Tooling around with young children in the car is not always a piece of cake. The fact is small children see a car as just another playground. For parents, however, this can present a nightmare situation where loud noises and other distractions get in the way of safe driving.

Is there anything parents can do to help? Absolutely! With all but the very youngest of children, it can help to explain the rules of the road. Children need to know how to behave in a car. If you do not tell them, they simply will not know.

So, what can you share with them to make your rides go a little smoother and a whole lot less noisier? Make sure they know these things:

• The behavior ground rules – Make certain your kids know how you expect them to behave in the car. If they are old enough, tell them why this is important. No one wants to see the family car – or worse the family – get into a fender bender!

• The common actions behind the wheel – Children are fascinated with driving and why certain things are done when they are done. Explain, on their level, how the car works, what the road signs and lights mean and so on. The more they understand that driving is serious business, the more likely it is you will be able to count on good behavior.

Traveling with children can be fraught with perils. The better informed your little ones are, however; the more likely it is they will be good while you are behind the wheel.