Moms spend a lot of time in their vehicles running kids from here to there! Here are a few ways to prepare beforehand for whatever problem comes your way.
- I keep an extra deodorant in my vehicle for my boys. When I ask on the way to a practice if they have put deodorant on or not, we can quickly remedy the problem.
- We keep starlight mints in our car for bigger kids who forgot to brush their teeth. They also help kids with sore throats or coughs.
- I have found that a single dryer sheet in the top of potentially stinky sports bag helps ward off the smell when the car sits in the sun.
- “Tired” of kids falling asleep in the car on a short drive home? Have a special bag of lollipops in the car. Pull out a lollipop for your toddler and keep him/her awake until you make it home.
- We keep a family picture in the jockey box of our car. Then if a child were to get lost or kid-napped we could quickly show the authorities who was missing. (Thankfully, we have never used that one.)
- Sneaky snacks…When you are away from home and you know your kids will want a snack. Pack baby carrots or another healthy option. It is amazing what suddenly tastes good to kids when it is the only option. (See also our most view post: “Money Saving Tips”. It gives cheap ideas of food to eat while away from home.)
- Granola bars are pretty versatile. We keep some in our vehicle to feed whomever seems to be starving before their next adventure.
- Gather empty water bottles from the cars. Rinse and refill them and put them in a container in the trunk for reuse.
- Clothing: Potty training kids always had an extra pair of underwear and pants in the emergency kit in our vehicle. Honestly, we also carry a generic looking jacket that fits most of the people at our house for those moments of forgetfulness.
- A little bit of hidden cash in your vehicle helps for those panic moments when you have to use cash to get into an event or when you leave your wallet home on accident and need gas!
- I like to park by the cart return in the store parking lots. First, because when I get finished I can put my cart away easily. Second, if you have small children you can put them in the car and not leave very far when you return the cart. Third, people can only “door” you on one side of your vehicle since the other side is near the cart return. Fourth, if you forgot where you parked, it limits the possibilities…you know it has to be by one of the cart returns.
- And of course, a bottle of hand sanitizer is useful in the winter months when germs spread quickly. A little bit of medicine, lotion, and lip balm will also come in handy.
In all your driving around, remember that the time spent in the car with your kids is a great chance to really talk with your children. Enjoy them. Soon enough, they will drive themselves around.
Other great kid centered ideas are found in these posts: Traveling Questions, Money Saving Tips and Tiny Emergency Kits.
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