Long road trips can be tough on children, says travel organiser

Long summer road trips to southern Europe can be gruelling for young children, according to Niels Kjærsgaard, store manager at FDM Travel in Aalborg and an experienced family road-tripper.

His first piece of advice is to avoid turning the journey into a marathon. Instead of rushing to the destination, he recommends breaking up the drive with one or two overnight stops to reduce stress and prevent delays from derailing the schedule.

Regular breaks are also essential. “It’s no different from school, where you have recess. You need to get out and move around, then you can sit again afterwards,” Kjærsgaard says.

Pack plenty of snacks for both children and adults, and bring entertainment such as colouring books or tablets. He also suggests reviving classic car games, like guessing objects or spotting things outside the window.

Many children benefit from knowing the plan. Small routines—such as knowing when the next stop will be and how long they’ll be in the car—can help. Kjærsgaard advises giving children a role, such as tracking the route on a map or watching for rest stops or petrol stations.

Above all, he stresses the importance of staying positive. Things will go wrong—spilled drinks, flat tyres, or traffic jams—but keeping a good attitude helps children do the same. “With travel, as with life, you can’t plan everything,” he says.