Ah, vacation. Who doesn’t need one? Like everyone else, I want to snap my fingers and be there, my family’s luggage miraculously unpacked, sun shining brightly overhead, and a cocktail with bright umbrella and pineapple wedge resting safely next to my lounge chair.
That’s not the way vacations work, however; there is a right of passage to earning that umbrella drink and time by the pool. We actually need to survive the travel experience, which means car rides with our kids and incessant questions – When do we get there? How much longer? When’s lunch? – that make us threaten to cut short our fun-filled adventure if they’re asked one more time. Sure, we can host a movie marathon in the car that will cut down on the questions and give the adults hours of quiet time. I get it; DVDs are worth their weight in gold on long car rides. If you’re going unplugged this vacation, however, or just want to look in the back seat and not see your kids staring blindly at a small screen for hours at a time, there are a few easy options for filling that car time and starting the vacation fun early.
Art Packs
For kids, perception is everything. If they think something’s new, it immediately peaks their interest. With nothing more than a few gallon-sized plastic bags and art supplies from around the house, you can create one-of-a-kind art packs the kids will love. Go through the art supplies you already have (that your kids haven’t picked up for awhile and/or have shown little interest in) and tear out individual pages, coloring sheets, word finds, stickers, and activities that they can work on in the car. There’s something about creating an art pack with a variety of activities that makes them more interested than a store-bought activity book. Throw some markers, crayons, and pencils into a sandwich-sized bag, and your kids will love these mini packages made just for them.
Journals
For older kiddos, encourage them to start a journal about your vacation while you’re still on the way to your destination. A journal, glue stick, and pen is all they’ll need to write about interesting things they see, draw pictures of landmarks passed, or keep track of ticket stubs or other souvenirs picked up along the way. If the words “but I don’t know what to write!” echo through the car, challenge them to write a story about something they see out the window, with each family member contributing something to the story line. You’ll be surprised what they come up with – and how quickly the time goes by.
Snack Time
It’s to be expected that “vacation food” is going to look a bit different than the list of approved snacks you enforce at home. It’s also easy to grab sugary treats in the gas station when you stop to fill up the tank because your kids are starving and you don’t know if you can survive the hour you have left before you planned to stop for dinner. My favorite go-to snack on the road is a trail mix made in bulk and easy to dispense. Fill a container with peanuts, raisins, and M&Ms and use small cups to dispense along the way; not only will you cut down on food bought on the road, you’ll limit the mess in the car.
Activity Books
Sometimes, it’s good to go old school. Many of us remember license plate books and other activities from family vacations when watching a movie in the car wasn’t an option. These activity books are inexpensive and may actually teach your kids a thing or two (without them knowing that, of course, because they’ll likely resist any suggestion that they actually learn something on vacation). Surviving a car ride hinges on keeping kids distracted; what better way to keep their attention focused than challenging them to a friendly game of “who can spot the most out-of-state plates” as you make your way closer to that umbrella drink and fun in the sun.
I Spy:
For this DIY activity, you’ll need an empty plastic bottle, sand, and miniature items from around the house (marbles, tiny toys, etc.). It’s as easy as one (toss items in bottle); two (fill with sand); and three (give kiddos a list of items hidden in the bottle). Kids love a good treasure hunt and will feel like they’re on one as they try to spot all of the hidden items. Make sure you twist that cap on tight, however; you want to keep the sand on the beach, not in your backseat.
