On these trips you need to be well prepared in planning some activities for kids. Before you trip, you should be well prepared. Pack a Frisbee for those stops you will make along the way. This will give the children a chance to get out and stretch their legs and get a bit of exercise in before moving on. You should also pack a snack bag for each child. Bring some juice or water and some light snacks such as crackers. This way you are not always stopping for when they are hungry. Finally, be sure to pack some blankets and their favorite stuffed animal for naptime.
Now that you have packed to keep their tummies and bodies happy, now it is time to make the kids happy. What do the children like to do when they are at home? One of the activities for kids to do in the car is coloring and drawing. Pack a small plastic container for each child to house crayons and paper. The container can double up as a hard surface to put their paper on. A deck of cards can also be packed and will provide many different activities for kids along the way as well.
If you are cramped on space, you can use what is around you along your journey as activities for the kids. You can play such games as A to Z in which the children look on signs around them for words starting with the corresponding letter of the alphabet. They can also play the license plate game where they try to find license plates from as many different states as they can.
If you are traveling with little ones there are also many activities for toddlers to do as well on these long trips. Instead of crayons and paper, you can provide them with an Etcha Sketch or a Magna Doodle to play with along the way. Most toddlers have small toys they enjoy playing with at home and if you are not cramped on space give them a small bag or plastic box to put in some of their favorite toys. Not only will you have what they want, this also gives them a sense of accomplishment in helping pack for the trip.
If you are cramped for space, there are activities for toddlers that don’t require anything to be packed. You can play the animal game where you or your child thinks of an animal and by asking questions, you guess what animal that they have in mind. There is also the cloud game in which you look up at the clouds with you little one and try to figure out what each of the clouds is shaped like.
One of the most popular activities for kids and toddlers alike is watching TV. Packing a portable DVD player would also be a big hit. As a treat for being good for the first part of the trip, they can watch their favorite movie or TV show. You can also pack a surprise package to give to the kids at the halfway mark. Throw in a small activity for the child to do along the way – a story book to read or a toy to play. You can also toss in a small treat such as a piece of candy.
No matter what you and your child choose to bring, there are plenty of activities for kids to keep them entertained along the way. By providing a variety this will also prevent them from getting bored early on in the trip. A bit of planning and creativity will go along way.