Road Trips with Kids

When you’re taking a road trip with kids, a large part of your planning is figuring out how to keep them entertained.  This is never more important than when you’re going to be riding in a car for hours.

Taking a road trip with more than one kid can be both a blessing and a curse.  On one hand, they have someone to talk to and play with.  On the other hand, they have someone to talk to and poke at and torment when they start getting really bored.  Head boredom off at the pass with travel games kids can play in the car – and do it without spending a dime!

8 Free Travel Games To Play with Kids on Road Trips:

1.  I SPY - “I spy, with my little eye, something… green!”  Hopefully you’re already familiar with the wonders of the I SPY guessing game.  If not, the rules are simple to learn – and teach.  Basically, one of you starts describing something you can see (hence the phrase “I spy with my little eye”) and everyone else in the car guesses until someone guesses the mystery item correctly.  This is especially fun with a preschooler her describes Mommy’s shirt every. single. time.

2.  The license plate game – When I was a kid we used to mentally keep track of all of the different states we would see license plates for on our road trips.  Now that make books especially designed for The License Plate Game.  The books come with stickers and pictures and actually teach your kids stuff while keeping them entertained in the backseat.  Brilliant!  (This still counts because you CAN play it for free, just like we did when we were kids.)

3.  20 Questions - Surely you’ve heard of 20 questions.  As a parent, you’re basically playing this game all day, every day, without the beautiful finish line that an actual game provides.  20 Questions is similar to I SPY except that you’re not limited to using objects you can see – which is nice if you’ve got slow guessers and a fast scenery.  You think of an object, the guessers have to try to figure out what you’re thinking of by asking up to 20 yes or no questions.  Yep, that’s it.

4.  Name That Tune - My husband and I actually play this game in the car whether we have kids or not.  Because we are just that cool. It works best if you have satellite radio, a large play list on an mp3 player, or a monster collection of CDs to draw from.  You basically see how quickly you can guess the song.  Bonus points for getting it before the lyrics start.  Bonus, Extra, AWESOME points if you can get the name of the song and the artist.  Negative 100 points if you actually keep track of points.

5.  Scavenger Hunt – This is a game you have to plan for ahead of time.  Print off a list of different things you might see along the drive and have the kids check them off as they see them.  For added fun, come up with a little prize for the person who completes their list first.  (And of course, you’re probably going to want a consolation prize for everyone else.  Unless you like crying fits over something as silly as a made up Scavenger Hunt.)  Here’s a sample scavenger hunt list to get you started.

6.  Tic Tac Toe - This requires nothing more than two travelers and a paper and pen.  My nine year old can play this game for hours and never get bored.

7.  Lines and Dots – Speaking of pen and paper games, do you remember playing lines and dots over and over again at lunch in junior high?  No?  Was that just a weird thing the girls at my school did?  Anyway - lines and dots is another game where you can make your own game board from any sheet of paper.  You make a grid of dots and take turns connecting two dots at a time with a line in an effort to make boxes.  You get a point for each box you complete.  Sound familiar now?  No?  If you’ve never played lines and dots, you can find detailed rules here.

8.  Hangman – Is there no limit to the games that you can play on the back of a hotel receipt print out?  Not yet!  Hangman is like Do It Yourself Wheel Of Fortune.  It’s also a great way for your kids to practice their spelling and language skills.  You can play Hangman with a beginner reader by using simple words like their name and the names of other people they know.

And one travel game that is not free but I am including because it is my favorite….

Travel Yahtzee – You can get just about every classic board game in a travel version.  Travel Yahtzee was my absolute favorite as a kid because there weren’t a million little pieces to lose, and I could play it by myself if my siblings were being pains in the butt.  (There is nothing wrong with a kid playing Yahtzee with themselves to beat their own previous high scores.  Totally normal.)

Louisiana as seen from Natchez, MS on the banks of the Mississippi River

Last week, I embarked on what most of my friends considered a sheer act of lunacy.  A desperate deed by a clearly crazed man.  Maybe so, but Ohio winters are long and I’d had enough!  I packed up the kids (all five of them), crammed them into our trusty Caravan, pointed it south and started driving.

I didn’t stop until the temperatures rose above 70 degrees and people started referring to me as ya’ll.  I didn’t stop until I found heat, humidity, fried foods, sunshine and zydeco music.  The kids were on Spring Break last week and I made tracks to my hometown in Louisiana.

I thought I might share with you just a few things that go into planning just such a road trip.  A road trip with kids, that is.

Know Where You Are Going

This seems fairly logical.  Those college road trip days are a thing of the past.  Remember spinning the compass wheel on Friday afternoon and heading off for a weekend of adventure in whatever direction it landed?  Not so much fun with kids.  Kids want stability and knowing that their journey has a definite ending point provides assurance.  On the opposite hand, if a kid has any inclination that you may be lost they will freak!  Trust me on this.  Know where you are going and map a direct route.  Then you can start looking for alternatives.

Look to the Road Less Traveled

The Natchez Trace Parkway

Consider alternate routes that will provide interesting sightseeing points.  A little bit of research can make an otherwise mundane trip a lasting memory.  Kids don’t necessarily appreciate being cooped up in the car, strapped to their seats for hours on end so these little jaunts can be extremely rewarding.  It can be as simple as a scenic highway with frequent overlooks to as complex as a full day side trip with an extra night’s stay to take advantage of area attractions.

Know Your Audience

If your kid eats, sleeps and breathes all things ball, oozes masculinity at the ripe old age of five, and buries his face in his hands, groaning and making puking sounds during the kissing scenes of any movie, chances are an interesting side trip to The American Girl Store in Chicago is not going to be appreciated.

Why so sad little boy?

On the other hand, if your kids freak out, screaming with joy at the prospect running up and down grassy hills they will certainly appreciate any jaunt that includes Indian Mounds.

The Pharr Indian Mounds

Take Your Time

Seriously, what’s the hurry?  It’s a vacation.  The whole idea is to get away from hectic and grind and rush and any of those other words that mean hurry up and work harder.  I get tense when hurried, even while not driving.  Vacations are supposed to be relaxing.  A meandering pace with frequent stops keeps everyone interested, almost giddy anticipating the next exciting adventure around the bend.

Remember Your Cards

I’m not talking about playing cards or even the credit cards–though I doubt I’d leave either behind on a road trip.  No, I’m talking about your membership cards.  The Zoo membership card and the Science Museum membership card.  Almost all of the major zoos and children’s museums have what is called reciprocal admission privileges.  That means that if you are a member of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium your membership card will get you into the Alexandria Zoo for free.  Or the Nashville Zoo, or the Reid Park Zoo in Tuscon.

The Alexandria Zoo

The same holds true for your Children’s Museum membership.  There are over 250 participating science centers and museums that offer reciprocity admission benefits.   It’s a good idea to call ahead to verify if the center or zoo you are planning to visit participates.

Bring Entertainment

Let’s face it, the allure of the road has only so much appeal to a youngster and eventually they are going to need alternate forms of entertainment.  And while a rousing game of License Plate Bingo or Slug Bug can pass a few restless minutes you’re going to need more.  Our iPod got plenty play during our recent trip.  I made a few play lists with the kids favorite songs (and mine) before hand so as to keep the search requests to a minimum (and my eyes on the road).

But inevitably I had to pull out the big guns.  The portable DVD player.  There was a time I had sworn them off in the car.  That was until it took us 7 1/2 hours to make the 3 hour and 15 minute drive from our house to Indianapolis.  Long journey does not begin to describe that trip.

If you need to make up some time or just need some quiet time, my experience is that a good movie will provide a near perfect hour and a half to two hour window.

Let Your Kids Be Kids

It Echoes!!! It Echoes!!! The Illinois Monument at the Vicksburg Battlefield and Memorial Vicksburg, MS

It’s OK if your kids go a little crazy.  It’s a vacation for them, too and while they may not have had their shoulder to the wheel grinding out nine to fives they certainly have earned a break from the routine of school and chores.  The road trip provides them an opportunity to experience their world in a tangible and exciting way.  Watching them yell, “Wahoo!!” every time the van doors opened cemented the fact in my mind that I was doing something good for them.  And me.

There are countless other things you should include or consider when planning a successful and enjoyable road trip with the kids:  cameras (and chargers–I’m an idiot that learned this the hard way), insurance cards (medical-God forbid you should need them), wipes for dirty hands in car, etc. etc.   But what’s the fun in endless planning?  Eventually, rubber needs to meet the road and the journey must begin.

Our trip, I am happy to report, was a resounding success.  The kids had a great time as did I.  Honest!  I also let out a “Wahoo!!” myself every once in a while , but usually at inappropriate times so as to keep the ruse of lunacy alive.

Inspiration for this post came from a colleague here at UpTake.  Her post 18 Travel Tips for Planning a Road Trip was brilliant.  My purpose here was simply to augment her excellent advice.  If you are anything like me, you certainly appreciate a good augmentation.

Few places capture the spirit of California like Hollywood.  It is filled with stars, dreams and lots and lots of cameras.It is also filled with clubs, trash, costumed characters and unpleasant odors.  There’s something for everyone, and that means family fun!

The sidewalks along Hollywood Boulevard are themselves a destination, and make an interesting stop on any vacation.  The walkways are lined with the engraved stars of Hollywood’s biggest names.  However, unless there is a premiere, dedication or award show you’re unlikely to see anyone very famous.

The Kodak Theater, the current home of the Oscars, sits right next to the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theater (which has also hosted the Oscars).  The Chinese Theater is known for its collection of cement impressions which permanently display signatures and foot/hand prints of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Most tours of Hollywood sites and homes of the stars start here.It is also the area where you will find a collection of costumed “movie icons” ranging from Yoda to Jack Sparrow and three or four Spidermen.  These street performers will engage you for photo opportunities and they work for tips.

Across the street are the El Capitan Theatre and the home of ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel.   The El Capitan is a restored theater operated by Disney and is in itself worth a family trip to Hollywood.  Adjacent to the theater is the Disney Soda Fountain, with an array of tasty ice cream creations (and full menu).

Other venues of interest include the Hollywood Wax Museum,  Ripley’s Believe It or Not! and the Guinness World Record Attraction.

The streets in the Hollywood and Highland area tend to be very crowded and in addition to the costumed characters and street performers there are the proverbial prophets of doom and the occasional film crew.  It’s the kind of scene that can make parents, especially those with small children, a bit uncomfortable.  It’s loud and it’s overwhelming, but it is Hollywood and everyone needs that stamp in their passport.

Dining: There are plenty of places to eat.  The shopping area at Hollywood and Highland is the cleanest and has typical food court fare and a few sit down establishments.  The Disney soda fountain mentioned above is good and a blast for the kids, but be warned that it doubles as a store.

The Snow White Cafe (not Disney) is perhaps the worst restaurant I’ve ever been in. Don’t let the name fool you, it’s not charming or magical.

Parking:  Parking is available in lots accessible from the street.  I recommend the garage under the H & H (Hollywood and Highland) shopping area, especially at night, as it is well-lit, clean, busy and accepts validation from most establishments within walking distance.

Photos: Hollywood Sign /Disney Soda Fountain by Whit Honea

From guest blogger Marsha Takeda-Morrison of Sweatpantsmom

Here is my Thursday Thirteen list, a suggestion of things to do with tweens in L.A. I thought up most of it at the mall last week, as I was waiting outside a store for my two tween girls to emerge with their purchases. It’s amazing what you can get accomplished in seven hours.

1. Hot Topic - This could really cover items 1 – 13 on this list, since as far as my two girls are concerned there isn’t any need to venture anywhere else. Give them a backpack full of snacks and a fully-charged cell phone and they could probably stay in there for weeks spending my hard earned cash on Juno t-shirts and black glitter nail polish.

2. Art Museums – We’ve been taking our kids to art museums since they were babies, but it’s gotten particularly entertaining lately to hear their expert commentary. It’s always amusing to hear things like, “OMG – naked!” when standing before a majestic sculpture by Rodin, or “I TOTALLY want that for my new bunk bed comforter” while contemplating a canvas by Jackson Pollack.

3. Soup Kitchen –I’ve never actually visited a soup kitchen with my tweens, but it’s something all the PC parenting guides say you should do in order to teach your kids to be grateful for what they have. In all honesty, I’m not sure how my two girls would fare – I’d really be embarrassed if they sat down at a table, waited for a menu and then asked the homeless guy sitting next to them if he recommends the buffalo wings or the grilled cheese.

4. The movies – Any movie will do. Just sitting in a nice cool theater chowing down on hot buttered popcorn and Junior Mints is enough to keep them happy. The 9 – 12 year old set aren’t very discerning moviegoers; In fact, it may be the only time you’ll hear “Garfield: The Movie” and “awesome” in the same sentence.

5. Target – Maybe this is only applicable to tween girls, but mine love the aisles filled with cheap loot, cds and video games. Also, lots of eco t-shirts that say things like ‘Tree Hugger’ which is apparently all the rage now. You might just get them to listen to your Hendrix albums after all.

6. Yogurt shop – Yogurt is the new black. Menchies is our favorite, but Pinkberry or any other one will do. But try and take them to Baskin-Robbins and be prepared for much eye-rolling as they’re forced to mingle with the four-year-olds enjoying a scoop of Shrek Swirl with their grandpas.

7. Starbucks – This is the new version of sneaking a sip of your mom’s wine when you were seven. Tweens like the idea of sipping a grown-up coffee drink (I order decaf for mine) and it’s great for coffee addicts like me who can get their daily fix guilt-free. You know, it’s for the children.

8. Bowling Alley – They may last for one game of bowling, but what they really want to do is head to the arcade for some DDR (Dance Dance Revolution for you total squares.) Bring a bat or rolled-up newspaper if you have girls, though – the last time I was there a small crowd of teen boys gathered to watch my daughters and their friends bouncing around to the music until I shooed them away.

9. California Pizza Kitchen –According to the highly scientific poll I conducted with my girls and their friends while driving back from the mall in my van last week, this is the sanctioned eatery to dine with your parents. Added bonus – it’s the only place they don’t feel embarrassed about ordering from the kids menu since “the macaroni and cheese, like, rules.”

10. The Library – Believe it or not, tweens are rediscovering the library, mainly for the treasure trove of manga books they have there. At $9.99 each, it gets expensive to keep buying them at Barnes & Noble. However, do not even suggest they try out any of the library-sponsored teen events such as cupcake making or scrapbooking – you may as well tell them to invite their crowd over for a rousing game of rummy.

11. The beach – The beach is ideal for tweens and their unpredictable moods. They can indulge both their sloth-ly instincts by laying on their towels all day, or burn off energy by hitting the waves for some boogie-boarding. Also, the close proximity of a snack bar serving pizza and every variety of greasy, deep fried food will make them think they’ve died and gone to heaven

12. The park – My girls are just starting to notice boys, and members of the opposite sex are in abundance here, especially during soccer season. Bring along that bat that you took to the bowling alley

13. At home, with their parents – They’re not going to want to be seen with their dad and me for long, so we’re savoring all these days just hanging out together. So what if they roll their eyes when I suggest the fifth game of CandyLand?

Here is my Thursday Thirteen list of items I always pack when traveling with my kids, things I have found useful when taking my kids on the road. My two are 6 and 7, so our packing list has certainly evolved from when they were babies. And as they grow older, we look forward to even more changes. The list skews a little more towards airplane trips, but I think the list is also valid for car adventures too. Our most exciting packing achievement? For our trip in March to London and Paris, we took only carry on luggage – each of us had a roll-on suitcase and backpack!

In Letterman style, I will do my list backwards, saving the best for last:

13. Travel backpack with games, books and toys to keep them busy (check out the $1 bin at Michaels)
12. Refillable water bottles
11. Small first aid kit with band aids
10. Digital Camera (one for the adults and one for the kids)
9. Flip video recorder (so small it fits in my pocket) Read More »

While parents are busy discussing and stressing over how to best vacation with their toddlers and young children on travel forums, kids have it easy. They simply go along for the ride… Here is another edition of ‘Min’s top 5′, this time focusing on why KIDS love family travel.

#1. Kids are more entertained than usual: How many hours of tv/movies do you allow your toddler to watch in a typical week? What if he/she is partaking in a long car trip or trans-Atlantic flight? Do your sedentary entertainment quotas change? Parents love to rent DVDs for children to keep their children amused so that they may fully enjoy. I was a little jealous when I came across this super travel pack by Sealed With A Kiss (what a clever name), a Maryland-based company. It’s a grab bag full of fun with its own carry-on sack which costs about $45 with S/H.

#2. Kids can have more favorite snacks: As I remember, each packing list for young kids suggests some snacks to treat your kids on the road, on a flight, or even on the most romantic beach. Kids will eat what you put in front of them, so choose healthy snacks to build good dietary habbits.

#3. Kids can play games with parents all day long: If you are driving a long way to your vacation destination, travel experts and experienced parents would suggest you prepare some car games before leaving. Kids can only read car plates for so long . We have a post about car games for kids. Traveling with Kids has a nice games and toys list for babies and toddlers.

#4. Kids can play in pools or water parks, maybe everyday for a whole week. This is an adult’s (like me) dream life too.

#5. Most of all, kids can keep the routine at home as well. Super parents can keep kids happy all the time, but also keep some of comforting routines from home.

If I have a kid, I guess he/she will inform me of new reasons that he/she enjoys traveling with me. What have your kids told you about what they enjoy most? Please share with us….

My husband and I have enjoyed traveling with both kids since they were young, but as I look back to when they were toddlers, I must admit to myself that I am enjoying our travel together more as they grow older. I’d share some of our experiences and hopefully they are helpful for you in planning a trip with toddlers or preschoolers.

Travel with 2 Year Old Toddler

Tons of stuff! Have you ever seen the sherpas from Nepal on an Himalayan trek? As a parent of a two year old toddler, I think I carried more! Car seat, portable crib, stroller, diapers, change of clothes (1 per hour of flight time), snacks, books, games, other games (in case the first did not work out), cameras, more diapers. If we were driving, we would need things to entertain in the car. If we were flying, we would need things to entertain on the tarmac. Woe be the airline that decided to load us on the plane and stay on the ground! Natalie Pechacek on Minti.com backs me up here!

Walking! My son was an active toddler and sitting in his seat for the whole flight was pretty hard to do. We had to get up and walk, up and down and up and down the aisles. Sometimes we ran! Wish I had had Min’s suggestions for keeping my kids busy on the plane.

Organized! Each trip took several weeks of planning, a staging area at home, test runs, information gathering, and packing and re-packing. The first three days of every vacation were total recovery – I mostly slept!

Tips for you: Don’t try to do too much or plan full-day schedules when traveling with your 2 year old.

v.s.

Travel with 5 Year Old Preschooler

Flexible! My 5 year old daughter is now flexible enough in her travel that I don’t have to bring a snack or game for every situation. We can play things by ear, catch a snack when we are hungry, go with the flow when faced with delays.

Independent! Now that my kids are 5 and 7, they take responsibility for packing their own suitcases (with a provided packing list), organizing their own plane and car entertainment, and helping us cart the suitcases through the airport. We are getting very close to the time when all four of us will be able to handle our own wheelie suitcase and a backpack. Success!

Varied! When my son was younger, he preferred everything to be on a schedule, so he would know what to expect. Nowadays, he is open to new experiences and can adjust to vacation schedules that are different from home. In fact, being away from our regular schedule allows us to learn more about ourselves and each other and deepen our family experience.

Exciting! They say that you experience familiar places in different ways when you go with your children, as you see everything through their eyes. It is true, as my family visits places I have been too before, I am amazed at what new experiences we encounter with the help of my kids. Travel is now exciting, not so much of a burden and I cannot wait for our next trip!

Tips for you: Prepare to learn more and experience more with your 5 year old!

Do you stress when faced with a long flight ahead with your kids?

You might recall hearing about the mother and toddler who got kicked off a plane back in early July. This became a national story and a hot topic at preschool PTA meetings around the country. According to the mother, the flight attendant advised the mother to give the child baby Benadryl after he wouldn’t stop repeating “Bye, bye plane,” understandably upsetting fellow passengers. The mother took offense to the suggested ‘drugging’ of her 18-month old and refused. We’re not here to debate who’s at fault… but we’d love to offer you seven tips to calm and entertain your child/children during air travel. The Perrin Post also provides a quality list of tips.

#1：Books and Games

Babies and toddlers love pop-up books and stuffed animals they can interact with and talk to. New toys and books the kids have never seen before should be brought as a special treat. (Just be sure that whichever toy you choose is quiet so as not to disturb your neighbors). Older kids enjoy hand-held video games, books, card games, coloring books and even crossword puzzles. Make use of your surroundings as well – the phones, window coverings, and even plastic silverware can all be used to entertain the youngest of kids. See if you can find any games in our previous post: Kango’s Picks: Top 5 blog posts and sites about car games for kids.

#2：Movies and Music

Do you have a portable DVD player at home? Definitely bring it with you on the plane! (They also rent them for a small fee at most major airports. about.com has tips about renting DVD players.) Portable music players (iPods) are great as well for kids of all ages. The Berkeley Parents Network suggests picking an airline with TVs on the back of the seats, especially when traveling internationally (i.e. Japan Air or Singapore Air).

#3： Pack Your Kids a “Picnic”

Chances are that, unless you are flying internationally, the food selections on your flight will be limited to peanuts and drinks. Help keep your kids happy and entertained by packing each of them a “picnic” made up of their favorite foods. Check out Babycenter.com for other great recommendations about flying with kids.

#4：Take Evening Flights If You Can

Kids are likely to be more tired on evening flights, and are more likely to sleep. The lights will be low, and the atmosphere is likely to be more calm and peaceful. If you can afford it, book an extra seat for your baby or toddler so they can lie down in the seat and take a nap more comfortably

#5：Take Frequent Trips Up and Down the Aisles

It’s important to get up and stretch your own legs on longer flights to prevent circulation blockages, and it’s just as important for your kids. Frequent walks up and down the aisle are great for short breaks, and smaller kids will love the attention they will get.

#6：Get a Map of Your Destination

Slightly older children will enjoy figuring out where they are on a map, as well as looking at pictures of the places they are going to visit and even the hotel they will be staying at. Let the kids make a list of the things they want to do and see first.

#7： Book Ahead and Get the Bulkhead (First Row) Seat

This great suggestion comes from a forum on Flytalk.com. Have you ever been on a plane and envied the extra space for the people sitting in the very first row? It’s called the bulkhead row, and it’s a great idea for traveling with kids! When the seatbelt sign is off, your children can get out of their seats and quietly play on the floor with puzzles, books and toys. You’ll enjoy the extra legroom as well.

So there you have it, seven awesome tips intended to allow you to do what you’re supposed to do on your vacation – RELAX.