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