How to Survive Car Trips with Young Children

Worried about spending hours in the car with your kids this holiday season? Here is a fun way to survive a car trip without resorting to watching dvds or singing camp songs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Goody bags with small gifts--plan on one per hour you plan to spend in the car
• Map that traces your route
• List of landmarks you will pass along the way
• Patience and good humor

1. Print out a map that traces the route to your destination. If possible, use pictures and make the map easy-to-read for kids.

2. Choose landmarks on the map that are evenly-spaced, approximately one per hour. Use Exit numbers and/or town names, junctions with major highways, or local attractions.

3. You will need a goody bag for each location. Remember to choose items that will occupy your child for a short time--crayons and flip notebooks, inexpensive video games, stickers, a compass, books, lollipops, a new cd. Remember, you do not want to choose anything that will drive you crazy on the trip. No whistles or instruments or games that require a lot of explanation.

4. Allow your child to open a goody bag each time you hit a landmark. It's a great way to pass the time, and just when he or she is getting bored, there's something new to play with.

Tips & Warnings

• The goodies do not have to be fancy or expensive. Kids just enjoy the excitement of getting something new.
• Go to your local dollar store, and you'll find plenty of appropriate items.
• Put a healthy snack in one of the bags, and you'll be able to make more headway before stopping.
• Keep your kids involved in locating the next landmark, and they'll enjoy the game even more. We count down the exits or point out towns on the map as we pass them.
• Do not give items that cannot be played with easily while being strapped into car seats or seatbelts.
• Candy is good as one of the last goodies--but not one of the first. You'll regret it, believe me.
• Be prepared to stop occasionally to retrieve items that have fallen. A small plastic bin placed on the seat beside your child will help prevent this.
• The anticipation of each goody bag may prevent your child from actually falling asleep in the car. This could be bad.

[Moop]

on 11/21/2006 I love your article ... Adding to Step 1, if possible, also bring a world map. Ask your kids to find the countries where their clothes were produced. Usually, this information is listed on the label or washing instructions (and will involve an int'l country). It'll give them a sense of just how huge the world is. No matter where you're driving this holiday season, you can go global, even when you're local ...

[tommyboy2k]

on 11/21/2006 Thank God...an alternative to just watching DVD's.

[Lorelei]

on 11/21/2006 It makes me want to join you on your next trip.:) It sounds like a fun family!

[qbyjones]

on 11/21/2006 THANK YOU!!

[Maddie]

on 11/21/2006 I love the goodie bag idea. I am going to try this on our trip home.

XYZ game is always a classic as well.