| Whenever one of my friends returns from some | | | | diversion from boredom or sibling |
| time away, I ask: "Was it a vacation - or was | | | | arguments.11. Make sure to talk about your |
| it just a trip?"When traveling with kids, | | | | vacation like it is the ultimate adventure. |
| true vacations are pretty hard to come by. | | | | The enthusiasm that you bring to the prospect |
| With the packing, the car seats, the change | | | | of piling into the car will help in untold |
| in sleeping schedules, and all the inevitable | | | | ways.In the Car12. If you can, do as much |
| whining that comes along, it would be way | | | | traveling as possible while your kids are |
| easier to stay home (especially when | | | | sleeping. Of course, safety is paramount. If |
| traveling by car.)And yet traveling is | | | | you find yourself getting at all sleepy, pull |
| important. When we travel, we open to a world | | | | over and switch with your spouse or find a |
| that was previously unknown to us. We touch | | | | hotel.13. If you don't like to drive at |
| other cultures and other ways of life; we | | | | night, or you are driving through countryside |
| broaden our own perspectives and understand, | | | | that you would like your children to see in |
| finally, that our small problems are just | | | | the daylight, make sure you leave plenty of |
| that.When we travel with kids, we open their | | | | travel time. Plan on a maximum of seven hours |
| eyes to all of this and more. Even when we | | | | of driving per day. Get up early, drive a |
| take a simple trip to visit distant | | | | bit, and then check into your hotel in the |
| relatives, we show them a world of love that | | | | mid afternoon and enjoy the swimming pool. |
| they may not had known existed.Here are | | | | Have a nice, relaxed dinner and leisurely |
| eighteen tips to help you enjoy road trip | | | | check out some local sites in the evening.14. |
| traveling with your kids.Before the trip:1. | | | | While driving during the day, plan to stop at |
| Use online trip-planning websites to locate | | | | least every hour and a half. Stretch, take |
| kid-friendly parks, historic monuments, and | | | | some bathroom breaks, and remember that |
| other attractions in advance. Plan at least | | | | getting there is half the adventure.15. |
| one kids' activity each day, even on those | | | | Finger knitting really helps my kids to pass |
| driving days. Involving your kids in the | | | | the time. All you need is a ball of yarn. |
| planning of your vacation will help them to | | | | There is no mess and you can find simple |
| get excited about the trip, too.2. When you | | | | instructions online by doing a Google search |
| are doing your research and booking your | | | | for "Finger Knitting." During our last car |
| destination, consider an all-inclusive | | | | trip, we all arrived at our destination with |
| resort. These types of arrangements (in which | | | | lovely pink finger knitted scarves.16. During |
| your lodging, dining, attractions, and | | | | a routine fuel stop, ask each child to choose |
| activities are included) can really help you | | | | five or six postcards that they can send to |
| relax and enjoy your precious vacation | | | | their friends. Make sure to bring your |
| time.3. Have each child pack their own small | | | | address book and postage stamps so you can |
| backpack with the books, workbooks, and | | | | mail them on the way.17. Allow one child to |
| activities that they most want to bring.4. | | | | be the "navigator" each day. The navigator |
| Have a kid-friendly travel map on hand, as | | | | looks at the map and gives recommendations on |
| well as a pair of binoculars.5. Consider | | | | where to stop for snacks, gas, and meals.18. |
| buying or borrowing a portable DVD player. We | | | | Try these simple Travel Games:The Alphabet |
| only get ours out on long trips, but it has | | | | Game: Find all the letters of the alphabet, |
| been really helpful, especially if you are | | | | in order, on license plates, billboards, and |
| traveling very long distances.6. Get each | | | | road signs. Or find objects that begin with |
| child a special book of games, puzzles, or | | | | each letter.I Spy: One person spies something |
| simple coloring books, just for the drive, | | | | in the landscape or in the car and gives |
| along with some washable markers.7. Bring | | | | clues. (One possible variation on this game |
| some music that everyone will enjoy singing | | | | is "20 Questions.")License Plate "I Spy": See |
| along to. We love our CD of old campfire | | | | how many states you can spot.License Plate |
| songs. You can even create your own CDs of | | | | Alphabet: Find all the letters of the |
| family favorites.8. Bring a Frisbee or a | | | | alphabet, in order, on license plates.Letter |
| football for when you stop at a park. You | | | | Bingo: Print out Bingo sheets with clip art |
| want to help your kids burn some energy in a | | | | or words depicting sites you will see on your |
| reasonable amount of time.9. Pack healthy | | | | trip.Ultimately, it's important to remember |
| low-mess snacks, such as nuts, trail mix, | | | | that there is no such thing as a perfect |
| apples, energy bars, and bottled water. A | | | | family vacation. Prepare as much as possible |
| package of baby wipes often comes in handy | | | | in advance, and then relax and go with the |
| for little messes in the car, too.10. Pack a | | | | flow.Jamie Jefferson writes for Visit today |
| journal and a disposable camera for each | | | | for the latest online Coupon Codes including |
| child, so that they can document the trip in | | | | family vacation packages and discount travel |
| their own way. These items can be gift | | | | promotions. |
| wrapped and given to the kids as you need a | | | | |