There is nothing more nightmarish than being stuck on a long road trip with whiny, screaming kids and husband. It drives me insane to have the baby of the family screaming on the short ride from work to home, so the thought of a long road trip tends to make me want to hibernate.
As a fellow traveler who can't afford enough ear plugs, I have compiled a few activities to make your trip seem like you just left home when you arrive at your destination. Some are great technological advances that may cost money while others are just fun games to keep your child and your family occupied.
Letterboxing
This has to be my most favorite find! The whole family will enjoy doing this. If you enjoy scavenger hunts, then this is the game for your family. People all across the country have hidden little boxes or film canisters with a notebook and stamp inside. As you travel, you follow clues to find where these boxes are hidden. You take out the stamp and stamp your own family notebook along with writing the location and date as a memory that you visited the area. Check out the website, letterboxing.org. They have a kids' section so that the clues are a little easier to follow. The best part is that your family gets to stamp the notebook in the box as well and record your visit so that fellow travelers will know you were once there. I had a friend who did this with her preschoolers and they absolutely loved it. It also gave them many chances to stop and stretch as well as see places that they normally would have just driven by and never appreciated.
Watch Movies
This is where we begin thanking God for technological advances! My kids zone out when the TV is on and when you are trapped in a small space sometimes I am thankful for that trait. A twist to this suggestion is to pull out all those family movies. Kids love seeing their parents when they were younger, or better yet show them old home movies of themselves.
Play Classic Car Games
Play the ABC game where you find letters in order on signs or the Number game with the same concept. Look for state license plates. My son's favorite game is the I Spy game. I once played "20 Questions" with my husband for four hours on a very late night drive. These games are classics for a reason-they entertain!
Preserve Vacation Memories
Have a family journal or scrapbook. Give each family member their own camera to record events. Let them write their own description of their trip. Stop at unusual shops, places, restaurants, etc. to let the children find their own take home memory to preserve the occassion.
Create a Car-Friendly Activity Box
This is a great idea! Fill the box with endless activities sure to keep your kids busy. Pack washable crayons or Aquadoodle mats and accessories. Pack handheld travel games, craft kits, stickers, workbooks and books. Rotate what the kids can do every thirty minutes so they never tire of an activity.
Enjoy the time you have bonding. Sing songs, have a scavenger hunt for landmarks that you pass, share stories, etc. The time families have together is so scarce these days so treasure every moment. Feel free to share you own ideas in the comments that you have found to work!
