LONG Car Trip Soon W/ 3 Yr Old & 6 Yr Old- Need Ideas to Keep the Kids Busy.

I got this idea from a friend, take a 9x13 cake pan that has a lid and use that for crayons, paper, whatever. They can use it as a lapdesk in the car and closes to keep all their stuff neat and tidy.

Also, buy some new toys (or get happy meal toys) that they have never seen before and pull them out on the trip.

Good luck!

N., We drove from MN to TX and back this summer with a 4 and a 2 year old. We got to Ames and promptly stopped at Target to buy a portable DVD player with two screen. It literally saved us. I was not thrilled with the idea of letting them watch so much TV, but trully to save my sanity, it happened. Also bring lots of snacks, stop often, have different toys to play with, and bring several changes of clothes. We put old t-shirts over the seats under the car seats which helped, but we did have to thoroughly clean the van after. Good luck!

DVD PLAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We borrowed my sis's when we drove to Florida from Iowa(WOW)with a 2 1/2 yr old and a 5 yr old. DEFINETLY a requirement! Somehow we hooked it up so one could watch movies and the other played playstation. Worked like a charm. Also, lots of snacks. I went to Dollar General and stocked up on new, inexpensive things for the kids to play with and loaded them up in a tote. DON'T let them see it until the trip! Get something new out when they start to get antsy. Also, plan to make lots of stops so they can stretch their legs! Good luck! We made it, you can to!

N.,

We have taken NUMEROUS 12 hour car trips with 3 kids. Althought the kids are older now and we have it down to a science, when they were younger, here are some of the things we did:

1. Small cookie tray or other metal object (tin can or box) and magnets!

2. BIG SNACK ATTACK BAG...A big ziplock bag for each child, filled with lots of different snacks that they could pick at whim.

3. Photocopy of map with a line drawn where we started and where we had to end. The kids could then use a crayon or colored pencil to trace each step of the trip. This was a HUGE hit.

4. Old fashioned looking out of the window...who can spot a green car first? A red car? A cow? A traffic light? You can even make up a bingo card for the kids...with pictures on them if the kids aren't readers, yet!

Have a great and safe trip!

W....mom of three
www.kidlutions.com

When we took a two week vacation by car out west with the kids, I made sure that we stopped every two hours. This may seem like quite a bit, but it really didn't slow us down too much. I would pull over at rest stops or restaurants (for about 10-15 min each time) and everyone would take the time to use the restroom (I didn't hear one complaint about having to stop for potty breaks this way!) and to stretch our legs. It helped the kids burn off some energy and that helped keep fighting to a minimum!! (sometimes I would pick two points and have the kids race each other back and forth, cheering them on....which encouraged the children to burn that energy!)

We also have family games that we play in the car. There are always the 20 question games (I spy, Who am I?, What am I?, etc...), we take along Trivial Pursuit game cards (geared for the kids age...usually Disney), we sing songs and make up silly lyrics (who knew Over the River and Through the woods could go so far! lol) We also took magnetic games and boards meant for car travel, the kids had their own MP3 players and story books on tape to listen to when bored, and then there is the game that my dad played with us when I was a kid, we make our own variations to it, but here is the basic rules....

Each child picks which window they get to look out of, usually the one they are sitting next to, and count the animals they see. Cows, Pigs, and Horses are all worth one point. Cats and Dogs are worth 5 points, pure white horses 20 points, and an elephant 100 points. The object of the game is to get to 100 first. However, if you see a graveyard out your window, you lose your points and have to start over at 100 (though the game doesn't end until someone reaches 100). I've used this game many times over the years, always adapting it to the kids age and abilities. We've counted cars, trees, houses, particular colors....whatever the kids felt like. They had fun making up their own rules and picking new things to count. For lack of a better name, we call it the counting game. We also had the silent game....try to see who could stay quiet the longest..lol Never did care much for that game as a kid, but love it as an adult! ;) (We use it to get the kids to calm down and tend to quiet activities, especially when driving through heavy traffic or areas where we know we will have to go through several exit/entrance exchanges such as in Chicago or when it was close to nap/bed time).

Traveling can be fun, mostly, if you keep in mind the energy the kids need to burn off and keep them mentally stimulated, things should go well. My kids loved our long two week trip all those years ago and they still talk about it, all the fun they had not just at the places we went, but the fun we had along the way too.

N.,

This is going to be difficult, not because of your children's ages but because of their inexperience. I would start talking to them now so they understand better. "We will get in the car after breakfast, drive all day until it gets dark. Then we will sleep in a hotel after dinner. We will get up the next day, have breakfast and drive all day. We will get to ....'s house after dinner when it is dark." (or however your schedule will work.) We don't drive through the night because neither my husband or I can do it.

We take a lot of long road trips with our four small children and they are really enjoyable. Here are some things I have learned to make them easier.

- We leave early in the morning. Everything is packed the night before and gas tank is full so we can just get up and go.
- We give the kids a bag of toys, books, coloring books, leapsters, etc. We have a schedule so they only do one thing at a time. They play, then watch a movie on the DVD player, then have a snack, then listen to a book on CD from the library, then play, etc.
- For lunch, we go to McDonalds. I hate that place, but we do it when we travel and this is why. www.McDonalds.com has a restaurant locator that includes whether the restaurant has a playscape. We find one before we leave, walk in about 11-11:30 and the kids play on the toys while parents sit and eat. Then when it is time to go, we order the food and the kids eat nuggets, apple slices and juice boxes in the car. (Make sure there is a plastic bag in the back they can throw lunch and snack garbage in. Throw out when pumping gas.) This saves time, gives the kids a chance to burn off energy and gives them something to do when they get back in the car.
- If you choose to give them a water bottle, make it a small one or only fill half full. We have our kids pee before they leave and they make it until we stop for lunch and gas the car. We have to take one more potty break mid afternoon, but it is time to fill the gas tank anyway. Trips are slowed down considerably when you are constantly stopping for things one at a time or one person at a time.
- I prepack snacks for the kids. I usually do baggies of trail mix - nuts, yogurt covered raisins, craisins, etc. We have one morning snack and one afternoon snack. Grapes, granola bars, string cheese, bananas also work well. Just remember to bring plastic bags so they know where to put their trash.
- Tell them they are responsible for keeping their part of the car clean. 15 minutes before you stop, tell them it is time to start cleaning up. Toys and books back in the bag, garbage in the garbage bag. Your car will still get dirty and need to be vacuumed at the end of the trip, but this will keep it under control.
- If you are going to be driving until/past bedtime, I would recommend having the kids brush their teeth and change into pajamas after dinner in the restaurant bathroom. Then, when you get there, you can drop them straight in bed. This works especially well if they fall asleep before you get there.

Good luck,
S.

My family and I drive 2hrs + many weekends to visit family and friends. So when we purchased our new car we saw the need for a DVD player. It honestly keeps the kids occupied, and we have head phones, so if my husband and I don't want to listen to the same movie 100 times we don't have too.

Before our new car, we borrowed a portable one, that was just as good, for some of our longer trips. It is a nice couple of hour break from the traditional car games, reading books, snacking and napping. Have safe travels!

I also agree...we have a 2 screen DVD player, bought it about 2 years ago actually, best investment for us. We also have a 6 and 3 yr old and it works wonderful. We only use it for trips of 2 hours or more, so it is special for them. We bring lots of movies for them to choose (select the longer ones so you dont have to change as often). When the movie is over it is a nice time to take a potty break...then we put another movie in!!

We also bring magnet toys (come in a tin can and have dolls etc), color books, kids CD's and lots of snacks and drinks.

Something I haven't seen mentioned yet, but my kids love to do in the car. Viewmaster. I purchased each girl (2 yo and 6 yo) their own and then bought one of the light-up projectors for the evenings. You can buy tons of reels with popular characters and it keeps them busy for hours, plus if they are complainers about the sun being to bright, the sun is perfect to shine through their Viewmasters.

A suggestion I had from another parent but I haven't tried was to bring along a laundry basket for all the toys. That way when you arrive somewhere you just have them throw all the toys into the laundry basket and they are ready to get out. (and the laundry basket can always travel easily into the hotel for the night)

For garbage I take an ice cream bucket and line it with a plastic grocery sack and place under the seat of the oldest child, so they are in charge of putting all their garbage into that container - and then empty it at a gas station. (Also convenient if someone happens to get sick, the bucket is an easy size for the lap and a plastic sack can easily be tied up and thrown away, and replace a sack into the bucket, instead of cleaning the bucket.)

Sorry, I rambled so long. Have a safe trip.

Hi! To start off, we drove from MN to WY with a 2yo who HATES the car. From the start he would cry until he threw up (and this was just from the hospital to our house). So when it was time to head to the inlaws, we left at 6pm the first night and got all the way to the black hills before stopping ourselves to catch some zzs in the car. Then we got up and went to the black hills (with the time we saved starting the night before) and ran around for a few hours until our limbs got so cold we had to head back in the car. Then out came the magna-doodle. He was enamered (sp) with this for most of the morning (through nap) and onto lunch. We had lots of stops (mt rushmore, parks, walking trails, ect) to stretch our legs and keep the sanity.
We also kept all the food in the trunk and had meals and most snacks during breaks. And we cleaned the car every time we stopped for gas.
He made it all the way there without a tear. I wish the last 8 hours on the way home was the same........

You've gotten some great ideas all ready, but in regard to keeping the car clean, I'd recommed bringing some grocery sacks with you and designating one as the "garbage can", then dump it in the trash at each rest stop. This will really help you keep it picked up. Also, each child should have a small backpack or other bag that they can keep their books/toys in - this could even be something you prepare as a gift to give them on the trip with new books and crafts. Then, make sure that when they're finished with something, it goes right back into their bag. That's the most important part!! Finally, I'd recommend bringing some Febreeze or other similar product to freshen up the car - sometimes the air can get a little stale, but a quick spray when filling up with gas can make a huge difference on morale!! Another idea is to bring a washcloth to clean up in the restroom - it always feels so good to have a clean face and hands - this can really make a difference in everyones attitude during the trip.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll have fun! Relax and enjoy - take lots of breaks, and try to drive as much as you can when the kids are sleeping!

I have seen this idea in magazines or online somewhere: See how many miles you have to travel and make surprise bags for certain mile increments that you determine (e.g. they get the first one at 50 or 100 miles) The bags could have a snack in them, a toy from the dollar store, stickers, a craft, a new coloring book, etc. This way, they have something to look forward to and things to keep them busy. We also had some audio CD's when my kids were younger of "Blue's Clues" It was almost like an episode, but it was just audio...they would sing along and figure out the clues, etc. I don't know what is out there now that might be like this, but I'm sure you could find age appropriate something that's kind of like an audio book...maybe even holiday stories on CD or MP3.
Look online for other ideas too...you could search for something like "road trip activities for kids."

I agree - a portable DVD player (2 screens!!!!!) will be a life saver on your trip.

I also nominate the portable DVD player!!!!

My daughter loves playing with her Barbie Learning Laptop which has a bunch of different learning games and songs. My daughter has one for 3 yr olds and I have seen them for older kids too.

Have a great trip!

I have taken several car trips with my kids and here is what I have done. If you have a portable DVD player - great. I didn't on the first few trips but the purchase of one was a great investment! I took a lunchbox sized plastic storage box - if you find one with a handle that would be great! Paint one of the outside covers with chalkboard paint (walmart $3-4). Cover the other side with white contact paper. Inside the box you can take a piece of cardboard, cut to fit inside the cover of the box and cover it with felt. Include chalk, dry erase markers for the contact paper side (wipes off with piece of felt - or washable markers wipe off with wet towel). You can buy or cut shapes or people/animals, etc from felt and they can use the felt board inside the box to create pictures.

If you can find a metal box - you could also get some magnets to play with - alphabet letters, etc.

Always try to hold things back and give them out as they get tired or bored from one activity. Also, books on tape or children's music is helpful (may drive the parents a little crazy after a while but it is better than listening to whining or crying). Have snacks handy as well. Take breaks as often as you can, allowing them to run and stretch for a while.

Hope that helps, and you can also google ideas on the net too - car trip activities for kids.

A.

N.-
Our family lives 8 hours away by car...by the time you stop, stretch, eat it is at least a 10 hour trip. We do many of the things already suggested.
Here is a link to a game your kids may like to play in the car -

www.happymomonline.com/pages/busybag-jr.htm

www.happymomonline.com/pages/busybag.htm

They are called busy bags and are like I Spy in a bag. The older kid version has 40 items inside with them listed on a card which fits into a pocket on the back. The younger kid version has 20 items inside and the items are pictured on the card which fits into the pocket on the back. They are well made (I have 5 kids and they have used and abused them!) and will last for a long time.
Best wishes on your trip.

Blessings!

H. :-)

Magnadoodles! This just worked wonders for my 25 mo old son. We took a 5 hour car trip (one way) and he only slept 1 hour of it. He played with that toy ALOT

put the 6-year old in a booster seat.
it will help him see better.

The crayola "mess free" markers and paper/coloring books if they like to draw. There are small Magna Doodles and Etch-a-Sketch. Depending wear you live, Fleet Farm and Walmart have a rectanglar box (looks like a book) that is has magnetic pieces to create a scene (many different options)--my daughter LOVES hers and is getting another one for Christmas--we take turns picking animals (her current ones are ABC/123 and a Noah's Ark one) and putting them on the scene (but not if the 3 year old would put them in his/her mouth). The magnet thing the pieces are stored right in the box. None of these items take up much space! Books! A new Children's CD (perhaps with a rule that they listen to it once and then mom and dad get "their music" for a certain amount of time!) Keep whatever you choose hidden or a surprise before the trip so it's new for them! Have fun and good luck!

This summer we took a long car ride with my 5 year old and almost 3 year old. Since I had been on the route before (many years ago), I made up some simple car bingo cards. I took clipart and lined them up so it was a 9 square bingo. I did windmill, barn, tow truck, semi, overpass, tree, mailbox, motorcycle, etc. I printed a few copies, mixed up the squares, changed them and printed again. I tried to keep the same squares as my 3 year old so I could help her.

Another game my children loved was the Alphabet game, trying to find the letters on signs, license plates, snack packs in the car.

The last one we played was I Spy. However, this one gets loud as the kids try to be next.

We packed plenty of music CDs that my husband and I could stand to listen to with the kids. Good luck!

The key to us traveling happily has always been having new things - nothing expensive, but I always purchased a new Polly Pocket or small toy like that for them to see for the first time in the car. Also, a new coloring book or two, blank paper, colors and stickers to create pictures, books I could read to them, music they like, and of course snacks! We also have taken a DVD player, which was sometimes used and sometimes not. Good luck!

Go to kiddywampus (www.kiddywampus.com) in St. Louis Park (4400 Excelsior Blvd, one block east of Trader joes). They have the coolest compact car/travel art, toys, games, etc for kids. They are awesome

I've prepared a "travel pack" for my children. I've purchased a square tote at the dollar store. (It had a handle and three sections in it.) Once we were in the car and on the road, i gave one to each child. I put a small water bottle in one section and filled the other sections with inexpensive things for the car....small notebook, pencil, fruit snacks, stickers, etc. Even though i always keep extra snacks, etc. with me, the kids really liked being given their own at the beginning of the trip to eat whenever they want.

Also, i gave each child a pack of colored pipe cleaners. (I also had a pack for me.) It's fun to use them to make shapes, flowers, flags, etc. They are a no-mess way to be creative in the car. The kids could make a chain with them or whatever they want. Usually, i'd start and show them something and then they'd get busy exploring. If they don't like their creation, they can take it apart and start again. You could buy packs of red and green pipe cleaners and have them make a large Christmas chain, or red/white and make candy canes, etc. Pipe cleaners are very inexpensive and have unlimited possibilities.

Another idea is to get a couple books on CD. If you have a small portable CD player, you could let your child listen to it with earphones. There are some great beginning chapter books that would work well for your 6 year old. (You can check these out at the library.) Also, you could load them on an i-pod if that is easier. For your younger one, you could get some book/CD packs at the library. He/she can listen to the book being read while looking through the book.

Also, bring some kid friendly music to listen to in the car.

We always keep some plastic shopping bags in the car for garbage and every time we stop for a bathroom break, etc. we throw the bag away. Also, we limit the drinks to water so we aren't having juice spills, etc.

Also, a favorite blanket/stuffed toy in the seat with them comes in handy.

good luck!

DVD player or if you have a laptop that can play DVDs. This will help eat up big chunks of time.

The Mess Free Markers or paintbrushes, is is kind of pricey to buy a lot so I always look for deals... but they will save the seats from being colored upon. You can also go with the easy and cheaper crayons and paper/coloring books.

Pipe Cleaners to bend, twist and shape.

Go to the dollar store and buy cheap (age appropriate) toys... that way they will be new to the kids and you won't spend a lot on new toys.

Leave early or drive through the night (if the driver had a nights worth of rest during the day).

Make a lot of stops to move around, maybe bring a small ball to kick around with the kids (can do this inside but in an open area with no chance to knock something over). Could also have them do jumping jacks or a fast pace move all the body parts to get the wiggles out.

Snacks and Drinks

For our car trips, we always had a DVD player with most of their favorite movies along, snacks that wouldn't make too big of a mess (crackers, licorice, fruit snacks) and sippy cups with water or milk. They have sippy cups that look like thermos cups that we use for our 5 & 3 year olds. If we're leaving before having breakfast at home, we'll start with milk in the cups and have some dry cereal or poptarts. Make sure to get out of the car when you stop for gas (bathroom break/stretch your legs). Another thing we did on a long trip last May was to have little note books and a whole big bunch of stickers for the girls to put in their note book. A lot of them ended up on them, but they had fun and it entertained them for quite a while. Favorite toys, color wonder markers/books, crayons & coloring books are all things we make sure to bring on a trip. As far as keeping the car clean, you can only do so much...I usually end up taking quite a while after we get to our destination or back home to clean up the car from all the toys, crumbs, and stickers. Just pick things that don't make sticky messes like chocolate or things that can melt (more of a problem in the summer, but still need to watch for in the winter).

The surprise bags worked great when we traveled with our kids! ( we had 2 at the time...now we have 4 ) We gave a bag to them every hour and then they would play with whatever it was for quite awhile and it was entertaining. Also clip boards are handy for them to color/write on. But the BEST thing was when we went from a van with no T.V. to a van with a T.V!!! All I can say is when you have family out of state like we have it is a life saver! They would watch T.V., fall asleep....... We also have a couple of those hand held Video Now...things. Our younger 2 like those as well. Also little snack bags that they can choose from.....

Good luck! B.

I just finished driving from MN to New Brunswick with just me and my 5yo son (4200 miles). I thought about buying a DVD player and decided not. I am glad I didn't as we had a great trip without it.

Things I did:

1) Books on tape/CD from the library. We went together and checked them out. We got a few that were shorter and had a book to look at and other longer chapter books without a visual. A good one for your ages is Frog and Toad. It is a whole bunch of the Frog and Toad stories and my son was addicted to it. Other good stories included A Castle in the Attic and The battle for the Castle, both stories by Elizabeth Winthrop. If you want to buy some kid's books on tape my favorite place is Barefoot Books. http://www.barefoot-books.com/us/site/pages/home.php We have a couple from there and my son really enjoys them.

2) Pack their own snack bag that they can eat out of whenever they want. I pack Goldfish or pretzel, trail mix, individual fruit cup, a half sandwich, one juice box, some dried fruit, individually wrapped Fig Newtons, a spoon, and a cloth napkin. I put it all in one of his fun lunch boxes/bags. I also keep a small cooler with string cheese, carrot sticks, grapes.

3) Plan one longer stop each day that is a fun sightseeing place and allows them to stretch their legs. It doesn't always have to be a Playspace at a fast food restaurant. Research small Children Museums or other attractions on your route. Or a historical site. On our drive out we stopped at the I Love Toy Trains Store, a small town Childrens Museum, Niagara Falls, and the Saratoga Battlefield. On the way back we stopped at a bigger Children's Museum, took a ferry ride, visited the Saratoga Battlefield again and Niagara Falls again. Relax and let them have 1.5-2 hours of time to run around and play. You can always drive a little longer at night when they are asleep.

4) I bought some inexpensive new toys and wrapped them. He got to have one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. A new little stuffed animal, a sticker book, a new Hotwheel, a coloring book, or a picture book are some ideas.

5) Music CDs...we sang along together.

6) Play Twenty Questions (my son is really good at stumping me because he picks things like air or coal...lol). Other car games might include a letter search, I Spy, color search, travel bingo.

7) Just chat about stuff you see out the window. My son got to practice his numbers by reading the speed limit signs for. He asked questions about things he saw out the window. It was great.

8) Your 6yo is old enough to start learning to follow your route on a map or in an atlas. Highlight your route and have him look for signs that match the towns on your route. By 7yo I was helping my mom navigate through Chicago...lol.

9) For cleanliness, all garbage went into a plastic bag and was tossed at each gas stop. When we stopped some where and my son got out we always did a quick toy cleanup and tossed loose ones back into his toy bag. I also packed a separate overnight bag that we could grab to take into the hotel rather than unpacking or digging into our main trip clothes. I included pajamas, change of clothes, toothbrush, comb.
Have a great trip and make some memories along the way.

My friend has two young kids like you and she will now no longer travel unless it is their sleep time. She would rather drive thru the night! Good luck and have fun.

DVD player, books on tape (free from the library!), sing-a-long tapes (Wee Sing has great kid music, and my whole family LOVES John Lithgow's kid CD), cheap new toys (my kids loved ones from Dollar Store). But how to break up the trip... We would give a "goodie bag" at a certain interval of the trip (after 4 hours or after each 500 miles...you pick). The goodie bag would have a cheap new toy and a small snack. From the Cities to Austin, TX, it would take about 4 goodie bags. We'd also stop for lunch at a place they could play (McD's, Burger King, etc have play places). If that's not possible, we'd stop at a rest stop and RUN into the place, and RUN out and RUN around a little. This time of year it could get tricky with snow, but it'll still feel good for everyone to get out and stretch.

Clean up at each gas and potty stop. We keep a big supply of plastic bags in the car to help with trash, etc.

Good luck! Have a wonderful trip!