The car drill technique

The car drill technique

Bored children sitting close together in a small space are a recipe for disaster on car trips. Not only do they end up bickering among themselves – their whining can be a potentially dangerous distraction for whoever is driving. Giving them something to do and having clear rules about how they behave inn the car are key to a stress-free – and safe – journey.

Step 1: Decide where they sit

If you have several children think about how best to seat them. Kids close in age will be able to easily swap in-car activities between themselves if you seat them next to each other. Alternately, an older child sitting next to a younger sibling can help keep their kid brother or sister amused and retrieve any dropped toys or books. If two of your children tend to clash more, seat them well away from each other if you have the space.

Keep safety in mind at all times – the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that kids under 12 sit in the back of the vehicle since they could be injured by the passenger seat airbag in an accident. Likewise, never put your baby’s rear-facing infant carrier in the front passenger seat.

Step 2: Keep them occupied

Idle hands and minds make mischief, so five minutes before you intend setting off make sure each child chooses a toy, game or book to keep them occupied in the car.

Step 3: Buckle up

Before you leave, remind your kids to buckle up. State laws vary when it comes to child car seat usage, but the NHTSA recommends that older children who are shorter than 4 feet 9 inches tall should use a booster seat to ensure that the adult seat belt fits them safely. They also need to wear their seatbelts properly to protect them in the event of a car accident, so don’t allow them to slip the shoulder portion of the belt behind their backs.

Step 4: Lay down the rules

Make sure your children know what you expect from them in the way of behavior. You can make it as simple as firmly stating that ‘house rules apply’ or have a separate list of four or five in-car behavior rules. The point is that you should be in control at all times.

Step 5: Stop if there’s a problem

Constantly monitoring your kids in the rearview mirror or turning around to try and exert your authority means your focus isn’t where it should be – on your driving. If any of your children act up in the car, pull over to the side of the road to sort it out and switch the seating arrangement to keep the peace if necessary.

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