Is driving from Ohio w/out a DVD player nuts?

[summermac]

Please don't take this statement the wrong way but personally I just am not a fan of having my kids watch movies in the car. My kids will be 5 & 2. Our plan is to leave Ohio Friday night 9ish and drive straight through down. Hang out that day at the resort.

On the way home, we'll leave Saturday, drive about 1/2way I think and then stay somewhere for the night. Do it again on Sunday.

Am I totally out of my mind to do this with kids that age? We've driven 8 hours quite a few times and we also camp a lot - usually 2-3 hours away from home when we go.

Hmmm......your thoughts?

 

[jpmom97]

My kids would never stand for it. They could not stay in the car that long w/o the DVD player but that is just my kids. If your kids are good like that then go for it. Personally, that DVD is a lifesaver and we couldn't make the drive w/o it.

 

[maciec]

Well, you have to figure that they will probably sleep through the night so they won't need one. When they wake up how many hours will they have of awake time and do you have something that will occupy their time if they need it.

On the way back, how many hours is 1/2 way? If they have made it 8 hours before without something to occupy their time and that's where you'll be at when your 1/2 way then I guess you should be fine.

Personally, I wouldn't do the drive without one just for insurance. It's a long drive as it is and I don't want the kids distracting me from the road because they are going bonkers with boredom.

 

[Corjack]

I say yes.....nuts.

 

[tkme4ard]

a DVD player in the car is not a must. Kids did fine before without it.

The thing is IMO, that it's a mommy saver not a kid saver LOL It helps give them something to do where you don't have to entertain them.

We made the drive from Dayton to Orlando back in 03. They went in spurts. They would color, read, play with little lap toys and watch movies or sleep. They were turning 7 & 4 and 1 1/2. It was a very long drive. We drove straight through to jacksonville from 5pm to 5 a.m. and then the last 4 the next day. The way home we drove straight through the full 16 hours. Never ever ever again LOL

 

[69RoadRunner]

People used to do it without DVD players and air conditioning.

They're strapped in, and aren't going anywhere. Yes, you can do it. But, would you be happier with them spending some of the time watching a movie?

Do you let your kids watch movies at home? If so, how would letting them watch one in the car be different?

It's your call. You could take DVDs along as insurance, and not tell the kids about it.

 

[summermac]

My son watches movies at home but my daughter typically doesn't - that's more due to age (20 months). See the thing is, we don't really HAVE a portable DVD player at the moment and so that'd be another expense. LOL.

 

[tkme4ard]

LOL it's a long drive, if you don't buy one before hand make sure you have the budget if you need to stop at a walmart along the way ROFL

 

[summermac]

Yeah, I'm sure there's plenty of wallys b/t Ohio and Orlando. LMAO!

 

[jodifla]

For long trips I always bring our DVD player. When you can't read a good long book (because you are too young), it's a long time in the car with nothingness.

My parents and I drove from Minnesota to Florida when I was in 2nd grade. I STILL remember how BORING that trip was.

 

[jessica52877]

I don't much care for DVD players in the car either. I think you'll be fine. We didn't have one for the longest time and my son is happy to just sit and look out the window, take a nap or listen to "his" music (which is kids music). He just turned 6 and we do have a DVD player and at most he'll watch 1 movie on the way to disney and never any on the way home (with the sun glare it is hard to see the screen during the daylight hours). Our past 2 trips I haven't even taken it along.

 

[69RoadRunner]

They're pretty cheap these days, less than $80 for a basic model.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We made the trip a few times back in the "olden days" when there was no such thing.

Seriously, the ride down is fun, you're excited, playing games. My ids only watched one movie on our way down. The ride back, however, is not nearly as fun. We spent time talking about our favorite things and scrapbooking, but they also watched a few movies.

Sure you can do it, we have and llived to tell. But it is easier now having one. They are afforable, I've seen them for $60. Also, if you have a laptop you could use that to watch movies on.

 

[cerberus]

I am not a fan of the kids watching TV, but we drove from Ohio to Disney in August and we could not have survived without the DVD player. So yes I think you are nuts if you do not at least take one

 

[summermac]

Ooh laptop. My sister has one and she's coming with us. Good call. I can have that on standby then.

My 4 (will be 5 at trip time) year old is OBSESSED with maps so I'm going to try to use that to my advantage.

 

[Crisgw]

I'm from Ohio, and though we've never driven, my kids (ages 4 and 6) would flip out without DS Lites and our Odyssey's dvd player. They would also drive me insane. This said, we have a limit of 3 hours for how long we'll drive so they are totally not used to it! We're doing DC this fall and are hoping to fly to avoid freak outs!

 

[summermac]

We discussed flying but we live about 2 hours from the airport we'd fly out of - likely Pittsburgh. We also live about 2.5 hours from CMH. So either way, we've got a 2 hour drive, plus an hour to be there early, plus check in, plus dealing with idiots in security and god knows what else. Then there's the whole baggage restrictions - either you bring all your stuff and pay to put it under the plane or you lug all that baggage plus 2 kids through the airport. Then you know you'll have at least an hour layover. Debark. Reboard. Before you know it, it's 8 hours just for all that. Ugh.

Flying with kids just freaks me out. LOL. At least if we're in the car the kids are only bothering me. If they need to get out of their seats, we find a place to stop. KWIM?

 

[surfgirl]

If your kids are used to long drives (3+ hours) without it, you'll be fine. We have one in our car, and they don't use it much.... they play, they sing, they make up games. I'm always amazed at how they can entertain themselves without us entertaining them.

Do you have favorite music to take ? That can help. We also bought inexpensive clipboards - helped with the drawing/writing in the car. Color wonder for the younger one. If you are driving when it is dark before bedtime, glow sticks were always a big hit. We tend to do fast food in the car - rather than ask them to sit at dinner and then ride in the car, we feel like we can kill two birds with one stone if we eat while driving. McD's and BK both have apples that are big hits.

good luck.

 

[leagirl12]

When my kids were that age we drove to my dad's in Iowa...which is a 14 hr drive...with no dvd player and my kids did fine. I did have bags of toys and coloring books and things like that to entertain them.

We do have a DVD player now and we usually make the 14 hr drive once a year. But even now I limit the amount of time I will let them watch movies....I make them read and draw and things like that...ya know use their mind.

I say YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!! But like a pp said...there's always a Wal-Mart on the way if it gets to be too much.

 

[lil mermaid]

Well, I wouldn't say you are nuts, LOL but it would probably make the trip easier for everyone if you did have a DVD player.

IT doesn't have to be on all the time, but maybe they could watch a movie or two.