Traveling with Kids
Boredom
" Rubberneckers This is a card game full of things to watch for along the road points are given when items are found. Around $11 on
Amazon (also make a junior version)
" Rorys Story Cubes iphone app version and dice version available
" Travel games Battleship, etc.
" Melissa and Doug: license plate game & Hangman game
" Apps
o Mom Maps
o Hotel Tonight
o iExit
o Rest Area Finder
o Mad Libs
o Appsfire
" Metal cookie sheet tray to use with magnets
o Can cut up old freebie advertising magnets to make a tic tac toe game
" Color Wonder paper and markers
" Blank paper/Clipboard
" Crayons
o Triangle crayons to keep from rolling
o Multi-color crayon
o Store in a mini M&Ms container to keep from melting
" Books/Books on CD from library/Mad Libs, Word Search, coloring books
" Paper dolls (can also find a magnetic version to use with the cookie sheet)
" Glow sticks or flashlight
" I Spy bag/bottle
" Activity placemats
" Activity bags use paper lunch bags and put a couple things in each bag. Kids can open one bag every hour. I just use stuff from around the house, old items feel fun when they're wrapped.
o Books
o Index cards with jokes or small tasks (make math problems with number of red cars, etc.)
o Silly putty
o Pipe cleaners
o New Dollar store items
o Marshmallows with toothpicks to make sculptures
o Wrap items in foil takes a few minutes to open, plus they can sculpt with the foil
o Quarters to save up for a snack
" Stop at rest stops instead of gas stations when possible so kids can run and play. (Bring Frisbees, jump rope, sidewalk chalk, a soccer ball)
" Map/Atlas for your kids to follow along with the route
" Specific to airplanes
o Don't solely count on electronics cant be used during takeoff and landing
o Things that wont roll cant use tray tables during takeoff and landing
Bites
" Small cooler (use free ice from hotel to refill)
o String cheese
o Gogurt
o GoGo Squeez
o Fruit Tupperware of grapes, apples, clementine oranges
o Juice boxes
o Jelly for sandwiches
" Let kids pick a special snack ahead of time
" PBJ sandwiches - don't need as much refrigeration as meat sandwiches
" Hydroflasks - best water bottles ever! Keep cold drinks icy cold for 24 hours, hot drinks hot for 12 hours.
o Mio, Crystal Light singles
" Pre-fill snack baggies ahead of time
o Pretzels, raisins, homemade trail mix, cookies, mini muffins
o To keep food from crushing, reuse other boxes (like from fruit snacks) so they can be thrown away
" Give kids $2 to spend on a snack tell them how many stops you'll be making. They can spend it whenever they want, but when its gone, its gone.
" Specific to airplanes
o Things that wont roll
o No drinks until you get through security
o May not get airline snacks right away, so have something on hand
o For takeoff gum, suckers (can get sticky), fruit snacks (will take awhile to eat), sippy cups, bottles, pacis
Baggage
" Box of wipes/Kleenexes in backseat
" Extra shirts easily accessible for a quick change
" Pack into separate bags by night so you don't have to take every suitcase in at every stop.
" Note cards in outside pocket of suitcases with bags contents so you don't have to dig through every bag for things
" travelstore.ricksteves.com
o Flat Pack bags (space bags that don't need a vacuum. We've tried other brands and these are the best.)
o Fold up duffel bag
" Read the hotel rules - you know the price list posted on the back of the door? If your kids can't read yet, "read" them all of the rules the hotel posted there for your family - no jumping on the beds, quiet so you don't disturb others, no running in the hallways, etc.
" Bring over-the-counter medicines so you don't have to buy last-minute
" Mini post-its to cover sensor on automatic toilets so kids don't get flushed
" Specific to airplanes
o Pack needed medicines in carry-on
o Something bright on your black suitcases
o Split family's clothes into multiple suitcases in case of lost baggage
o Pack light leave space for souvenirs
Specific to Flying
" Practice going through security so kids aren't scared.
" Put some clothes from each family member in each suitcase. That way if one bag is lost, everyone will still have clothes.
" Bring your own carseats they're expensive to rent.
" Practice with headphones consider kid-sized sets
" Get out what you'll need before takeoff and put in seatback pocket.
o Small baggie of wipes, drink, book, takeoff snack
" Dont get out electronics too early kids may have a meltdown when you ask them to be put away during takeoff!
" Just plan to entertain your children. Don't bother with your own books or magazines. :
