We’re in the height of the summer holidays and an estimated 30 million* Brits are taking staycations rather than going abroad. New research has found these road trips, don’t come without stress, after it has been revealed 87% of parents feel stressed before they even get in the car, leaving 31% admitting that this ruins their holiday.

The survey also found parents going on long drives with their family not only can be a stressful situation but can also be a distraction, with 65% admitting they feel stressed knowing their children could be bored, 45% feel pressure when the car journey is full of squabbles and 32% of parents feel tense thinking their passengers need constant attention.

With staycation drives in full swing, vehicle sun blind manufacturers, Car Shades, partnered with psychological therapist, counsellor and systemic life coach Michael Padraig Acton, to provide five top tips to de-escalate a stressful drive:

Plan effectively

Ensuring a stress-free journey begins in the planning, Michael Padraig Acton suggests three key areas;

Food – Avoid too many sweets and other foods that are high in sugar because this will lead to a sugar spike and over-excited children.
Comfort – Make a child comfortable by taking time to ensure the conditions in the vehicle are good for them, with a cool temperature and not much clutter.
Entertainment – Boredom generally triggers a child to become mischievous so make sure there is plenty for them to do on the journey. Bring a selection of activities such as colouring books, magnetic board games, action figures and video games as well as playing games like ‘Car Bingo.’

Michael comments: “A road trip is a marathon, not a sprint, so don’t let children take control, spread activities out over the journey and change up when they get bored.”

Manage your emotions

To avoid a stressful drive, it is important for adults to manage their own emotions. One in seven drivers has admitted to experiencing road rage within the last year. Arguing, swearing at other road users and pipping horns will contribute to an unpleasant atmosphere which children will often respond to by misbehaving. Michael suggests that if a child begins to act up, use reasonable language when talking to them: “Avoid swearing or shouting as this usually intensifies and prolongs the situation.”

Speak calmly

If a child’s behaviour begins to escalate, parents must speak calmly but firmly to the children. If possible, the adult passenger should do the talking and refer to the driver’s needs for concentration. Try phrases such as “Remember, mummy needs to concentrate on driving so everyone has to be sensible when playing,” or “Distracting daddy can be dangerous so let’s keep our voices down.”

Pause the journey

If talking calmly isn’t effective, then explain to children that if their behaviour doesn’t improve, you will have to stop the car. If the situation doesn’t get better, find a safe place to stop and follow through with this action. By taking this approach, most children will respond positively. If there are still some issues, it might be worth taking a lengthy break and talking to your child about the reasons behind their behaviour. If they are fed, watered, comfortable and entertained, it could be that they are feeling unwell or are unhappy about something.

Give them a sense of control

Michael comments that some children require extra support when travelling so provide them with a ‘previewing’ strategy: “Give your child a high-level outline of the itinerary, breaking it down into a more detailed snapshot. Inform them how long you will be driving for, when and where you will take breaks, what the child will need to pack, what activities they can do to amuse themselves, what food and drink will be available and what behaviour is expected.”

Pre-empting as much of the journey as possible makes them feel more in control and they are less likely to become upset or distracted. If a child starts to show signs of distress, settle them by reeling off the preview again.

Steve Giles, managing director at Car Shades, commented: “Everyone looks forward to their summer trips away and being able to relax with the family. However, as our survey has demonstrated the journey can prove quite stressful when there is constant arguing, followed by “Are we there yet?”, and “I’m bored”, whilst the driver is trying to follow road signs and listen closely to the satnav’s last-minute directions.

“We want to make everyone’s holiday enjoyable from start to finish, and with that comes the initial drive to the destination. We hope the tips provided allows for a stress-free drive, enjoyed by all.”