A Facebook friend asked for tips for traveling with her two young children on a very long car trip and got a lot of great responses! So, this grandmother is sharing this to help keep all the cute small children of the world alive while traveling with their stresses-out parents!
I'm pasting in the responses, just as they arrived on Facebook from her various friends. I know you'll chuckle...and get some great ideas too!
We have traveled in a car with our kids a ton this past year. The best idea I've had is to keep a secret stash of candy, coloring books, junky toys, etc., and just give the stuff out when they start getting restless. Oh - and stickers. My kids love just to get stickers and some paper to put them on. Hope you find something that works for your kiddos!
Well I bet there are lots of methods used by moms! Videos are great. I sometimes will by Alex a new toy or book (something under $10) to keep him busy. Lots of stops helps! Also food....going to McDonalds drive through or something can break up the trip a bit...
Since our trip to/from Australia, I have discovered loads of tricks (though some unsuitable if you're afraid of a messy vehicle):Party store party favors - cheap, you can put them in one of those giant plastic balls sold at Party City, and allow them one favor from the ball each hour as a reward.Klutz activity books - (Klutz.com or Barnes and Noble in the kids section) the Bead Pop People kept my girls busy for HOURS last plane ride. There is a great paper doll one, too, and a hand-art one that is fabulous.... Silly Putty and a newspaper - potentially messy, however.Vinyl resusable sticker books (they can stick the vinyl stickers to the car windows - no mess) and Mini-Aquadoodles (there is a tiny version, Sesame Street themed at Wal-Mart)I usually wrap everything in tissue paper and back it in individual back-packs and try to pace ourselves so we don't use all toys during the first hour. GOOD LUCK! We're driving to Vegas on Sat and have a bit of a haul, too. Not looking forward to it, lol.Silly putty and a newspaper, potentially messy, however. Vinyl reusable sticker books (they can stick the vinyl stickers to the car windows-no mess) and Mini Aquadoodles (there is a tiny version, Sesame Street themed ate WalMart) I usually wrap everything in tissue paper and pack it in individual back packs and try to pace ourselves so we don’t use all toys during the first hour!
Videos, coloring books, Leapster, stops at McD for lunch and dinner.
Oh, and pit stops - Starbucks sells their own mini-lunchable style snack box now... it is in the juice fridge section. It is easy to miss, it looks like a juice box. They usually sell fresh fruit and yogurt, too, and the kid's drinks are super cheap (they have luke warm hot chocolate for the kiddos, too).
It sounds awful, but... Benadryl. I always reason if my child is truly that distressed, it is as much for their comfort as mine. We have been on airlines where the flight attendants have actually offered us Benadryl, lol.
If they get tired of the watching the same movies you can get new ones at the red boxes when you stop for gas or lots of McDonalds have them. You don't have to return them to the same one you bought it from. Or you can get something for yourself (assuming you are the passenger and not the driver!) and tune everything out. Good luck.
Silly Putty and a newspaper - potentially messy, however.Vinyl resusable sticker books (they can stick the vinyl stickers to the car windows - no mess) and Mini-Aquadoodles (there is a tiny version, Sesame Street themed at Wal-Mart)I usually wrap everything in tissue paper and back it in individual back-packs and try to pace ourselves so we don't use all toys during the first hour. GOOD LUCK! We're driving to Vegas on Sat and have a bit of a haul, too. Not looking forward to it, lol.
Benadryl. just kidding! Best money I spent was on a 3 ring binder with pockets for stickers and inserts / add ins for crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc. Then I hole punched plain paper for drawing, coloring pages, educational pages with games (you can buy books at the store too). I also put an expandable folder in there with felt square
For a storyboard and their felt characters in ziplock bags. While the content has changed, my kids still take their binders with them on long trips 4 years later…
Oh - and pack something for them to do at rest stops - ball, jump rope, kite, etc.
When my kids were older, each one had his/her own Walkman....and I bought batteries before I bought GAS for the trip b/c I wanted those to work allll the way there! I guess this would be power for the DVD players now!
A cookie sheet with alphabet magnets...
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