Are car DVD systems worth it for a family that expects to travel frequently? You are driving down the highway when suddenly; you look to the car next to you and see a television screen hanging down from...
You are driving down the highway when suddenly; you look to the car next to you and see a television screen hanging down from the inside roof of the car. The kids in the back seat of the car are watching a newly released DVD while your kids are whining about being bored. This scene is becoming more and more popular these days, as it seems that everyone has a DVD system in his or her vehicle. If you are purchasing a new car or van, chances are that a DVD system is one of the available options. A DVD system can be installed in almost any vehicle. Some vehicles have individual screens on the back of each seat while others have just one screen that folds down from the ceiling of the car.
Is a DVD system for your car worth the expense? Beth McGregor, co-founder of www.TravelingWithKids.com tells us, "Yes, though we recommend that you limit the amount of TV that your children are watching while traveling. Give them other options of things to do, games to play together or alone, activity books or with older children, books to read and of course children, whatever their age, always delight in their parents undivided attention, so plan some games and activities you can all play together. (This is a great idea.)" If your family travels quite a bit, a DVD system can be a great tool in your arsenal for keeping the kids quiet. Try not to overuse the DVD though. Just as you would not let your kids zone out in front of the TV for hours, you shouldn't let them watch DVD's constantly the whole time they are in the car. Children will miss the great things there are to see on the road while traveling and will not get a chance to see the different places you are passing through. Have kids take breaks in between DVD's for other activities and some plain old staring out the window. Beth says, "Also, books on tape or CD are a fun way to entertain that piques their imaginations more than a movie or TV."
A DVD system can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. You can have a DVD system professionally installed in your vehicle complete with sound system and individual screens and controls. Some vehicles will come with the DVD system already installed or you may choose the do-it-yourself mode. A portable DVD player that you bring with you when you go is an inexpensive option. Portable DVD players can be plugged into your car's cigarette lighter or power outlets. There are devices that allow the sound of the DVD to be played over an FM station on your radio so that you can utilize your vehicles existing sound system rather than rely on the tiny speakers of the portable DVD players. Another reason a portable DVD player is a great option is that you can bring it into a hotel room or relative's home and hook it up to a TV to use while you are on vacation.
