How Do I Keep My Kids Busy in the Car? (878Miles)

You seem to be prepared in the entertainment department.Just be sure to pack some healthy snacks that aren't difficult or messy to eat in the car.And just male stops to let everyone stretch their legs.Like stop at a huddle house or something that you all can sit and take a break from the trip and use the bathroom ect.Try not to overpack, that can also cause stress.It might also help to pack an easy to get to pack of clothes for both children in case either have an accident.And take into consideration that you'll have to stop to change the babies diapers several time throughout the trip.My baby wouldnt be able to make that trip no matter what I brought.My oldest would hold up well but my baby hates car trips...if hes in the car for more than and hour or 2 he wont take anything to eat or drink, he just cries until you get to where your going,and to him thats perferably home!

Wow, that sounds like quite a trip with two kids. We've done several trips like that. I feel for you. We keep our 15 month old and 5 year old busy with unbreakable mirrors, and small flashlights. Magnetic drawing boards are fun. Fabric or mesh bags filled with small, soft toys are fun to empty. Yes, you're going to have to clean up the floor of the vehicle at the rest areas, but you know how kids love to empty containers. The key for us was giving them stuff they've never seen before. Or haven't seen in a while. If you have time before your trip set aside some of their toys (so you don't have to buy all new ones) and pull them out along the way. Good luck!

On planes trips I have wrapped up small toys (matchbox cars etc) in wrapping paper or newspaper. My son gets one items per leg of the trip (or every couple of hours however you want to break it up). You can get stuff inexpensively at the dollar store, or I have even given him his own toys that he hasn't played with in a while. The novelty of unwrapping the stuff seems to outweigh what the item actually is. This also makes the item more appealing to play with and he plays longer than he would if it just came out of the backpack. This could also work for snacks too.
I would also suggest a couple of cd's with popular kids songs. These can be picked pretty inexpensively at Ross or similar stores. It gets old for adults, but my son can listen and sing along (especially if I do too) for hours.
You can also try books on CD. Your kids might be young for this, but maybe not. We have checked books on cd out from the library and ripped them to my IPod to take in the car. Then I don't have to worry about breaking the cds or returning them in time.
Maybe if you spend a little bit of time researching what you will see along the route and then telling your kids about it, then that will help for you to point major stuff out along the way an talk about it. Hopefully that helps
Good Luck!

Have you ever tried color forms? They are like restickable stickers that stick to the windows and other stuff. I think your older child will love them. I'm not sure what stores carry them but I know www.amazon.com has them in stock. Some other things that are great in the car are crayola color wonder. The markers ONLY color on the special paper. They might think it it really cool that they are getting to use "big kid" markers.

Also whenever I go on a trip I always pick up a few brand new CHEAP toys (walmart has those bags of jungle animals for $.88 and you get like 10 of them.) I keep the new toys up front with me and when my son starts getting antsy I pass him a new toy he has never seen. This keeps him happy and entertained for a little bit at least until we can stop somewhere safe that he can run around and stretch his legs.

I also think it would be a good idea to stop at a few rest stops every few hours (not gas stations) and let the kids run around in the grass for a few minutes.

Also pack snacks and more snacks and then more snacks.

The only other suggestion would be to try driving mostly at night while your kids are usually sleeping.

I hope you have a smooth and safe trip!!! Please post an update on what worked for you! We are going on a 12 hour trip for Thanksgiving and then have to drive 12 hours back so it will be nice to know some new tricks to try to keep my 2 year old busy in the car.

When my boys were little I kept them up late at night then had them run a lot before going in the car. They were sure to sleep a good while. When they woke up we went to a rest stop where they could run around and have a picnic. Then I would get out the magic suitcase with lots of little cars, trains and books. We would piut on a kids worship CD with songs they liked to sing. We would play the color game. "Who sees a red car, tuck, motorcycle....."
The leap frog is a wonderful activity. My boys are now 10 and 7 so we now have gameboys.
I also have my boys pack a small back pack of their own and they can get in it as they want.
The car does get messy but is worth it to have happy children.
Have a safe trip.
Godspeed.
P.

Hello H. this is M.. When we moved from Rhode Island to SC a month ago. My daughter of 3yr was happy watching the dvd player the whole time. She had no intrest in coloring. She would look at her reading books. My 11mo old was just increadible great on the trip. We were lucky. My husband and I stoped every 2hr for a good 30-45 min so the girls could steatch there legs and be out of the car seat. I believe this is what helped my 11mo old daughter. We did pull over sooner at times for a potty break for our 3yr old. or if 11mo old was hungry. We had to drive both our cars down here. My husband and I bought Walkie talkies. Thoese things came in so handy. It is much safer then using a cell phone. I did not think we would use them so much. I would recomand getting thoes if your driving 2 cars down. Put lots of snacks in the car for you and the kids. we packed our cooler with lunch meat and yogert for the older child. that saved money for us. If you are traveling with a pet try Petswelcome.com we traveled with a cat and thankfully we never did need to stay at a hotel. But i did find pet friendly hotels just in case we needed to. good luck and i look forward to meeting you so are kiddies can play together. Also I found a peditration I went to today and i do like them. and will be bring my 3yr old there when she is due for her check up in april. good luck on the road trip. -M.

Wow you are adventurous! Well first of all, I hope you have a good, happy, and safe trip.

The first thing that comes to mind is plenty of snacks & drink. As I have never traveled that far with my 19 mo old boys, the short hour drive always includes a snack and definitely drink.

The next thing is maybe you could look online for some "traveling" songs that you could sing & have them do hand motions, I guess not if you are the only adult & have to drive?? Or you could get a silly kids cd to pop in to change the atmosphere when they start to get restless.

Also, I would try to travel at night when they should be sleeping - that would eat up alot of the 15 hours. May not be possible according to kids & schedule.

Next if they have a favorite toy, blankie etc take it, keep it concealed until nothing else works & then bring it out. Sounds kind of weird, but hey we are talking survival -lol

I hope that helps some or at least got your wheels turning. Let us know how the trip goes & what tricks worked for you - as one day I may travel....a few hours. It will be a long time until I attempt 15-best of luck to you!

OMG. That is a long trip. I took my daughter to Ohio with us when she was little and it was a long 10 hour drive. DVD player helps.

M.

The dvd player should be a good thing to have. I'd also pack books, toys that are not hard (as the 16 mos old is likely to throw them), stuffed animals and lots of snacks!

Get some toys they've never seen/used so the "new" factor keeps them occupied for a bit. Change the toys at each rest stop (gas station, bathroom break, etc) you go to.

you sound very prepared and that is about all you can do:) Have some car games ready like I spy for landmarks or a certain color car. It will keep them interested b/c I am sure they will see many white cars, lol. If you are lucky, they will probably sleep some of the way and that will let mom be able to relax. Good Luck and have a safe trip:)

U play the cow game, count the cows. U play the ABC game find the alphabet on signs. Find the colors on cars. Bring all ur childrens CD's and sing, sing, sing. And alot of healthy snacks and drinks. And alot of prayer, have fun : )

It would definitely be in your and the kids best interest to 1. Travel at night or right before their bedtime, rearrange your plans if you have to, kids that young are going to get tired of ANYTHING for that long a trip. 2. The DVD player is an awesome thing to have for the car!! Also, you really do need to get out A LOT!!! Your trip will take longer, but it will be a lot happier if you let those kids get out for a little while. Have plenty of finger food snack too, your two year old should be able to handle carrot sticks or something and food usually gets them distracted. Try giving them something they do not usually get as a treat for behaving in the car. Also, is it possible for youto ride in the back seat with them for part of the ride? They would love that.

I usually tend to drive through the night with my kids because then they sleep. Much better for my nerves=). I wish you the best of luck with your drive.

I would love to know as well.

Long trips always mean that my care will be trashed with food- but food makes the little traveler happy! I like all your other ideas that you have- although I have learned not to go with coloring crayons- kids color on stuff and they melt. here is my little kid travel arsenal:

Magna doodles- they never run out of paper or loose their crayons!

audio books/dvds

some regular reading books
stuff from the dollar tree that they do not get until we are in the van. Finger pupets, a new book, a squishy ball- whatever! I usually get two or three items per kid and hand them out during the trip.

Food! I go and buy little things that the kids do not gt very often and/or really like. Animal crackers, popcorn, fruit snacks, dried fruit, granola. And a box of zip lock sandwhich bags. I then pre make a dozzen or so snack bags that I can throw back there as needed.

Oh and I also tie their sippy cups on a long enough piece of ribbon so that I can attach it to their carseat strap but that they can get it to their mouth to drink. That way they can not throw/drop their cups.

I would also like to state that I try to do a good chunk of driving while they are sleeping so maybe leave around 3 or 4 in the morning. Earlier is better than later on that one as the later into the morning you go the less likely they will go right back to sleep.

I have driven across country several times with my kids as well as mini trips all over- I have 5 children between 6 months and 8.

I think the best car trips we've ever had have been at night. Leave around their bedtime and drive thru the night. When you get there hopefully you'll have some family that'll let you get a nap. If not then try to make a few stops along the way and do something fun(like a playground). I know that'll make the trip longer but if it keeps them happy I say it's worth the extra hour or two. Good luck:)

My husband and I go to washington dc every year(only 514 miles from here to there)...we've found the best way to go is to leave aroung six in the evening and get there a little after one in the morning...the girls (3 and 16m) play the first few hours, we stop for potty break around 8 and they sleep the rest of the way...just make sure to take lots of pillows!

Hi H.,
I have to agree with Cynthia. We moved here recently from Ohio & the key was to travel when our little daughter was sleeping! We made several trips before the BIG move. We would leave right before her nap or at night. When she was awake, magnadoodle, videos, & lots of snacks always helped. Good luck to you. Maybe Mom should get some earplugs just in case :)

Sounds like you have a pretty good idea. I also recommend lots of snacks and make sure you have juice. One other thing we do for our 4, is buy them a new toy and give it to them in the car... that will usually hold their interest for a good while!

Good luck!

I didn't read all the posts, so I hope this isn't a repeat...but I just made a similar trip alone with my 2-year-old. I bought her a magnetic doodle pad and a microphone (Parents brand from Target) before we left. I also took flash cards and DVDs. What was especially helpful was taking our breaks at a Walmart of Target. I'd let her run around (always on a weekday morning and the store was empty) and pick out a couple of new toys to play with in the car. She chose a musical keyboard and some smaller, inexpensive toys, too. If you have to travel during the day, this might work for you, too.

Hi Honestly. We travel from SC to PA several times a year. We have 3 kids, 4 years old, 19 months old, and 7 months old. We came up with the perfect solution for us. We travel at night. We leave home around 7 or 8 pm. We put the kids in their pajamas, feed them dinner before we leave. They sleep most of the trip. Which is very good for us. My husband and I divide the driving so we each get some sleep on the road. We make stops along the way to get a break, let the kids stretch. It usually takes us 12 hours but traveling at night makes it much easier for us and the kids. When we reach PA, our in-laws enjoy some alone time with their grandkids and my husband and I get a few extra hours of sleep. MAybe this could be a solutionfor you. Hope this helps.