If you had to spend 4 or 5 hours in a snug car seat with even snugger straps and nothing to do, you might not be a huge road trip fan either. Road trips are getting more fun for the younger set as portable and built-in DVD players become more and more common, but sometimes even watching videos gets old.
When it's time to resort to good old fashioned road trip entertainment, we've got the time-tested, mother approved activities for you:
Trip Bag. At the beginning of the trip, surprise your kids with a Trip Bag, filled with goodies you've selected for them ahead of time, like activity books, small toys, books, snacks and more.
Music. Listening to CDs of your child's favorite songs and singing along will help the time pass faster. Choose song collections with finger games and verses your child will know, like Itsy Bitsy Spider, BINGO and This Old Man.
Electric Reading Books. The popular learn-to-read "books" like My First LeapPad by LeapFrog or the Power Touch Learning System by Fisher Price will engage your child's interest with words, stories and games featuring favorite characters, Thomas the Train, Strawberry Shortcake and Arthur.
Game Boy Advance. We usually pack this for the adults, but now it's also great to share with our toddlers thanks to the kids videos that are now available. We love the dora the explorer: game boy advance video vol. 1 featuring 3 Little Piggies and Big River.
I Spy. The classic game that kids from 2 to 12 can enjoy! The person who's turn it is picks out something everyone can see and says, " I spy something?" and then describes the color, shape size or location to give clues. She answers "yes" or "no" to questions. The correct guesser becomes the next spy.
Scavenger Hunt. Make a list of things you may see on a road trip and as you find them on your travels, check them off. For toddlers, find, print and laminate pictures of things on our scavenger hunt list to make the game visual. This game is also easily adaptable to older kids, who can check items off on the list. Try making the activity competitive, and allow only the first person who sees the item to check it off. dora the explorer: game boy advance video vol. 1
Car Bingo. This is a variation of the travel scavenger hunt, fun for older toddlers and young children. Make bingo cards using the items listed above in our road trip scavenger hunt, using four squares up and four across. Cover the squares of things like police cards, stop signs and bicycles as you find them on your travels. dora the explorer: game boy advance video vol. 1
Lap Desk. Make or buy a lap desk to make activities easier for kids traveling in the back seat. A good traveling lap desk will have a cushy bottom to conform to your child's legs and help keep the top stable. Some models have zipper pockets or containers to hold crayons and pens.
About the Author
For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit dora the explorer: game boy advance video vol. 1, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit dora the explorer: game boy advance video vol. 1.
21 Reasons I Love Being A DadWhat you will read... Read More
It can be difficult on all family members to have... Read More
Why Me?"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should... Read More
Every year over one million parents have to talk to... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
It's that time of year when mom and dad look... Read More
Is Homework Really That Important?Dear Friends,I no longer teach in... Read More
No matter how old your children are, you have an... Read More
Valentine day has always been a special day in my... Read More
Q. My daughter is a junior in high school and... Read More
While most fathers aspire to become the best Dads they... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More
The choices are mind numbing. Walk into any toy store... Read More
Many reasons will cause some people to feel the need... Read More
Does this sound familiar? Have your kids not listened to... Read More
Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It... Read More
Picture this. Your child comes home with a special assignment... Read More
The big yellow school bus is coming down my road... Read More
For troubled teens who are struggling with drug abuse, depression... Read More
A friend phoned her neighbor, complaining about the wafts of... Read More
One of the implications of the current trend toward smaller... Read More
I am in pain. I've been in pain all day.... Read More
Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams,... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
Lincoln Stretch rentals Willowbrook ..Individualism is a common thing in today's modern society. Many... Read More
Spare the rod, spoil the child!This philosophy's been around a... Read More
Anyone can become a parent; there are no tests or... Read More
This is the third and final article in a series... Read More
Parents play a critical role in their child's success. These... Read More
Q. I don't like my children spending so much time... Read More
I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More
A number of scientific studies have shown the way a... Read More
Join a growing number of parents and teachers!Fact: Last year,... Read More
"Money is tight, and my husband's obsessed with doing everything... Read More
We all know that using cloth nappies is best for... Read More
I have been a single mom for almost 20 years.... Read More
"My son won't go to bed at night without a... Read More
Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every child.... Read More
Although, not a well publicized statistic, childhood obesity has more... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
There are millions of young children in this country who... Read More
There is a front line and a back end to... Read More
First there were Yuppies (Young Urban Professionals). Then came the... Read More
Unfortunately each year many young children drown in swimming pools,... Read More
I don't know how people raise daughters because I have... Read More
Q. With another school year starting, we are not sure... Read More
MYTH: If you have not parented as well as you... Read More
For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More
You are in the final round of your favorite game... Read More
Parenting |