Are We There Yet?

We all know those dreaded but inevitable words that no parent ever wants to hear:   "Are we there yet?"  Trips seem interminable to kids because they haven't yet developed an ability to estimate lengths of time or distance.  But you can help them develop these skills with some simple techniques.

First of all, make it easier for your child to understand the "big picture" by showing them a map.  Point out the starting and ending points and explain how long it will take to arrive at your destination.  You can even print a copy of the map and let your child mark off progress during the trip.

Kids can usually relate distance and time if you compare it to something they know.  For instance, if you traveled to Disneyland last year, they probably remember approximately how long that trip took.  So you can tell them that it will take "two Disneyland trips to arrive at Grandma's house."

Make a list of landmarks that the kids will be able to see during the trip. Tell them to watch for each landmark, and when they get to the end of the list the trip will be over.

You can also use the car’s odometer to help your children get a sense of the distance of the trip. Tell them approximately how far you are going to travel and let them keep track of the progress. For older kids, have them help compute the car’s gas mileage as you travel.

Or for a fun way to beat the "Are we there yet?" blues, try this activity:  give each child some fake money and ask for it back in increments throughout the trip. For instance if you are going on a five-hour drive, give them $10 and have them give you back $1 every half hour. Tell them that when they run out of money the trip will be over.

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