We are driving to South Carolina this weekend. It's about a 15 hour drive and we will be stopping at a hotel before we get to our destination. What are some things you have taken on your trips to keep your child busy and from getting bored? We're taking a portable DVD player and he has a Fisher Price FP3 player I thought we'd take. I know I've seen something that you can put across the booster seat that's like a tray, so they can color or whatever else. Where can those be purchased and has anyone ever used them? Any advice is greatly apprciated thanks.
Thank you to everyone for your ideas. We ended up taking his DVD player, cars, books, snacks, etc. He did very well for the 15 hour trip. He did get a little fussy and had lots of energy to burn. We stopped at a McDonald's on the way there and back and let him play in the play area to burn some of his pinned up energy and that seemed to help a lot.
L.,
It sounds like you have a great plan. But, in a pinch, when nothing else seems to work and they become fussy, buy the safety lollipops. That was what saved me on an airplane, and when traveling by car. I am not a big fan of candy, HOWEVER, there comes a time when you might need one. Good luck!
I don't know if this is too late, but I heard a great idea from one of my good friends from when they took their 4 y/o daughter on a road trip to Florida. She went to the dollar store or somewhere similar and bought cheap little gifts. Then once every hour, she gave her daughter the little gift she had for her. She was happy and excited to get all of these new things and also by the time she was bored with what was in front of her, it was time for a new gift. I thought this was a really cute way to keep the kids entertained!
Learning Express has some of the trays you're talking about. They're $15 but that includes personalization on top and some pictures as well. They'll put pictures of bugs or whatever your child likes! They're really cute. They have a pocket on either side for books or crayons or whatever. My kids love them because they can color while we're going down the road or they can eat their lunch on their tray as well.
Another place is Walmart. I was there the other day (Ohio and 121 in Plano) and they had some Superman ones for about $4 or $5. Not personalized but MUCH cheaper!
I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised at how well he does without tons and tons of stuff. We just recently went on a trip up to Iowa and drove straight through there and back with my son who is almost 3 and at the time 8 week old daughter.
We took the portable DVD, but he only used it twice! We checked out some books and children music cd's at the library and those were a big hit. We took the coloring books, but that was a one hit wonder. Maybe you could buy one of the mini magnadoodles if your son likes to draw...that would eliminate all those crayons getting dropped.
Pack lots of fun and different snacks and be sure to stop and let him RUN RUN RUN. He'll probably doze off a lot and before you know it, you'll be at your destination!
Have fun!!
