Where There's a Will- We are not there yet

I got my learner's permit when I was 17, but didn't get a driver's license until I was 23. I never needed a car, and I figured I wouldn't like driving. I was wrong. I really enjoy riding around, especially on these Northern Californian highways. Had I been present when the Mongol general asked Conan what is best in life, I'd have answered: "The open lanes, a full tank of gas, classic rock at high volume, and the wind in my hair."

Not all can travel in such fashion; many people have children. We're all familiar with the sitcom trope of kids wrestling and screaming in the back seat, asking if the car has conveyed them to their final destination every five minutes.

Children demand attention. It can be trying to provide them with enough of it in a home setting, and maddening to do so in a motor vehicle. If a kid gets bored, they're more likely to misbehave by whining, fighting, refusing to wear a seat belt, shrieking, and generally carrying on in an aggravating manner. While this can be stressful and exasperating for a parent, it can also be dangerous for the driver.

It's important to explain in relatable detail the act of driving to a young passenger. This would include the destination, the length of the voyage, the rules of the trip (i.e., seat belts on, quite voices, etc.) and finally how important it is for the driver to be able to concentrate on the road and on the other nearby cars. You probably don't have to go into specifics, such as what will happen if the driver were to lose focus and careen into oncoming traffic, or how people can sail right through windshields, or that cars are essentially nothing more than steel and highly combustible fuel (read: bombs), but who knows. Maybe that would help a truly troublesome youth calm down.

If at all possible, trips should be planned around a child's routine, so they aren't missing out on a usual meal or nap. Additionally, a good way to get children used to hopping in the car for a drive is to start with small trips. Maybe go around the block a few times, or travel 10 minutes down the road and back (hopefully you have an errand down that way). If a child gets accustomed to the kinds of behaviors that are expected in a car, then a longer trip will (probably) not be a problem.

And of course, there are always car games to be played. I like the dog game: every time you see a dog, you get a point! Sometimes you'll go hundreds of miles without seeing a single dog, and then, suddenly, there's a dog! Some people don't like that one; especially when I'm the only one playing. Me: "There's a dog." Them: "Cool, Will, you win! Stop playing please." Untold minutes later, me: "There's a dog." Kids will probably love that one.

As always, the secret key to a well-behaved child is to praise them for good behavior, and to not encourage bad behavior. Children learn which of their actions will get them attention, and whether it's being yelled at or getting a high-five, they'll take it either way.

There's a dog. Wahoo!
