For older kids, print out a map showing the beginning and ending points, with larger cities marked. As you drive, have your kids mark off the cities or other landmarks on the map. This helps them see how far they have gone, how much farther you have to go, and teaches them about time and distance. It is also great to squash the “how much longer” questions.
For younger kids – which I think would be more challenging, here are some great ideas I found on all over the web:
-Wrap several little inexpensive toys and trinkets in gift wrap. Every hour or so, or when things are getting hairy, give the kids with a new "present" to unwrap.
-Wrap a lap tray in felt and place felt cutouts in a zip lock bag.
-Crawl in the backseat with them and read stories, count the red cars, and look at the cows.
-Leave at 4 am. This sounds horrible but then I am NOT a morning person, but many moms swear by it because the kids sleep for the first 3 to 4 hours of the trip.
-Buy some strange stuff for imaginative fun. Some ideas, aluminum foil, scotch tape, and bandaids, use your imagination here.
This one takes some preparation record yourself reading some of his/her favorite books. When you are in the car, hand him the book, cue up the iPod or CD and BINGO you are "reading" with them in seconds. A plus is to make sure you are familiar enough with the books to jump in and say stuff like "Are you on the page with the blue dinosaur on it?"
Of course, no road trip would be complete without snacks. Make a bag for each child with their own snacks inside. It is also fun to have some other treats stashed away that you can pull out when the kids are restless. Like lollypops, as one mom said (and I am quoting here) “they are great for shutting up pieholes!”. ;o)
On your rest stops and gass ups don't underestimate the power of doing "grown-up" stuff related to the trip. Checking tire pressure, looking at maps, pushing the buttons on the gas pump, looking for specific signs or landmarks are all good for breaking up the monotony of travel.
Lastly, a DVD player can be an easy way to entertain the kids while you are driving, but finding some family games and activities can help you bond with your children more and make the trip a better memory. If you have a DVD player in your car, try to use it as a last resort or at least don’t rely on it for all the entertainment.
Smiles, Monica
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