PassPorter's
Article Tools |
| |
Keeping Kids Happy on Long Car Rides: Tips and Tricks
Cool Tip: Click here to get a FREE PDF version of this article, fully formatted to print and put into your PassPorter Deluxe Binder!
Filed in Articles > U.S. Travel > Traveling
I was first confronted with this daunting dilemma while managing my neighborhood toy store. A frazzled mother came in hoping to find some ideas for keeping her busy kids happy on a car trip to her parents' home. After working there for six years before becoming a mother myself, it had become clear that parents quite capable of tackling everyday parenting issues often freeze up when it comes time to bringing their little ones on long trips in the car. They have no idea how they are going to avoid chaotic meltdowns, hours of screaming, or whines of, "Are we there yet?" There is hope and with a little planning most, if not all, of these situations can be avoided.
Let's get the obvious distraction tactics out of the way so we can get into the really good stuff. A portable DVD player, along with some classic favorites or some new, never-before-seen stuff, can be a lifesaver. You can bring along favorite upbeat tunes for you and the kids, always a good idea. Allowing iPods and mp3 players is also an option but you may want to set limits on them. Be sure to discuss these limits with the kids beforehand. I think the same applies to hand held games like Nintendo DS - set up any limitations or turn-taking guidelines you'd like to have beforehand in order to avoid disagreements later.
Now let's get started!
About a month before your trip grab a laundry basket and go through the house with two thoughts in mind: a) what toys/activities are their favorites and b) which of these can be used in the car? For the younger kids, you may not want to let them know you're doing this and for the older ones they might be able to do this themselves.
Great! Now that you have your pile of stuff, pick out the best and keep it hidden until the trip. This way you will be armed with toys that have a "like new" appeal but are also bankable favorites for your trip! Some ideas include card games, favorite stuffed animals, action figures, Polly Pockets and Transformers, etc. Many times I'll pack each kid a little bag of their own, but as our family has grown I have found it easier to keep one fun bag at the ready rather than deal with too much stuff underfoot in the van.
Next, make a trip to the nearest dollar store and purchase new items like sticky stretchy toys, activity and coloring books, blank and lined notebooks, noisemakers (it's better to hear a harmonica than a screaming toddler), small puzzles that can be done on a book on a lap, magnetic play boards, sticker activities, chewing gum (in case you need to drive through any higher altitudes it will help ears to "pop"), and my personal favorite, glow-in-the-dark necklaces, bracelets, etc. for when it's too dark to do anything else. Be sure to buy the non-toxic ones, as many children tend to put them in their mouth at some point! We even placed them around the hotel room as night lights for the kids to navigate their way around a strange room at night.
Consider making your own games - older kids can help with this! Car Bingo is a classic in my family. Simply take squares of paper, and then with a thick black marker and a ruler draw five lines down, and the same across. Then after a trip to the dollar store put stickers of farm animals, cars, trucks, road signs, wildlife, dogs, birds, cats (whatever you manage to find) in each square, make one card for each player and simply have the kids mark them as they spot the things on their cards - a line is a bingo! Then the cards get passed along and a new game begins. The best way to mark them is to get them laminated and then use a dry-erase marker, since you'll need just a facial tissue to rub off and start fresh.
Other games include looking for neat license plates, red barns, counting horses (or other items), or the classic "punch buggy" game minus the hitting; we slap the seat in our car! Another classic with my family involves a deck of cue cards with a thing to find on each one. Road signs, railroad crossings, emergency vehicles, churches, speed limits, pylons, animal crossings, gas stations, favorite restaurants, etc. We make up the cards beforehand and to play we deal out three at a time. When you spot one of your items you put the card in your lap, score a point, and draw another card. First to five wins! Variations can involve each item having different point values, or event cards like "steal a point card from another player," "choose one card and place it in your points pile," "lose (or gain) one point," "trade hands with another player," etc. Be creative and inventive - maybe you can add in landmarks or rules specific to your route of travel!
A final thought, consider stopping along the way at fun, free, or cheap places. It adds time but makes for a memorable journey. When our family was faced with a 21-hour drive we opted to spread it out over three days and stopped in at little museums, aquariums, a cave tour, a mall with a huge old merry-go-round inside, a state park, and other neat stops along the way. Before your trip, make a list of the cities you will be driving through and then Google the area to see if there are any neat places to stop that might be a perfect side trip for your kids. Taking these moments where and if possible can relieve a lot of the stress and tedium of a long drive with the kids.
By planning ahead for fun you are sure to arrive at your destination a much happier family and will have made positive car trip memories that will last a lifetime. Happy Trails!
About the Author: Sharlene is a mother of three and has a ton of experience with kids from her years as a nanny, managing a toy store and now with her own busy kids, one of whom has special needs. Sharlene considers herself a Walt Disney World fanatic.
Related Links:
Traveling Carry-On to Walt Disney World - Avoid Those Baggage Fees last updated 3/2/2011
New York City - Something Old, Something New last updated 01/02/2009
On the Road to Walt Disney World - Doing "The Drive" last updated 01/20/2009
Airline Security - 10 Important Tips and Reminders last updated 1/21/2009
Sick at Sea - (But Not Sea Sick!) last updated 5/14/2009
Reader Comments:
So what do you think? Click here to share your comments, feedback, and experiences on this article and topic!
(Note: You must be a member of our PassPorter Message Board Community to leave comments. Join today for free!)
Updated 7/9/2009 - Article #119
Read additional articles from PassPorter.com
|
Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for more than 50,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide.
As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!
We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result
in more spam! We guarantee it.
|
Copyright 1999-2011
by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
| | | LEARN MORE |
Learn More With Our Award-Winning Guidebooks
|
RSS General
PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disn...
Planning a trip around the globe, or just away for the weekend? Ask questions and share experiences!
Forum Sponsored by CruisingCo.com
Cruising Questions??
by kingfamily1129
31 Jan 2012 at 8:31pm
Hello everyone!!
So, my DH just surprised me by telling me we are going on a 3 day cruise to the Bahamas for our Anniversary in June!! YAY!!!...
(click title above to view replies)
DC's Chinatown
by Carousel96
31 Jan 2012 at 10:09am
This may be the narrowest, most specific question ever, but I know my PP'r friends can help.
DD and I will be in DC this summer. She wants to go...
(click title above to view replies)
Gatlinburg in April
by Wendyismyname
17 Jan 2012 at 7:11pm
We are heading down to Gatlinburg for our first time, finally! We have put this off for so many years and I am looking forward to it.
We have...
(click title above to view replies)
Kid friendly Philly?
by Suzie&Jay
16 Jan 2012 at 12:16pm
DH and I are planning a log weekend road trip to Philadelphia, stopping at the Crayola factory on the way :) we have 3 kids; DD 5, DS 3 and DD 18...
(click title above to view replies)
Where in the U.S. is it nice in September?
by Disneybine
14 Jan 2012 at 3:50pm
If we were to travel anywhere in the (continental) U.S. in September, where would we find the best weather?
We like sunshine, temperatures in the...
(click title above to view replies)
A trip to D.C.
by pago
13 Jan 2012 at 12:17pm
I would love any suggestions on where to stay in Washington DC with two kids ages 11 and 17.
Thanks in advance.
(click title above to view replies)
grand canyon
by cburke
10 Jan 2012 at 4:24pm
We would like to go to the grand canyon but not sure where we like to stay. Our budget is tight and I was thinking of a cabin but not sure how their...
(click title above to view replies)
DC off the beaten path
by Carousel96
10 Jan 2012 at 10:47am
I've gone to DC for a conference every year since 1990 and my roommates and I manage to fit in some sightseeing every year. So we've seen all the...
(click title above to view replies)
Total Visits: 1740
|
