How To Time Block During Downtime
1. Use audible or audiobooks that will interest your kids. If you put on a Harry Potter series for one hour, itâs flown by before you know it. This is also a golden opportunity to share a childhood favorite of your own, something they have not been exposed to before. 2. Create kidsâ playlists for songs that they like (I use âSpotifyâ) and you can resort back to this playlist in times of need. Rather than just including the same songs they listen to all the time, liberally sprinkle in roadtrip songs like âIâve Been Everywhereâ by Johnny Cash, âOn the Road Againâ by Willie Nelson, âRoute 66â by Chuck Berry, or âTake it Easyâ by the Eagles. By the end of the trip you may find yourself all singing together. 3. Movies: Of course you can resort to movies, but donât let old familiar habits takeover on the unique opportunities of traveling together. Especially for older kids, skip the movies and encourage interactive games, question exchange and sing-alongs. A movie can be a last resort and you can simply use your mobile device, strategically placed to make your car into a movie theater for the passengers. An example block of a full day of roadtripping with your family might look like this: 500 miles or eight hours, and letâs say you're driving from Tampa, Florida, to Atlanta, Georgia, and spending the night there. I wouldn't set anything in a rigid schedule; rather, let the following happen naturally when everyone wants to participate in each activity, or plan general details before so you have stops set up. Eight hours broken down in two-hour blocks is only four driving blocks. If you have another driver with you, then switch after each two-hour driving block and you get to stay nice and refreshed. Keep in mind this is the maximum recommended driving distance in a day! Each of you will only drive two, two-hour blocks...easy! It really puts it in perspective to examine the time and distance relationship in this way. It's literally the equivalent of driving from Sarasota, Florida to Orlando, Florida, taking a break and then doing whatever you want for a couple of hours ( while the other person drives in this example) before you drive your last 2 hour block and then spend the final two hours relaxing and doing whatever you want and getting excited about your arrivalâwhile enjoying each part of that easy process. You'll be surprised at how easily you can drive 500 miles with two people and not even feel fatigued.