin this activity by saying, "I went to the shops and bought an...(something beginning with 'A')" The next player repeats what you said and adds something beginning with 'B' and so on until someone forgets an item.

Bingo!

Ages 3 and up

This one takes a bit of prep work. Before your trip, draw grids on some paper or cardboard. In each square, draw items you're likely to come across on your trip - a stop sign, a sheep, the golden arches of McDonald's, etc. Mark an "X" over the item once it's been seen. The first to get a full row, and shouts "Bingo!" wins.

The bribe box

Ages 2 and up

Stock up on bubbles, stickers, crayons and cars at the $2 shop. Wrap each item individually and put them in a box. Your child can choose one goodie at a time, if they behave.

Don't forget the lyrics

Ages 3 and up

Load your iPod with songs the family knows and loves. Hit pause at random and whoever can sing the next line without a flaw, wins that round.

...and here are some great tips to keep your car from looking like a war zone.

Shower caddy

It's all very well having pens, pencils and crayons to keep your kids busy but things can get messy if these are left to roll around on the seats and floor. A shower caddy or two with suctions are perfect for keeping things off the floor and within reach.

Backpack table

Sling a backpack over the back of the front seat with snacks and activities for your child. If you add something relatively hard to the unzipped top part, it makes a good travel table.

Bag organiser

An empty tissue box is great for storing plastic shopping bags - which come in handy for, among other things, soiled clothes, nappies and trash.