One summer vacation, 4,000 miles, 20 states, 5 weeks, one van, three kids, and nary an "Are we there yet?" to be heard. Were my three children bound and gagged? No, they were entertained. Yours can be too. Here's how to reduce parent stress and have a fun roadtrip with a little pre-planning and savvy packing.

Some fun family activities are more suited to car travel than others. Several weeks, or months, before your planned departure, think about what you will take to entertain your brood. Consider the size of the game or toy. Obviously, large toys or activities take up more space than smaller ones. Choose activities that are easy to do while restrained by a seat belt or child safety car seat. Twister is clearly not a good choice. Remember that your children will need to be entertained when you are not in the car, too. Think about balls and frisbees for rest-stop play and things to do at Grandma's house or while holed up in Motel Four.

Look around your house and begin to set aside things that meet your "fun" criteria. Consider the following: 

  • Books. Choose popular children's books to read aloud, chapter books your older children can melt into on the road, and books on tape for the younger set. Also consider adolescent books (fiction and nonfiction) that focus on the areas you will be traveling through. 
  • Coloring books, drawing paper, markers and colored pencils. Younger children enjoy passing time coloring favorite characters and making original art. Do not take crayons--they melt in hot cars and create a mess. (The same is true for chocolate.) 
  • Puzzle/Activity Books. Little ones can be entertained by dot-to-dot and search and find pages. Older children may be amused by some of the more sophisticated search and find games, but will also enjoy crossword and word find activities. For inexpensive additions in this category, ask your favorite restaurant for clean copies of activity place mats. 
  • Dolls, stuffed animals and other soft friends. Imaginary play can entertain little ones for hours. However, because of space constraints, each child should be limited to one or two of their favorite friends. 
  • Paper Dolls. These flat figures, whether they be pretty ladies, small children, or favorite action heros, offer tons of play value and take up little space. Store them in a zippered plastic bag. 
  • Travel Games. These smaller versions of popular board games are especially designed for car travel. Look for mainstays such as Scrabble and Monopoly Junior. Many travel games such as chess, checkers and tic-tac-toe feature magnetic pieces. 
  • Cards. Your children can be amused by such games as Solitaire, Go Fish, Rummy and others. Let them check out a book from the library and read up on card games. 
  • Teasers. These are those small wooden games played with golf tees. They include myriad activities designed to challenge small, and big, minds. Pack them in zippered plastic bags. Check the toy aisle of your favorite discount store for these travel delights. 
  • Hand-held electronic games. Small games and electronic pets can keep kids busy. Choose those that have a mute button to save your sanity. 
  • Maps. Give your children their own maps. They will have fun not only figuring out where they are, but also, with your help, where they will be. How far is it to your destination? How many states will you travel through? What exit do you need to take for Six Flags? Many map companies also publish road atlases and travel books for children.

Don't forget that your can restock your supply of fun on the road, too. Visit local and state tourist information centers. They offer not only a wealth of information about the area you are traveling through, but they also have materials designed especially for children. If you don't see any, ask. Often coloring books, state history materials, road safety information and other activities are available to those who request them.

Let each child take along a backpack to corral their toys and other supplies. You might also hold some fun items back and dole them out during the trip. 

 

Lynn Dean is a Colorado writer and the mother of three children. Her family loves to travel by car and explore Colorado and the United States.