A three-and-a-half-hour journey over the holidays with your children is when parents are subjected to “extreme stress”, according to new research.
The highs (and lows) of traveling with young children during the end of the year survey of 2,000 parents with children ages 5-12 who traveled with their child for the holidays last year Was seen.
Parents report being most stressed just over three and a half hours into their journey – but 12% said their stress peaks in the first hour.
Where is this tension coming from? Parents said entertaining their children is the most sought-after aspect of the holiday vacation (64%).
After that, there’s dealing with temper tantrums (46%), trying to find the bathroom (43%) and hearing “Are we there yet?” The back seat was found to be the top stressor for all parents (40%).
In fact, 28% would rather hear nothing but “Baby Shark” during the entire trip than travel with a screaming baby. And 13% said they found getting a root canal to be a more pleasant experience.
commissioned by Welch’s Fruit Snacks The survey, conducted ahead of their Fruitside Assistance campaign and by Talker Research, revealed that despite the stress and difficulties, 93% of parents said traveling with their young children is still totally worth it.
And the good news is that nearly nine in 10 parents feel more prepared to travel with their children this year than in previous years.
Planning ahead is important – the average parent has their itinerary completely set out two months (2.3) before hitting the road.
“During the busy upcoming travel season, when the highways are jam-packed, and cars are bumper to bumper, parents know that delays, boredom and tired kids are the biggest drivers of the holiday season,” said Jason Levine, chief marketing officer of PIM Brands. “Can turn magic into a test of endurance.” Maker of Welch’s Fruit Snacks. “We wanted to help these families by giving them kits containing everything they need to deal with child road trip accidents.”
83 percent of respondents said the key to a successful vacation with your kids is a strong breakfast roster.
This may be due to parents using snacks to prevent temper tantrums (78%) – which prevents those stress-inducing meltdowns from occurring.
But snacks can be good for both kids and parents: 80% of respondents have eaten snacks packed for their kids while traveling.
No matter who is eating them, fruit snacks (73%), cookies (64%) and cheese puffs (50%) are the top three snacks that parents must eat on the go.
What should you keep in mind when choosing these important snacks? According to parents, individual packaging (63%) is the most important thing to pay attention to.
Snacks that are easily transportable (60%), aren’t messy (59%) and don’t need to be refrigerated (59%) are also prominent.
With the goal of ensuring travelers have easy access to the snack, Welch’s Fruitside Assistance will be available for a limited time on I-95 between New York City and Boston, the 5 Freeway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Interstates between Chicago and Will be available at Rs 55. St. Louis.
The kits that the van will hand out include coloring activities and games, a blanket, a phone charger, a fruit-shaped squishy toy and fruit snacks.
Along with keeping snacks on hand during travel, many parents (61%) reported that they become less strict about rules to keep their kids happy.
77 percent said they gave them more screen time than usual, 62% made them eat more junk food. Additionally, 61% of parents said that bedtime has also been completely disrupted.
And while six in 10 parents agreed that traveling with their kids is the most stressful part of the entire holiday season, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be careful in planning to make the trip go as smoothly as possible. Not trying.
According to the data, the average parent plans to spend $911 on everything travel-related this holiday season — from gas to accommodations to breakfast for their kids.
“We know travel can be unpredictable, so our goal is to help families stay happy along the way. It’s our way of spreading happiness, making the journey as enjoyable as the destination,” Levin said.
Parenting Advice on How to Travel with Kids Like a Pro (*Responses edited for clarity)
- “Be flexible. Things will go wrong. He is alright.”
- “Be patient.”
- “Make sure they’re happy. Give them plenty of snacks and electronics!”
- “Be prepared for a recession. Pack healthy snacks and their favorite toys.
- “Make a flexible plan. Decide how much work you think your little one can handle in a day, and then plan a little more, but with the understanding that it’s okay if you can’t do it all.
- “Always keep a surprise in your bag for your kids’ good behavior while traveling. “It could be a toy or a game.”
- “The calmer you are, the calmer they will be. Act like it’s normal.”
- “Don’t pay attention to small things. Babies will cry, toddlers will melt down, toddlers will pout, and teens will ignore everyone. It’s just a part of life.”
- “Go with the flow.”
Survey Method:
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 parents of children aged 5-12 who had traveled for the holidays with their child in the past year; The survey was commissioned by Welch’s Fruit Snacks and administered and conducted online by Talker Research between November 6 and November 12, 2024.
