Despite the ridiculous price of gas these days, many American families will take car trips this summer. The anticipation of the journey is often more exciting than the long hours in the car – both for parents and kids. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some ideas to keep the little ones entertained for hours.
1)    Pack a small cooler within reach to include water and some healthy snacks, like apples, nuts and whole grain crackers – and maybe a few cookies! Then you won’t have to stop constantly because the kids are hungry. But beware of the child who drinks excessive amounts of water and then requires too many pit stops!
2)    Bring along a pillow and lightweight blanket for napping in the car. This will come in handy especially if you leave very early in the morning. The kids can sleep in the car, and time spent sleeping will not be time being bored.
3)    Consider bringing along your dog, if you have one. There are many hotels that permit pets. And your kids will be entertained while helping to care of the pet.
4)    Take a small cardboard box or a crate and organize a variety of activities in it. Some ideas include coloring books, crayons, pencils, markers, drawing paper, sticker, scissors, activity books, trivia cards, puzzle books, small crafts projects, books to read, hand held electronic games, extra batteries. By using the open box, it will much easier for your child to see what is available, and it will be much more likely that she will put her items put away. Make sure to put a few new items in there to surprise your child. There’s nothing like a fresh box of crayons or a new coloring book!
5)    Ask your children to make a card and write a letter or poem for a family member or friend you may be visiting on the trip.
6)    Go to your local library and get a few kids books on tape/CD. Look for stories that will entertain the entire family, like classics or mysteries – or The Travel Adventures of Lilly P Badilly! It is amazing how quickly time will fly while you are listening to the stories together. Another idea is to download programs on CD from the internet that may interest all family members, such as those on National Public Radio.
7)    Have each family member pick their favorite CDs to bring along, so you can each have a turn choosing what to listen to while driving.
8)    When asked, “Are we there yet?” give your child a map and ask him to help you find your way. That will help him understand just how far away you are from your destination plus provide some entertainment.
9)    Play the alphabet game. Look for words that start with all the letters in the alphabet from A-Z on signs and trucks. Only the letter X can be found in the middle of a word. This game can take up to an hour, depending on what you can find.
10)    Ask each child to make up a game the family can play, no matter how silly it may be.
11)    Make rest stops at even intervals to get out and stretch. Insist that your kids use the bathroom at each stop whether they think they need to go or not! If they don’t, rest assured they’ll ask you to stop a few miles down the road.
12)    After a long day of driving, be sure to find a way to get a little exercise at the hotel in the evening. This can be as simple as a swim in the pool or taking a brisk walk. Nothing is worse for kids’ patience than being all cooped up in the car all day.
13)    If the driving part of your trip will take several days, consider breaking it up by planning some fun stops along the way. That will break it up and give your kids something special to look forward to each day.

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