| Instead of deciding to leave the kids | | | | such as a magnifying glass, binoculars, |
| home for the next "family" vacation, | | | | a disposable camera and their own travel |
| relax! You can make traveling with the | | | | map. |
| kids an enjoyable and stress-free | | | | 7. Include a "kid's activity" at least |
| experience by following these simple | | | | once every day. This may be something as |
| tips: | | | | simple as going for ice cream after |
| 1. When possible, travel at night and | | | | visiting a museum, or going to a water |
| let the kids sleep. But be cautious, | | | | or amusement park. There are often lots |
| because it's easy to get tired. If you | | | | of great free or inexpensive activities |
| find yourself getting sleepy, roll down | | | | in most places in the States. To find |
| the windows, play music, or better yet, | | | | them, you can check ahead of time with |
| find a safe place to pull over and take | | | | local Chambers of Commerce, on city |
| a 20 minute nap. | | | | Websites, or with your travel agent. To |
| 2. Plan your trip during the day with | | | | help keep the expenses down, don't |
| stops about every 90 minutes. By | | | | forget to check for "two for one" |
| planning ahead, and using travel | | | | coupons, or discount tickets that are |
| planning software, online trip planning | | | | often available at local fast food |
| sites or travel associations, you can | | | | restaurants or in local papers. Also, |
| find -- and stop at -- kid-friendly | | | | many family style restaurants offer a |
| places such as parks with playgrounds, | | | | "kids eat free" night, which could be a |
| historic monuments or view areas where | | | | special treat. |
| everyone can get out and walk around for | | | | 8. Don't forget about the travel games |
| a few minutes. Giving the kids even a 15 | | | | you probably played as a child. There is |
| minute break will give them a chance to | | | | "Letter Bingo" where you look at road |
| "get the wiggles out" and work off some | | | | signs and billboard ads to find the |
| energy. | | | | letters of the alphabet, or "License |
| 3. Bring along some sing-along music. | | | | Plate Alphabet" where you go through the |
| Although your kids may groan at first | | | | alphabet in order. You can also create |
| when you start singing, they'll soon | | | | easy bingo sheets that you print out |
| join in, especially if the songs are | | | | with clip art of common sites you'll see |
| either well-known, absurd or "gross." | | | | on your trip. Your kids will be more |
| Think of your own childhood favorites, | | | | inclined to play along if they know that |
| or camp songs. Singing can really help | | | | your parents used to play the exact |
| to pass the time, and creates happy | | | | games with you. (Grandparents are SO |
| memories later on. To help cut costs, | | | | much cooler than parents are...) |
| you can even record your own CDs? If the | | | | 9. Let your kids help to navigate, |
| kids don't know the words, create | | | | narrate and create information about |
| sing-along books for everyone by typing | | | | your trip. There are so many great |
| them in your Word processing program and | | | | resources online these days that can |
| printing them out. | | | | help you make your trip even better. |
| 4. Create a goodie-bag. Good ideas are | | | | Letting your kids get involved helps to |
| travel toys and games, bubbles, | | | | make it more enjoyable for them. For |
| inexpensive art books and pencils, even | | | | example, let one child be the "trip |
| the latest in collectible cards or | | | | navigator" each day. They have the |
| action figures. (To save money, look for | | | | responsibility of looking at the map, |
| seasonal sales or buy something every | | | | and making sure that the right exits are |
| payday.) To cut down on arguments about | | | | taken, or how much farther to each |
| sharing, you can set a time limit for | | | | destination point. (If you really want |
| playing with each game, before everyone | | | | to get creative, the navigator could |
| has to switch. Individual presents can | | | | wear a special hat or badge; the |
| be wrapped or not, and given out at | | | | narrator could have a "press badge" or |
| whatever schedule fits your needs and | | | | carry a reporter's notebook, etc.) Older |
| your kids' boredom levels. You can even | | | | children can create written entries into |
| choose particular games for particular | | | | a journal or even in a Blog, talking |
| stops, such as bubbles, Frisbees or | | | | about the daily activities and sights. |
| small balls, which will encourage | | | | Another option is to bring along an |
| running off energy. | | | | inexpensive tape recorder, and let each |
| 5. Bring along individual "quiet time" | | | | child record their impressions of the |
| activities. These could include an art | | | | different places you see or things you |
| box (keep the supplies inside an | | | | do. Younger children can draw pictures, |
| inexpensive plastic shoe box), postcards | | | | or use a disposable camera. |
| or writing paper, or even a journal | | | | 10. Start collecting postcards. |
| given to each child at the beginning of | | | | Postcards are inexpensive, and your kids |
| the trip. Encourage them to write | | | | will enjoy getting to send them to their |
| letters, or record their thoughts and | | | | friends or other family members. |
| feelings. You can also bring along | | | | Postcards are also a great addition to |
| hand-held games, or inexpensive CD | | | | your family photo album after the trip. |
| players and earphones, so that everyone | | | | You can cut them up, or even write about |
| can listen to the music or books of | | | | specific experiences on the backs of |
| their choice. Depending on the space | | | | them, to help everyone remember what you |
| you've got and the length of time you'll | | | | did and where you went. |
| be gone, each child could have their own | | | | 11. Create a scrap book at the end of |
| box or backpack, to keep their things | | | | each trip, using the postcards and |
| organized and accessible. | | | | pictures the kids took. Letting them |
| 6. If your trip is going to include a | | | | help to decorate and put the journal |
| lot of sightseeing, pack a backpack with | | | | together is a fun after-the-trip |
| sweaters, hats, swimsuits (if in | | | | activity. |
| season), extra socks and even towels, in | | | | 12. Above all, give yourself a break. |
| case anyone gets wet -- accidentally or | | | | There is no such thing as a "perfect" |
| on purpose. Keep the backpack in your | | | | family vacation. Inevitably there will |
| trunk, so you can just grab it and go. | | | | be things forgotten, things broken or |
| Most kids, if given the chance when near | | | | other "unexpected" problems. |
| water, will really enjoy getting wet, | | | | By planning ahead, and making every |
| and it saves on the wear and tear of | | | | effort to get your kids involved in the |
| your vehicle if you plan ahead. Also be | | | | trip, and giving the things to do to |
| sure to pack extra water and travel | | | | keep them occupied and interested, there |
| snacks such as energy bars, nuts or | | | | will be less stress and everyone will |
| travel mix. You can add to your child's | | | | have a better time. Have a great trip! |
| enjoyment if you also include things | | | | |