Winter Travel With Kids

Driving during the winter months in snowy regions can be tough. Poorly plowed roads, black ice, blowing snow and whiteout conditions can cause all types of problems for travelers. It is important for all drivers to be prepared for winter traveling emergencies, but it is especially important when traveling with young children. As adults, your first job when stranded in a car in severe winter weather is to take care of the health and safety of your little ones strapped into the backseat of your car. Every parent should have a winter travel emergency kit during snowy seasons that is packed with essential supplies. Our family keeps a kit in the trunk of our car full of items I would hesitate to drive without.

Blankets If you and your children are stranded in your car in bitter cold temperatures, the first thing you need to do is make sure everyone stays warm. When traveling, you should pack enough blankets for each member of your family regardless of whether you travel separately at times. This ensures that a blanket is available for everyone should the need arise.

Charged Cell Phone If your car breaks down in the middle of a country road during a cold winter day and you would have to walk miles before you could reach another human being, a cell phone will quickly become your best friend. If you know you are going to be driving long distances during the winter months, always make sure your cell phone is fully charged before you leave the house. You should also keep a car charger for your phone in your car at all times.

Food and Water If you become stranded in your car with young children, there is a high likelihood the little ones are going to be upset. This is especially true if you are unable to move or leave the vehicle for a significant amount of time. You should include bottled water, juice boxes and non-perishable snacks like pretzels, Goldfish, crackers and other kid-friendly items in your emergency kit. This will help to quiet hungry tummies, keep them hydrated and keep the kids calm.

Flashlight It is important to keep a flashlight in your vehicle no matter what the season. You never know when it might come in handy. If you end up stranded in a snowstorm at night and need to call for help, a flashlight can be used to locate landmarks, street signs or highway markers that will help emergency responders find you.

In addition to an emergency kit, you should make sure someone knows where you are going and when you are supposed to arrive at your destination. When I travel to visit my mother with my children, I always call her before we leave our home, and when we return, I call her again when we get back to our house. By doing this, I know that if we were to become stranded and did not show up at her house or call her after we arrived at our own, she would be able to send someone to look for us.