Kids are car trips-nightmare waiting to happen or pleasant family memory in the making. It all depends on how you approach it. First of all, you might as well resign yourself to the fact that you will NOT be setting any speed records on the trip. Not even close. Try to remember what it was like when you were a kid-sitting still for hours at an end can be sheer torture! Kids NEED to get out and stretch their legs. Not to mention frequent trips to the bathroom, snacks, drinks, more trips to the bathroom…plan on stopping at least every 2-3 hours, and even more often in case of emergencies or (god forbid) car sickness. And for those times when you are actually underway, there are games and activities to make the hours and miles pass more quickly.
Puppet Shows: Have the kids decorate paper bags or old socks with magic markers (even if you are the crafty type, leave the scissors and glue at home), then have them stage their own backseat puppet show. Perhaps you could read a book out loud (or have an older child do the reading), then make puppets of each character and have them act out the story you just heard.
Other Non-Messy Crafts: Pipe cleaners and/or aluminum foil can be used to make a wide variety of projects. Pipe cleaners can easily be twisted into animals or bugs with no need of tape, glue, or staples. Foil can be scrunched into helmets, bracelets, all kinds of costumes, or it, too, can be used to mold “sculptures”. Best of all, there shouldn’t be too many tiny scraps or other mess to clean up.
Spot That State: Have kids keep lists of each different state license plate they can spot. You can even decide on a points system-more points for farther away states, and the most points for Alaska, Hawaii, or foreign countries (Canada, Mexico). Unless, of course, you are in these states/countries, or right on the border. Make up your own rules to fit your situation, be as competitive or free-form as you choose. You might also like to vote for the prettiest state design.
Another License Plate Game: Count the personalized plates. Try to guess what they say if they use abbreviations (as most seem to do). Have each kid come up with their own personalized plate (using the maximum number of characters for your state, if you know-or can guess – what it might be).
Silly Strings: get a book (or research online) how to make different string figures like Cat’s Cradle, Witch’s Broom, etc. Some of these figures need two sets of hands, but some can be done by one person alone.
Milestone Celebrations: Before your trip, pick out some milestones-major cities, or every 100 miles, or any other designation you choose. Mark each one on a map (or maps) for the kids to look at, so they will have a sense of how far you are between each one. When each milestone is reached, have a “celebration”-blow noisemakers, sing a special song, and pass out snacks or tiny prizes.
With any luck, some of these activities (or other ones you might dream up) will keep the kids amused, and help giggle away some of those miles.
