What is it about cars?

Some days just getting into the car seems to trigger a stream of whining from the back seat: "I wanted to sit behind mom." "I am thirsty." "I need to pee." "Mom, I am bored." Does it have to be that way?

Everyone has to try using the bathroom before we get into the car, everyone is offered a drink, we sing and chat and tell stories and listen to kids' music or the radio. But nothing seems to help. The only thing we are very strict about is no food and no drinks while driving because we are dreadfully afraid of choking; my little brother nearly choked to death in a car once and that experience is not something I am ever willing to repeat. I am not talking about the long road trips, just the regular drive to daycare and the office, to go shopping, to go to a friend's house. We also try to have a few car-free days every week because the kids seem to dislike it so much.

I don't like driving anyway and the whining makes it even more unpleasant for all of us. Any ideas to reduce this?

 

If your library has books on cd I highly recommend them. We started at 4 when we moved and found our new library had a ton of books on cd. The silence from the backseat is still deafening. My two are 8.5 and we've progressed on to books that are up to 14 cds long and they can't wait to go somewhere.

Marissa

 

I agree with PP to try books on cd. Or if you have an ipod some podcasts or music.

 

Portable DVD player? Although not sure whether they'd be worth it for short trips?

 

Thank you for the ideas - we will try the audio books. Music is not helping right now, but it used to for a long time.

 

I've never had this issue, but we don't go out that much so I guess they're so excited when we do that it doesn't occur to them to whine.

 

Not that my boys whine in the car. They enjoy listening to and singing to the songs we put in the CD player, but I think they'd really like books on CD. Thank you for the idea!