It’s not always easy traveling with kids: they’re noisy, distracting, and short-tempered. They can’t seem to stay in their seat for a full five minutes.

So, let’s say you are headed to a road trip this week: the food is ready, the fruits and juices are in the basket, and the kids (and your dog) are buckled in their seats. But 30-minutes on the road and the kids are starting to get irritable. What’s worse, snack wrappers are all over the floor, the dog is drooling in your new carpet, and the stereo blasting with a pop band’s song over and over again. One more wail from your kids and your head is so ready to explode.

So, how do you address such situation? Do you . . . (A) Give up and start driving home, (B) Scream at your children and threaten to leave them at the next gas station, or (C) Think of something to make their drive more comfortable and fun.

Choices A and B sound so vicious. You would not actually want to turn a seemingly exciting road trip to a nightmare simply because of your kids. So, obviously, the best choice is letter C. Plan ahead for fun games and activities to occupy your kids while on the road. Either you can organize your own games, or bring something for the kids to play. Aside from that, here are other ways for you to make your kids comfortable on your travel.

• Take books along with you. If you don’t want your kids screaming and jumping at the backseat, be sure to bring along their favorite books to read. Keeping them busy will keep them seated and less irritable.
• A portable DVD is a good investment. A 1 to 2 hour movie is a good way to get a nice break from the constant screams and wails of your kids. So, before leaving your house, ask your kids to bring their favorite movies to watch along the way.
• Bring along coloring materials. Let your kids’ creative juices flow along the way. Bring with you coloring books, pens, and drawing papers, but make sure to remind your kids not to draw on the car seats.
• Take pictures. Let your kids take pictures to document your travel. This will occupy them all throughout the trip, and let them remember all the fun of the road trip. But make sure to tell you kids not to move a lot so as not to distract you in front.
• Keep your car cool. Nothing can be more annoying to kids than a hot weather. So, before you head off the road, make sure to check on your auto AC condenser to ensure that good supply of cold air reaches the cabin.

Keep in mind that kids don’t have the patience of an adult. Once they get tired of something, they will start complaining. So, plan carefully for fun activities for your kids when planning a road trip.