The Trip, and The Kids, don’t have to be a ‘Bear’ ...
Here’s some Tips on Traveling with Kids!

School is out and it’s time for that long-awaited family summer vacation. Traveling with children can be a joy or can make you wonder why you ever thought of bringing them along in the first place! With a little bit of planning, you can reduce the amount of luggage and toys you need to pack, reduce the whining, and have a wonderful trip.

Packing clothes:
You will find that rolling each clothing item will reduce wrinkles and take much less space to pack. A good rule of thumb for a week-long trip is to pack per person: four short-sleeve shirts, three long-sleeve shirts, a jacket that will shed water, a sweatshirt, a pair of play shoes, nice tennis shoes, flip flops, underwear, socks, four pair of pants or jeans, four pair of shorts, a swimsuit; and if visiting a church or Grandma who will want to take a nice photo, a dress outfit. You can use shorts and t-shirts for pajamas unless the children have a favorite pair they insist on taking with them.

Toys and Games:
It may seem like a great idea to take crayons, puzzles, toy cars, and super balls along to entertain the kids during travel. But, toys have been known to roll under the car seat, or up under several rows of the plane. Puzzle pieces never defy the law of gravity and will inevitably end up on the floor. You don't need to have a child crying for a lost toy or crayon when the seatbelt sign is lit or you are between rest stops in the car and cannot stop to find it.

... Try this idea instead:
Use zip-lock baggies to package each type of toy individually and then put all the baggies into a puzzle box or shoe box that you then place into a backpack-type carry-on. Use the lid of the box as a play area. You will find that this will keep toys and crayons from rolling off or falling off the airplane tray or car seat. Another great take-along toy is an Etch-a-Sketch. Children can write or draw and no little pieces are involved.

Consider taking along two decks of playing cards – they can be a lifesaver if you face travel delays. Younger kids can play matching games, older kids can play solitaire or War. You can find the rules for these and many other games online at www.everyrule.com/cardgames_az_list.html.

Books:
It is a great idea to take along several age-appropriate books. Since hardcover books add WEIGHT to luggage and to carry-ons, paperback books are much easier to manage. It also allows for quiet time when younger children need to nap and you need to keep the older kids quietly entertained.

Snacks:
You never know when you will be delayed or will be on the interstate driving between towns and the “I'm hungry” cry will begin.

Freeze juice boxes the night before the trip; they will work as ice packs until they have thawed and it’s time to eat. Then they are a nice, cool drink for the kids. For easy, take-along snacks, try these family-favorites: baggies of dry cereal, cheese sticks, peanut butter crackers, fruit rolls, tortillas with cheese and ham rolled up, bagels with cream cheese, red licorice (if you get the pull and peel kind, you will be amazed how much time can pass with kids tying knots in the licorice before eating it!)

Car games:
Once kids can recognize letters and different type of cars, you can pass the time with several car games. Play the “alphabet game” where each person races to find the letters of the alphabet on billboards or license plates of other cars. Or, play a math game where certain types of cars carry different points. For example, a VW bug is worth one point. A police car with lights on, 2 points. An ambulance with lights and sirens, three points. Pick-up trucks are worth 1/10 of a point each. Taxis are worth ¼ of a point each. A motorcycle is worth 1/2 point. Your kids will learn fractions, adding numbers, and have fun doing it. Add a variation where a purple car would be worth five points! For other car game ideas, you can go to www.liveandlearn.com/cargame.html.

These ideas can help you plan for and experience a wonderful summer vacation. Have a safe trip!

© 2008 Good News Tucson™

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