Category — traveling with kids

When is the last time someone read a story to you?   When planning a long road trip with your kids,  consider that this is one of the best ways to entertain your little travelers on the road.  Kids really love audio books, and these days they are more accessible than ever.

You can check out audio books on CDs at your public library. Plan ahead and get on the waiting list to request favorite books  since these are the most popular at the library.   You can also download many books free from your public library if you have an account with them.

For even more options, you can download tons of  FREE audio books online that are in the public domain from Librivox and then play them on your ipod or from any media player on your computer. You can also  try a free site for kids audiobooks called Storynory.com or some pay sites like Audible or Amazon.

So, the next time you’re hitting the road, grab an audio book!

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Have you visited the Universal theme parks in Orlando recently?  Did you especially enjoy the new Wizarding World of Harry Potter?!

I’m working on an article to share tips from my readers for this magical place!  If you have traveled there recently and would like to share anything about your experience that made your trip more  fun or enjoyable,  please post your tips in the comments below, or contact me by email!

Laurel @ momsminivan.com

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Keep the kids busy in the car by having them make a Trip-Journal or Scrapbook of their own. Give everyone a big spiral bound sketchpad and a box of crayons or markers. Each day of the trip or for each event along the way, draw a picture of what you did that day, or draw a map of where you went, and write about it. You can also attach souvenirs.

Even children too young to write can draw pictures, and then you can write in the details for them by asking them about the picture. Be sure to include the date since this will be come a treasure forever.

Read more about kids travel journals …!

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My personal favorite road trip amusement item: All-American Car-i-Oke.

This is way better than ordinary music. It’s full participation music!

It has a CD with the music, and all the lyrics in the spiral bound book. It also includes several smaller lyrics booklets – one for the back seat, the way-back seat, and another for anyone who doesn’t like to share.

I bought a copy of All-American Car-i-Oke for my kids a few years ago (Ok, I admit that I probably bought it mostly for me – the biggest kid in the car).  We never tire of it, and use it at least once every trip. We have the most fun with the backseat drumming, and the “make up your own Blues” song.

In fact, it helped evolve a rule in our car — “No whining allowed unless you’re singing the Blues!”

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Reader favorites – fun activities to do in the car….

MYSTERY WRITING
One child holds out his hand and closes his eyes while the other child “writes” on his hand with her finger.  The first child has to guess what the second person is writing.  Start with just letters, and if it gets too easy, play with 2 or 3 letter words, pausing  between letters. There’s no winner or loser with this game. It can just go on continuously! (Submitted by reader Betsy C. –Thanks!)

TRAVEL BINGO — Print these!

Remember those Travel Bingo boards that you flip the red area when you see the picture on the board?  Look for them at dollar stores. OR, try a printable version such as the travel bingo boards posted here!   (Thanks to reader Lundy W.)

ANIMAL SOUNDS  (Fun for Pre-school age children)
Make animal sounds and let your children take turns naming the animals. If your children are able to do so, let them take turns making the animal sounds and have you guess the animal.

For more travel games for kids, check out the article Car Games for Kids!

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Last winter I had the misfortune of suffering a blow out during a short 3-hour road trip to Nashville, TN.  I was driving along the Kentucky Bluegrass Parkway when it happened.

It was January.  It was cold. It was late. And it was dark.  …. VERY DARK.  So dark in fact, that I couldn’t see in order to remove my spare tire, or even where to put the tire iron to tighten the lug nuts. Cars and truck sped by me on the freeway as I struggled and tried to use the light from my cell phone screen just to see what I was doing!   “Never again,” I thought, “will I be caught without a working flashlight.”

Now I carry a wind-up crank flashlight that doesn’t require batteries and has an led bulb that doesn’t burn out.  As I struggled on that cold dark night to change my tire, I thanked my lucky stars that I at least knew how to do change it! I recommend that anyone who drives be familiar with your spare tire and how to use your car jack.  Read more…

Do you have some swashbuckling youngsters about ye?  Are ye surrounded by crazy mad rowdy tricksters?  Need ideas to keep them busy?  Send them on a treasure hunt!

Start with your very own authentic looking map.  Here’s How to make your own authentic looking pirate treasure map!

Avast ye, mateys!!  It’s time for some fun on the high seas!

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MomsMinivan is in Parade Magazine this weekend!  (July 25, 2010)

Look for it in the article called, “Fifteen Ways to Enjoy Your Summer“.  It’s item Number 6:  “Play a New Road Trip Game!”   Check it out!

Also find it at their website at Summer Fun on the Road”

And with a picture of cutie Zack Efron on the cover to boot!

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Stopping for a crazy road side attraction is something we love to do on a long car trip.  Take a break and give yourselves something to talk about for the next leg of your journey.  I’ll tell you where to find these amusing sights and how to make the most of your stops…

Read the entire article and see some of the crazy road side photos I’ve taken with my family at Oddities Attract – Side tracks Remind You that Half the Fun Is Getting There.

What weird roadside things have you seen lately?!

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This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of NAVTEQ. All opinions are 100% mine.

Yes.     It’s wrong.    It is.

Really.

Just accept it and move on!

I finally accepted it when I was driving through Knoxville recently, and we came upon a big sign in the middle of the road that flashed, “YOUR GPS IS WRONG! Keep straight for I-40.”   I had already gotten “confused”, or “lost”, or thought I’d missed the exit the last two times I’d driven through that interchange, so it was a relief to know it wasn’t just me.

More than once, Silvia (the name I gave my minivan with the lovely woman’s voice on the built-in GPS) has sent me the wrong way, and I’ve had to rely on my wits to get back on course.  Note — Helpful hint when traveling with children:   If your kids ever ask, “Are we lost?”, do NOT answer “yes”!

So now, after much denial and resistance, I have come to the realization that it is time for me to give my GPS a much needed update.  Basically, it is time to stop and ask for directions.

I recommend that you update your GPS maps too. Driving around lost with a car full of children is totally unnecessary.  And, NAVTEQ makes it easy to get your updates no matter what your navigational system is, whether it is built into your vehicle or portable. Just head over to www.updateyourmap.com and follow their easy instructions.

Now if only Silvia could also help me navigate through my teenager’s bedroom.

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