Whether you're driving across the state or across the country, kids are not always easy to deal with when your trip is a longer distance than a normal car ride. Here are some tips to make any car trip easier and more enjoyable for the kids and for you.

Preparations

Each child has their own needs, depending upon age and other factors. Create a special bag or pack for each child, to have beside them throughout the journey. The pack can be used to house their own special snacks, books, activity books, handheld games, a music player, crayons, journal or small toys. A child might also want a favorite pillow or blanket or other object.

Don't forget to pack plenty of snacks and drinks. You'll want to make sure the kids are nourished if you should break down or experience some other delay.

Emergency Preparation

Don't forget to pack extra blankets and/or extra clothing, especially in the cold weather months. Everyone should have the typical emergency supplies including a flashlight, jumper cables, spare tire, flares, bottles of water, shovel and first aid kit. Chains are also a good idea if traveling near snowy areas.

Activities

One of the most important aspects of car travel with kids is keeping the kids occupied. While they should have plenty of individual activities, including music and games, in their own bag or pack, these things won't hold their attention the entire trip. Consider fun activities for the whole car to play, like letter and number games using license plates of cars you are passing. Or purchase some audio books and CD's for the whole family and enjoy listening to them together. For especially long trips, consider preparing an extra pack with some more games, activities and snacks for each child, and give this extra pack to them after the halfway point of the trip or when they become unruly or bored.

Stops

Be sure to make frequent stops to go to the restroom and to give the kids some much needed physical activity. When stopping at a rest stop, take the kids along the paths to look at the scenery. When stopped at a fast food restaurant, let them play in the free playground they often offer for 20 minutes or more. They'll burn off a ton of energy that way. Even if you're on a freeway, you'll find that a park is rarely more than a few minutes away. Most parks also offer bathrooms, a fountain and a playground for the kids.

Handy Things To Have

Also consider bringing along some baby wipes, whether or not you have a baby. These can clean up sticky messes on the hands and face without the need for water. A clean dish towel is also a good thing to have handy, you can use it to clean up messes, hold something hot or cold, dry something off or if someone gets sick.