Road Trips With Kids Don't Have to Be Stressful
By Stephen R. Farris
Taking long trips with the family can be relaxing and rewarding. However, it may not always seem that way if you have small children tagging along.
Being cooped up in the small confines of your vehicle can cause restlessness and irritable behavior with smaller kids. Their unruly behavior could trigger a negative response from either passenger or driver and that's not good for anyone in a moving vehicle.
Not only that, but it could bring undue stress and turn what otherwise would have been a fun outing into chaos.
There are a few tips you can try to turn things around if this happens, or to prevent it.
Ignore It
It's the old rule of thumb. Ignore bad or unruly behavior, but praise good behavior. Eventually kids will come around wanting attention for things when they are doing good.
Change the Narrative
Taking long trips can also be just as stressful on kids as it is on adults. There are plenty of fun things to do that will pass the time on long road trips such as singing songs (in a normal voice of course), spotting objects that correspond with the alphabet, counting the different out-of-state license plates, or the old standby "slug bug" -- although the latter may be more difficult these days.
Breathe Deeply
Before you respond to your kids acting up on the trip, take a few deep breaths before you make a response. It could be the difference in making the situation less upsetting for all.
Still Stressed Out?
If you've made it through the road trip in one piece and aren't stressed out by the kids, but you find that you've still got stress in the shoulders or back from uncomfortable seating or driving practices, you might need to see a chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic.
Did you know that your local chiropractor does more than make adjustments to correct your spine? If you're feeling pain in your feet, ankles, legs, hips and lower back region a licensed doctor of chiropractic medicine, such as the ones found at The Joint Chiropractic can help give you relief.
The Joint Chiropractic has more than 600 nationwide locations ready to help with your chiropractic needs. With their hands-on, gentle, all-natural, noninvasive, and non-addictive treatment, you'll wonder why you didn't get pain relief help sooner.
No appointment is necessary and all you have to do is walk in and ask to speak to one of the chiropractors on staff to get started to better health, and help make those long road trips less painful.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lake Mary, Fla.