My tips for a peaceful road trip with kids
* Invest in a portable DVD player for the car. Watching a movie will kill an hour and a half to two hours, and is a great idea when they start arguing.
* Pack a bag of non-electronic items for each child. You don't want them glued to a tv screen or video game screen the entire time. Include a few favorite items such as their favorite stuffed animal, favorite book, or action figure. Also make sure to pack a few new items- coloring book & crayons, word search book, new book, etc. I would recommend you have about 5-8 items in this bag.
* Play games together as a family. If you have younger kids, a game of I-Spy is fun. For older ones, see who can find the most state license plates in 30 minutes. Or how about road sign ABC's (Exit for "E", Rest Area for "R", etc.).
* Stop to eat. While eating in the car to save time might sound like a good idea, the kids (and you!) will need a break from the car. Pack sandwiches to save money, then stop at a park or picnic area to eat and let the kids run around for a few minutes. They might even get tired enough to take a nap!
* Have a "special" bag up front with you. In this bag, put a few new toys, a new DVD (if you have a DVD player in the car), etc. About halfway through the trip (or longer, if you can make it), give this bag to the kids. It will be like Christmas morning, and they will be excited to play with the new things.
What tips do you have for a successful road trip?
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