Solving the road-trip riddle

Ahhh, the road trip - the quintessential American summer adventure. The open road, windows down, beautiful scenery whizzing by, good music playing like a personal soundtrack.

And then, from the back seat, comes the dreaded break in the road reverie.

"Are we there yet?"

Many parents know that although a road trip alone or with other adults can be a fun adventure, traveling with children often is another story.

"Road trips are stressful, they just are," says Susan Christofferson, executive director of The Nurturing Center.

Children get cranky. Adults get tired of listening to complaints. And the whole family is stuck together in a confined space.

Not necessarily a mix that results in a pleasant several hours or days.

Inherent stress aside, here are some tips for parents about to buckle up for a long road trip.

Forget about following an adult-friendly schedule.

"You gotta be on kid time," Mary Witbrod, co-owner of toy store Imagination Station, says. "That's the biggest trick."

Kid time means likely making more, and longer, stops than adults need or plan for, she says.

Pull over periodically for 10- to 20-minute breaks. Use the time as a brief playtime, not just a bathroom break. Encourage children to run around and burn some energy so they'll be ready for a rest when it's time to get back in the car.

Look for rest stops that have open areas away from the road where children can play games such as tag. If you're near a residential area, look for a school that has a playground. Pack a football to toss for children who are too old to be enthused by tag or similar games.

Opt for a fast-food place that has play equipment if you're pulling over for lunch or a snack.

Pack presents.

Some child experts advise against bribing children with gifts to get them to behave.

But when they're trapped in a vehicle with crabby children and miles to go, many parents swear by small gifts.

"I consider anything that keeps them busy to be great," Christofferson says.

Go to a dollar store or toy store and stock up on plenty of inexpensive toys or activities.

Witbrod recommends wrapping the individual toys and giving them to the children as gifts. The element of surprise goes a long way, she says. She employed that trick often while flying with her children, even dubbing herself the "airplane fairy."

Try classic toys that have a twist, Witbrod suggests. Drawing tools are a given for road trips, but consider bringing something unusual, such as markers that change color. The novelty will keep them entertained longer than the usual crayons and pencils.

Also look for games or activities that don't involve parts that are easily and quickly lost in car seats or on the floor. Many board-game companies have miniaturized and magnetized travel versions that are perfect for the car.

Clay or Play-Doh makes a great toy for the car, Witbrod says, because it keeps children busy and is easy to clean up.

Give kids their new toys periodically, maybe every hour or 100 miles, depending on their attention spans. If you have children who haven't mastered the art of sharing, consider getting two of each toy so they don't fight.

Bring books for a no-mess activity.

A road trip might be the perfect time to catch up on summer reading, even if that means turning on the tape or CD player so the whole family can "read."

Parents can read to younger children or ask older children to read to siblings. If you have a bunch of readers in the car, pack a chapter book or collection of short stories and take turns reading sections aloud so everyone can listen.

Fast readers might enjoy bringing along a few books from a series. Popular series this summer are the "Mysteries in Our National Parks" series by Gloria Skurzynski and Alane Ferguson as well as the History Mysteries series that ties into the American Girls dolls and books empire, head librarian Joey Kositzky of the Whitefish Branch Library says.

The parks series, which is best for children ages 9 to 12, follows a wildlife veterinarian and her family as they travel to national parks to solve mysteries, such as who or what is responsible for disappearing grizzly cubs in Glacier National Park.

History Mysteries, also good for children ages 9 to12, features young heroines from days gone by who uncover the truths behind mysterious circumstances, such as when one of the protagonists stumbles upon the hide-out of high-seas pirates. The series has numerous authors, so look for books by the series title.

Consider checking out books, fiction and nonfiction, that relate to your destination to get children excited about where you're going. For example, if you're heading to the East Coast, find a book that takes place in the early days of American history.

Try some audio books that are age-appropriate for the children. Choose something the whole family (and that means mom and dad, too) will enjoy.

If you're a Harry Potter fan, consider reserving an audio copy of the newest book, "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," to take along for everyone to hear rather than arguing about who gets to read it first. The book is due out July 16.

One Harry Potter audio set might be enough to last both legs of your trip - there and back. The last book, "Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix," spans 23 CDs and some 27 hours.

Go high-tech.

Some children might not be satisfied easily with more traditional forms of entertainment, such as books and markers. In that case - and if you're willing to spend more than you would buying a few toys at the dollar store - consider decking out the car with a DVD player. The children - and your sanity - might well thank you for spending the extra money.

Most big box stores and electronics stores sell portable DVD players that range in price from $99 to $800.

Some feature a single 8-inch or 10-inch screen that folds down onto the DVD player component (think laptop computer). Others come with two screens that can be mounted to the backs of individual headrests; that way, children don't have to sit right next to each other to see the screen.

Typically, portable DVD players come with headphones, so viewers won't disturb fellow car occupants. Alternately, you can run the sound through the car's speakers to go sans headphones.

DVD players are a nice option if you'll be staying overnight somewhere that has limited entertainment options.

Most systems have various power-source accessories so you can run them on batteries or through a cigarette lighter adapter, or plug them into an outlet.

Reporter CAMDEN EASTERLING can be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com.