Road Trip! Make It Fun For Your Toddler

If you had to spend 4 or 5 hours in a snug car seat with even snugger straps and nothing to do, you might not be a huge road trip fan either. Road trips are getting more fun for the younger set as portable and built-in DVD players become more and more common, but sometimes even watching videos gets old.

When it's time to resort to good old fashioned road trip entertainment, we've got the time-tested, mother approved activities for you:

Trip Bag. At the beginning of the trip, surprise your kids with a Trip Bag, filled with goodies you've selected for them ahead of time, like activity books, small toys, books, snacks and more.

Music. Listening to CDs of your child's favorite songs and singing along will help the time pass faster. Choose song collections with finger games and verses your child will know, like Itsy Bitsy Spider, BINGO and This Old Man.

Electric Reading Books. The popular learn-to-read "books" like My First LeapPad by LeapFrog or the Power Touch Learning System by Fisher Price will engage your child's interest with words, stories and games featuring favorite characters, Thomas the Train, Strawberry Shortcake and Arthur.

Game Boy Advance. We usually pack this for the adults, but now it's also great to share with our toddlers thanks to the kids videos that are now available. We love the Dora The Explorer: Game Boy Advance Video Vol. 1 featuring 3 Little Piggies and Big River.

I Spy. The classic game that kids from 2 to 12 can enjoy! The person who's turn it is picks out something everyone can see and says, " I spy something?" and then describes the color, shape size or location to give clues. She answers "yes" or "no" to questions. The correct guesser becomes the next spy.

Scavenger Hunt. Make a list of things you may see on a road trip and as you find them on your travels, check them off. For toddlers, find, print and laminate pictures of things on our scavenger hunt list to make the game visual. This game is also easily adaptable to older kids, who can check items off on the list. Try making the activity competitive, and allow only the first person who sees the item to check it off. Click here for a starter list for your road trip scavenger hunt!

Car Bingo. This is a variation of the travel scavenger hunt, fun for older toddlers and young children. Make bingo cards using the items listed above in our road trip scavenger hunt, using four squares up and four across. Cover the squares of things like police cards, stop signs and bicycles as you find them on your travels. Click here to visit Sesame Street for a set of bingo cards you can print!

Lap Desk. Make or buy a lap desk to make activities easier for kids traveling in the back seat. A good traveling lap desk will have a cushy bottom to conform to your child's legs and help keep the top stable. Some models have zipper pockets or containers to hold crayons and pens.

About the Author

For more great information about expecting and parenting, visit MomRecommended.com, a site for moms by moms. Annie Valle is a freelance writer, web designer and a mom. You'll find product reviews, recipes, baby names, free projects and more, when you visit http://www.momrecommended.com.

---

Considering Daycare? Consider the Pros and Cons

When you're a parent it's a difficult decision to know... Read More

Simple Indulgences for September

As the kids go back to school, you can go... Read More

Getting through the School Daze

It's back to school time again. Does the thought of... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: 4 Dangerous Myths

MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years... Read More

Games Of The Past Meet The Present

Recently, our family had the opportunity to care for sisters'... Read More

Playful Parenting - More than Just Fun and Games

Early childhood educators have called play "children's work". Many parents... Read More

Water! Water Everywhere!

What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More

Diaper Bags for Dads - Papas Got a Brand New Bag

Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More

5 Simple Steps Guaranteed To Allow You To Spend More Time With Your Children This Summer

Look around: Your kids are counting sleeps until the last... Read More

Ten Ways To Become Your Teenagers Best Friend

Best friends! It may seem impossible to believe, but today's... Read More

Life Lessons Learned in My Underwear

For several years now, I've told the following story as... Read More

Strengths and Weaknesses

All too often, children with learning disabilities are seen through... Read More

How to Cope With Colic

When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More

The Secret, Unconscious Game Children and Parents Play Where No One Wins!

Did you know there's a game children and parents play... Read More

Birth of a Parent

So you're pregnant. Congratulations! Your life is about to change... Read More

Guide to Choosing LEGO Toys for Children

If you're looking for toys that are both fun to... Read More

One Definition of Success

As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More

How to Parent Your Teen Effectively

Maintain CommunicationEven though teens need to separate from their parents... Read More

What Do You Do When Your Child is Smarter than You?

We adopted our first child when he was three months... Read More

10 Steps To Prepare You For Life With Children

It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More

Humans and Their Innate Need for Drug Stimulation

We know that ancient cultures and Indians and the like... Read More

Dad, Go Ahead and Cry

She slipped her small, soft eight-year-old hand into mine. Her... Read More

Parenting Failure? It May Not Be All It Seems!

I'll never forget my first lesson in a glider.I'd been... Read More

10 Signs That Your Teen Is Using Drugs

Did you know that over 75% of teens aged 16-17... Read More

Its a Sick World

It's no joy to be sick. It's even less joy... Read More

Parenting Problem? 5 Simple Things That Will Help

What is a parenting problem?Parenting is a tough job, we... Read More

Moms - Get More Energy Now

Let's be honest! When it comes to parenting, men expect... Read More

Develop Your Childs Critical Thinking Skills

1. Encourage Questions.Don't answer every question, instead ask what do... Read More

Parental Involvement in Learning

Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More

The Child Chef

If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More

The Value of Play

Isn't it ironic that a country whose constitution allows for... Read More

The Hardest Job I Ever Had

I used to have a really challenging job. It was... Read More

Identifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Classroom: Eight Things Teachers Should

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is... Read More