Monday, May 11, 2015
Travel Ideas - Joy in the Journey
I was asked to share ideas about how to enjoy the journey, taking trips with kids -- specifically packing ideas, snacks, and entertainment. Here is what I came up with.
The magic potion we all hope for: sleep!
Happy road tripping!
Packing Ideas
Color-coded suitcases are my favorite thing! We use the same color-coding for our cups and dishes at home, sock bags, etc. I found them on Amazon.
Packing lists are super handy. I keep a Word document with each family member in a column. I alter the # of items needed for each trip, then cut the pages into strips and hand them out to each person. I let the kids gather their things, and then I check it with them.
maryorganizes.com has a picture list for non-readers, which is cute.
Wipes and Tissues are vital!
Extra water for cleanup and drinking
Squirt bottle with water - for spraying hot seats (cools instantly with evaporation), also great for washing hands
I have had the kids put the clothes for each day into a large Ziploc bag, complete with socks and underwear. That has helped keep their suitcases organized, protects from moisture and smells, and they are very handy to grab. Once emptied, we put the bags into the zippered mesh section of their suitcases. I have really liked this!
*Don’t forget basic car emergency items (jumper cables, tire changing tools, flashlight, first aid, etc.)
Traveling Strategy
Traveling with kids is a lot about strategy, heavy on the TIMING.
Prepare a lot, but don’t reveal your secrets at the beginning, or all at once. If you do, the kids will pick the most exciting things first (when they are freshest) and will leave the least exciting things for when they need it the most.
-
1.Let the kids travel in the car for a while until they seem to need something.
2. Encourage conversation and outside-the-car viewing. Play the “Alphabet Game” or “I Spy.” Give them BINDERS with spotting games in them (License Plate game, etc.) - see below.
3. Save videos/electronics for when it gets dark. Then it’s exciting and they’ve looked forward to the movie instead of being on their 6th movie by nighttime. This also helps them do the activities that they can only do with daylight (sight-seeing, binders, etc.)
License plate games (many versions)
Vehicle Vulture (like Battleship - draw your own cars)
Bingo
Scavenger hunts (including hunts for sounds)
Rock, Paper Soccer *my kids’ favorite: when you win rock paper scissors, you get to add a line on a grid that moves the soccer ball closer to the other person’s goal.
Squares (put initials inside complete boxes)
The Spotted Cow (teams on R/L sides of car count cows)
Tic Tac Toe
Mazes
Word searches
Hang man
Crack the code
Sudoku
ABC Memory game (each person adds an item beginning with the next letter of the alphabet - you have to remember)
Plain graph paper
I added blank paper at the end for free drawing.
*Secret Missions - super cute. I cut up strips of paper with secret missions on them. Everyone drew a paper with the charge to perform the mission throughout the trip covertly. The last spy with a mission remaining unguessed wins. Examples: Hum every time somebody mentions food or being hungry. Make sound effects when you shut doors, drop something, open a can, etc. Offer to help at every opportunity that presents itself to you. ...
Mad libs are also super fun. You can find some free printables.
A few years ago, I purchased “Ultimate Road Trip Games” - a digital copy full of games for the kids to play. The kids loved it! Included:
4. Save new toys for little ones (keep out of sight) for nighttime or the next day so they have something new, interesting and exciting.
Tools for Entertainment
Binders are a big favorite for both the kids and me. You can find many free printables online. Here are a few:
Books - let each child choose a few books. Bring them in a bin or have a special bag for protection so they don’t get thrashed.
Audio books - fun to listen to books together as a family or with headphones.
For the couple - or even the kids, The Dating Divas came up with this Road Trip Questionnaire, which is a blast to do with your spouse. (His/hers answer to each question - favorites, memories, etc.)
Music is great (as long as it doesn’t put the driver to sleep or drive you nuts) - listen or sing fun songs. If kids have their own headphones, they can all listen to what they like.
Paper and crayons for coloring (clipboards/spiral notebooks, crayons kept in soap box)
Hand crafts like crochet or knitting, cross-stitch, friendship bracelets etc.
This DIY Cookie Sheet Activity Tray opens up another world of possibilities, especially for magnets, and is a nice surface for drawing, too.
I made a Dinosaur Playground for Adam out of an old box. I glued in paper, sticks, rocks and some shrubs.
Include pages for journal entries - kids can write and/or draw pictures about each day. Source You can also customize binders for the places you will visit and what they should look for in each location.
Toys - even unusual ones (yarn) *remember to keep toys hidden to surprise child with later/another day.
Siblings themselves can be quite entertaining!
If you want to be fancy, you can put items in bags labeled with a time to open them or a destination along the way to open them. Source for above pic.
Tools for Showing Progress/Passing Time
Tools for Survival/Comfort *Food
Food is at the top of this list! packing a healthy lunch and snacks goes a long way to helping everyone feel good and not yucky, and therefore grumpy. It’s easy to find junk food along the way (gas stations/fast food), but what is most appealing, expensive, and hard to find on the road is produce. Here are a few ideas for making this happen besides basic sandwiches:
Instead of Go-gurts, or the more expensively packaged applesauce squeezers, you could just add a straw.
Fill an empty jar with an inch or two of peanut butter, then fill with celery sticks.
Source
Frozen grapes are amazing! They turn into mini popsicles, and will be good very frozen, or slightly frozen. Talk about refreshing! Picture source.
Of course, apples and oranges, bananas, and peas are prepackaged by nature.
Tools for Survival/Comfort
While we are talking about food, catch-all bibs are amazing for catching food... and throw-up. They have saved us many times!
I always pack empty ice cream buckets as well, at least one in each row as throw-up buckets just in case. I make sure everyone knows where it is so if they feel it coming on, they grab a bucket first!
Noise-canceling headphones have saved us with both Tyler and Mark. After many hours in the car, the only thing that stopped their screaming was these headphones playing Nora Jones “December”!
For rear-facing children: mirror to see them or for them to look at him/herself.
Pictures to look at taped to the seat - change during the trip.
On most trips, I have the kids include their pillow and sleeping bag in their suitcase, so everything is neat and tidy, and easy to find.
The kids generally behave well, so I haven’t had to resort to something like this, but it would be a good thing:
Each child gets a roll of coins ($1 pennies, $5 dimes or $10 quarters) in a bag. If they behave well, they get to keep the coins and spend them on the trip.
For each time they misbehave, they give mom/dad a coin. If they complain about that, make it 2 coins.
I love “The Road Trip Game” from maybeiwill.com! You print off her list of questions, cut them into strips, and put them in a jar, which gets passed around so everyone gets turns to answer questions. Super cute, and awesome for family conversation!
Here is a short list of conversation games.
This mom operates on a “Sweets for the Sweet” philosophy, meaning that desserts and special treats are reserved for those who are kind and sweet. She made clips for each child as a reminder of who is doing well in being kind.
