Travel Tips

TRIPS ENTERTAINMENT IDEAS

Ð'* Surprise packages Prepare ahead paper bags of items to be given out every 25, 50 or 75 miles -- marked on a map with the location, it takes a little bit of preparation to do this but it REALLY helps young children. In each bag put a wrapped item -- usually a small toy. Then in some of the surprise packages you can add juice or a snack, stickers and a piece of paper, or something pertaining to the trip that you can talk about.

Ð'* Aluminum Foil modeling Give everyone a sheet of aluminum foil. Have them mold it into anything they want: animal shapes, Frisbees, balls, jewelry, crowns, headband, necklaces. Be creative

Ð'* Make a mini car racetrack Use with little Matchbox type cars. Take a shoe box, draw on a racetrack before you leave, or have the child draw one on when you are driving and you have a racetrack and holder.

Ð'* Pipe Cleaners Pack a new bag of multi colored pipe cleaners (about $1 or so) and let their creativity run wild. They can make letters, flowers, animals, chains, jewelry, twist ties in their hair, practice braiding, and by the end, just balls of many colors.

Ð'* Colorforms ! Similar to felt boards, but the pieces are made from thin plastic that sticks by static cling. These are also fun to stick on the windows of the car. Be careful not to block the driver's view.

Ð'* Magnetic Games Like this original Wooly WIlly game. Use the magnetic wand to draw hair, eyebrows, whiskers, or a mustache on Willy's smiling face! Or try the doodle balls, or others. These magnetic games are always very popular with my kids. They ask when we'll be taking a car trip just so they can play some of these games. Keep them stashed away and used them only on the road so the novelty stays fresh!

Ð'* Chalk and black paper This makes an interesting artwork and is easy to clean up. You can use colored chalks or just a box of white chalk.

Ð'* The Rainbow Game Call out a color and they have to find something that color. Make the older kids find five things while the 2 year old looks for one. Pink and Purple are the hardest!

Ð'* Crocodile Dentist This one is always a hit with my kids, especially when they were preschoolers, and it's self contained so you can't lose any of the pieces! It's fairly small and fits into a backback too. The secret to keeping it fun is to keep this stored away and ONLY use it on long trips, so that it is fresh every time

Ð'* Taby Tray This is a great way to enable your child to do many activities while trapped in his car seat! Strap it to the car seat and it povides a handy tray for all kinds of things. Several website readers have recommended this tray, or asked me where to get it. I finally found a place that sells them online! Taby Travel Tray for car seats is available from Family On Board.

Ð'* DVD Car Games- Are We There Yet? Starring Miles the Goose (ages 3-8) If you already have a DVD player, this is a great alternative to regular movies. This cute DVD is interactive and made especially for the road. It teaches the kids several easy and fun road trip games that they can play even when the DVD is turned off. The music is funky too. My 6-year-old really enjoys it.

Ð'* Bring story tapes. Classic children's books read by actors are available at the local library. Films-on-tape are condensed soundtracks from the movie, sold with a picture book so kids can follow the story.

Ð'* Stop for an out-of-the-car break of twenty minutes every two hours. Everyone will be much happier for the time in the fresh air, the sunshine, or even huddled under an awning during a downpour. Bring a football or Frisbee to throw around to get some exercise and fun during the break. Parks, rest areas or churches with grassy areas to run, walk or stretch are best.

Ð'* Make a route map for the backseat: photocopy an enlargement, cut it into one-day-drive sheets, cover with clear contact paper, and let kids discover on their own, "Are we there yet?"

Ð'* Keep a trash bag and some Zip-loc bags in the car; the former for car sickness and garbage, the latter for preserving toys, souvenirs and creating new snack packs.

Ð'* Keep a small First Aid kit, tissues and wipes in the glove compartment. Spare toilet paper, liquid anti-bacterial soap and paper towels can be a life-saver in funky public restrooms.

Ð'* During night drives, simulate bedtime. After supper, change your child into sleepwear and share a story or book-on-tape until she falls asleep. Don't make changes to the temperature, velocity, sound level or her car seat until she has settled into a deeper sleep (usually 20-30 minutes).

Ð'* For toddlers, consider Crayola's almost mess-free, washable markers and coated paper. AutoBingo, widely available in toy stores, is our favorite for pre-readers.

Ð'* Make a grab bag of small wrapped toys. Let kids select one when squabbles and complaints begin; hand out treats in stages.

Ð'* "My son always had fun with binoculars on trips."

Ð'* Sewing CardsWe like to use coloring book covers or empty cereal boxes and cut out the picture. Leave an edge large enough to punch holes all around the picture. Cut a piece of colorful yarn, dip each end in glue and let dry. Then sew away. My kids love this.

Ð'* BRING SEVERAL TYPES OF TOYS ON BOARD Ask your child to pick a special stuffed animal or character figure and a few favorite toys. Joanne Tulkoff of Columbia, Maryland, buys toys for one dollar and wraps them like birthday presents to keep her three-year-old daughter occupied. "I plan about a toy an hour and then overbuy so that we're sure to have enough," says Tulkoff.

Ð'* Other toddler picks: stickers & sticker books, crayons & blank paper, small-wheeled cars & trucks.

Ð'* Gift wrap a few of your child's toys and bring them on the trip. Kids love to open presents, and the activity is a pleasant way to pass the time. Once, when Kaela was younger, she squealed with delight as she opened a small doll she'd owned for about two years, saying, "I have one just like this."

Ð'* THE CLASSICS

For generations of family travelers, playing 20 Questions and Geography is as much a part of a road trip as filling up the gas tank or stopping for ice cream. The following games are especially