I just thought I'd let you know one of the things I did when my dd and ds were toddlers, and I was going on a long trip.
I would bring a cookie sheet and magnets (alphabets, numbers, and other larger magnets) in the car with me. That usually amused them for awhile. We also brought and Etch-A-Sketch with us.
When my sister-in-law had to drive 3 kids (2-5) across the country, each day she would share the experiences from the day before of Charlie the ladybug who supposedly traveled with them. Years later Charlie's adventures are family legend.
Location: Falls Church,VA--just outside Washington DC
Posts: 32
travelling with kids
When my ds was younger, we loved to put a cassette in the machine and sing all the words along with the tape (too loudly and out of tune!) Whenever we would go to a little kid's concert, I'd be sure to buy a tape of the music we heard. It would bring back the memories of the event, as well as giving us some new tunes. Now he's 10 and prefers the radio (rap--ugh!) but we still sing along when we can.
My three year old loves to play I Spy with my little eye in the car. I never know if I have found the right thing, but she always tells me that I have. We also keep a backpack full of little toys and books in the car so they always have something to play around with. Color Wonder markers and paper are also alot of fun for them and the markers don't color on anythng but the paper! HOpe some of this helps.
How about license plate bingo? The cards can be made up in mere minutes, with any number of designs....for toddlers who may not be reading state names yet, you could come up with pictures that are seen on many license plates....different animals, mountains, lakes, etc. It's really great because they have to pay so much attention to the cars around them...really gets them going!! Once they've filled up their bingo card, they get a special treat! (This game is especially good for "long hauls", since it takes a while to find all the different types/states license plates! Enjoy!
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Every person we meet is a field; everything we do and say is seed. What will the harvest be?
Location: Originally from the Home of the only 6 times Super Bowl Champs!
Posts: 12,099
Travel Games
Travel Games
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Color Hunt
Choose a color and watch out the window for objects of that particular color. Whenever the child sees one, he/she says, "I see an orange (object)!". Try to list ten objects before choosing a new color.
If two or more kids are in the car, they can compete to see who gets ten objects first, or they can cooperate to get ten objects together, with an adult keeping score.
Red Car/Yellow Car
Choose a color and watch for a car of that color. Whoever spots the car first calls out, "(Color) Car!" and then gets to choose a different color for the next car.
Alphabet Hunt
Watch out the window for road signs, billboards, store signs, etc. Children call out the letters of the alphabet, in order starting with A. (Young children will need help with this).
Number Hunt
Watch out the window for number from 1-9, in order.
Scavenger Hunt
This is a good game for long drives. Give child/children lists of things to watch for during the drive. Children can cooperate or compete to see who can find all the items on the lists.
The lists can be made up ahead of time or during the drive, and adjusted for the type of scenery and the age of the children.
Scavenger Hunt Examples:
CITY LIST
Flashing red light
Bus
Sign in a foreign language
Dog
Grocery store
Railroad tracks
Playground
Billboard with child on it
Billboard with cat on it
Police officer
SUBURBS
School
Flashing traffic light
Grocery store
Person on a bicycle
Statue
Church
Playground
Flower garden/snowman
Children
Pickup truck
RURAL LIST
Silo
Railroad tracks
Post office or school
Cows
Dirt road
Pond or lake
Tractor
A fence
Gas station
Horses
TODDLER LIST
Tall building
Lake or pond
Person on a bicycle
Bridge
Red car
Animal
Truck
Stop sign
Store
Person wearing a hat
Cow count
First person to spot a field of cows gets to keep the cows in the field. Count if you can if not guess at how many are in the field. Keep track of each persons cow count. First person to see a cemetery announces "cow loss" and choses a person to eliminate their cows. That person goes back down to zero. First person to see a church doubles their cows. (Cows got married). First person to 500 cows wins!
Lauri
Whenever we would go to a little kid's concert, I'd be sure to buy a tape of the music we heard. It would bring back the memories of the event, as well as giving us some new tunes. Now he's 10 and prefers the radio (rap--ugh!) but we still sing along when we can.
