I wrote this post in collaboration with Yoto who have provided me with a Yoto Mini to give away, and gave us some free Yoto cards too. I love Yoto and you can see a bunch of reviews I’ve done for them over the years here! This post contains affiliate links.
Last week, we piled into the car for what was optimistically described as a simple two and a half hour journey to Weymouth for our family summer holiday. If you’ve ever travelled anywhere with children, you’ll know that a simple journey is a fantasy cooked up by Google Maps in the same way that Love Island contestants claim they’re ‘looking for love’; technically possible, but highly improbable.
By the time we’d managed a service station stop, fielded four snack demands, some urgent toilet trips (not synchronised, obviously), and endured the phrase “Are we nearly there yet?” on repeat, it was probably closer to four hours. Which, according to new research from Yoto, is bang on brand for the average British family holiday drive.
Apparently, most summer journeys last about 2 hours 30 minutes, but the chaos kicks in just 44 minutes after setting off. Honestly, I think that’s generous. Ours lasted approximately 12 minutes before someone announced they were hungry despite being offered various breakfast options not one hour before.
Backseat breakdowns
The study found that on the average trip, parents can expect:
- 3 tantrums
- 4 snack requests
- 3 toilet stops
- And the dreaded question: “Are we nearly there yet?” about ten times
(If anything, I’d say those figures are conservative. Perhaps my kids are just overachievers.)
Over 80% of parents admit to lying about arrival times, and I’ll put my hands up here: I’ve done it. I don’t get away with it so much now they can read the sat nav in front of me, but I’ll always lie if I can rather than put up with incessant whining.
The Yoto Mini: A Lifesaver
This time, though, we did at least come prepared. We took our Yoto Mini along for the ride, and somewhere between I’m huuuuuuungry number two and our first loo stop, we stuck on one of our Diary of a Wimpy Kid collection and it bought us some peace. Everyone went quiet, listened, laughed in the right places, and for a glorious hour or so, the only sound in the car was the story. No whinging.
Yoto have even put together a free 2.5-hour playlist of stories, music and games you can stream through their app, designed to cover the average UK car journey. Although if you’re heading to Weymouth, you’ll probably still need to loop it once or twice. If you don’t want to listen or the kids won’t agree – you can use wired or bluetooth headphones, leaving you to listen to your own music without complaint.
They also partnered with Maddie Moate (the remarkably cheery dad’s favourite from CBeebies) to host a bunch of games and quizzes for families at motorway services. Which frankly sounds preferable to the usual Welcome Break experience of paying £6.50 for a limp sandwich (with possible added botulism) and trying to stop the kids climbing into the Krispy Kreme cabinet.
It might be a little late for summer, but if you’re planning a road trip with children this – whether it’s to Weymouth, Wales, or just the big Tesco – do yourself a favour.
Take the Yoto Mini (which costs £59.99), download the playlist (or if you want to listen to a story, make sure the card is downloaded before the journey by popping it in the Yoto when it’s connected to the WiFi), pack twice as many snacks as you think you’ll need, and prepare to lie through your teeth about how much longer it’s going to take.
Because, spoiler: no. No we are not nearly there yet.
Would you like to WIN a Yoto Mini worth £59.99?
Yoto have kindly provided a Yoto Mini, worth £59.99, for one of my readers. To enter, use the Gleam Widget below. Entrants must be UK-based.
