Keeping kids happy on long car journeys is a full-time job, especially if you avoid junk-food bribery, writes Patrick Logue
Irish roads can be a chore at the best of times. If the signposts are not sending you to Cork instead of Carlingford, you're buckling your brand-new alloys in a pothole the size of the Grand Canyon, or stuck driving in a 60km/h zone on a three-lane motorway.
Throw a couple of children into the back seat, add in a bit of tiredness, hunger, even projectile vomit or, indeed, a partner to the left who can't read a map and you've got yourself a pretty dire situation.
Even the best-behaved child can morph into a most aggravating creature when strapped into a mobile metal box for a few hours on a wet, humid August day. Journeys can easily (and often do) break down into "His leg is touching mine", "It's my turn to sit in the middle", or the dreaded: "Are we there yet?" mantra.
Parents will employ varied measures to quell the battles in the back seat.
A survey of motorists last week found that placating children with food was the most common method adopted by parents trying to keep the kids compliant. The survey, carried out by Citroën in the UK, found that 22 per cent of parents surveyed used snacks to keep their children happy on long journeys.
The research found that distracting children with their favourite toys was second most popular, with 18 per cent of parents using this method, while putting a music CD on was third with 17 per cent using this to avoid meltdown in the back.
Books and stories on CD and tape were favoured by 10 per cent of parents while in-car DVDs and handheld games consoles were also mentioned.
Other options that parents might consider are traditional pursuits such as "I Spy", travel chess, counting a particular colour of car, or guessing how many minutes it will take to get to the next town.
Clinical psychologist and author of Parenting and Privilege: Raising Children in an Affluent Society, Dr Mark Harrold, believes many parents overlook the simple solutions to keeping their kids happy on long car journeys.
"The best way is to do the simple things well," says Harrold. "What causes things to go awry is when we overlook some of the basics. The key to a successful trip anywhere, if you're going down the country or if you're going to France, is to plan ahead.
"Very often people say to their kids 'get in the car'. Then they are on their way, and the kids are wondering 'Where are we going? How long are we going for? When are we going to get out of this thing?'"
Harrold says explaining to a child what is about to happen will help them pass the journey without getting irritated by the uncertainty or upset because of the change of routine.
"One good idea would be to have a map and have the children follow the route," he says.
"If you show them on a map before you go where they're going to be going and let them count off the towns as they go along."
"I know it's not rocket science, but let them know, and make it a bit of an adventure for them."
Harrold believes the obvious solutions can also be the ones that are overlooked, and urges parents to plan plenty of rest-stops along the journey. Telling children when these are coming up will keep them satisfied that the journey is not going to last forever.
The timing of journeys can also make them an easier experience. They can be planned around nap times, early in the morning or very late at night.
There are also more subtle ways of making your child a pleasant travelling companion rather that a sparring partner. "Praising your child, telling him or her how great they are, telling them that it is great fun travelling with them will increase the chances of it happening again," says Harrold.
A simple music CD can also be used as a tool in changing behaviour to the good. "You can actually do things such as whoever is behaving nicely can pick the next tune. There is no limit on creativity there," Harrold says.
"It is no harm if you are planning a trip is to hold off on the favourite CD for the trip so they haven't heard it for a week or so."
But some crude methods are also effective such as putting on a DVD or giving your child his or her handheld games console which is sure to keep them occupied for a number of hours.
Harrold believes such use of technology to "baby sit" your child in the back of the car is not in the slightest bit damaging.
"I would say when you are in the car and you have that option absolutely go for it. I'm not in favour of it being available at all times in the house but when you're in a confined space of a car, go with whatever works."
Surveys in the US suggest up to 40 per cent of families use DVD players in their cars, although research this side of the Atlantic is thinner on the ground.
Harrold does believe, however, that using junk food is one of the most common mistakes motoring parents make.
"Junk food is always associated with travelling in the car. What we know in our sane moments is that junk food causes most kids to be quite agitated with a sugar high," he says.
Another, but more extreme solution, would be to install a plastic shield, as seen in many New York yellow cabs, between front and back and let them at it. Better still, leave them in their grandparents' house for the week.
Tips for keeping kids occupied in the car
o Play games such as "I Spy" or counting games
o Have a conversation with your child
o Let the kids pick the music CD
o Allow gratuitous use of the Nintendo DS or other games consoles
o Put on a favourite DVD
o Encourage the kids to read a good book
o Get their favourite book on CD for the trip
o Let them follow a map of the journey to keep them occupied
o Travel late at night or early in the morning
o Provide light snacks and drinks but avoid junk food
o Take plenty of breaks
o Keep the car clutter-free and well ventilated