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read this article written by another "road mom" about how to help you make a travel journal. Also check out our unique gifts for kids. But above all, plan to have an adventure of your lifetime -- and you will! Here are some ideas for those times when you're feeling tired, bored, and maybe a wee bit grouchy:
Make a Trip-Journal
or Scrapbook
Give everyone a big
spiral bound sketchpad and a box of crayons or markers. Each day of the trip or
for each event along the way, draw a picture of what you did that day, or draw a
map of where you went, and write about it. You can also paste in souvenirs.
Get a Good Songbook
With All the Lyrics
It surprising how many
songs you think you know, but you don't really know all the words. Have a
singing marathon and learn the old classics by heart.
Give Your Kids an
Allowance for the Day
Tell them that this money
is for snacks, treats, souvenirs etc. Help them learn to budget their money and
make good choices.
Let Your Children
Have a Map
Give your kids their own
copy of a map of where you are going. Show them how far you have come, how much
further there is to go and let them mark it with a crayon. Every time someone
asks "How much further?” let them see for themselves. You might also like
to get a compass and show them how it works along with the map.
Have Bubble Gum
Blowing Contests
The weirder the gum the
better. Get it at the rest areas and try all the different flavors.
The License Plate
Game
Print a U.S. map off the
computer and color in the states as you see license plates from each one.
See if you can get all 50 states between Memorial Day and Labor Day. You might
even record the time and date and the state where you saw it. This can be a
family project as you build your "collection" of license plates
together.
Cats Cradle or
String Loops
You just need a piece of
string for this one. See if you can make "Jacob's Ladder",
"Kitty Whiskers", or play Cats Cradle!
Magnetic Board
Games
Do your children know how
to play classic board games like Chess, Backgammon, Checkers, or Chinese
Checkers? What better time to learn than in the car to pass the time!
The magnetic car versions of these games are nice because they are small and
compact, and have easy ways to store the pieces so they don't get lost.
Counting Cows
Count the cows you see on
your side of the car. If you pass a cemetery on your side of the car, you lose
all your cows. The one with the most cows wins.
Read Out Loud
This passes the time
quickly in the car for the reader and for the family members who are listening.
Lego Contest
Have a contest to see who
can build the best item that relates to where you are going. Use a shoebox to
store the Legos, or large zip lock bags.
Guess How Far Away
That Is
Pick an object and have
everyone guess how far away it is, then clock it on your odometer.
Play Favorites
Have everyone think of
different "favorite" questions for the group. What's your favorite...
movie, flavor of ice cream, song, game, toy, place to visit, restaurant, book,
animal, fish, etc. Be creative and don't forget to ask the driver too!
Aluminum Art
Give everyone a sheet of
aluminum foil. Have them mold it into anything they want: animal shapes,
Frisbees, balls, jewelry, crowns, headband, necklaces and masks. Be creative.
It’s inexpensive fun and easy to clean up. Toddlers love this one too.
And, remember to tell
Mom that it's
sometimes nice to sit in the back of the van with you while Dad is doing
the driving and play some games with you. Happy travels!
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Laurel Smith, author of
this article, is a former
schoolteacher and currently a stay-at-home-mom who has logged thousands of road
trip miles both as a kid and a mom. If you pass her on the highway, you
might catch her singing loudly in her minivan while her three children sing
backup. Visit her website for more than 101 travel games and activities for kids
at http://www.MomsMinivan.com
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