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Tips for fun family road trips
16. Before we set out on a family car trip—even if it’s just a day trip—I give each of my kids a job for the day. My 9-year-old becomes the Navigator, responsible for making sure we get to our destination. I hand her a road map, a pen, and printed directions from an online mapping web site. My 11-year-old gets to be the Banker, responsible for keeping track of our money. After I’ve estimated our costs, I give him a realistic budget and a list of our required expenses, such as gas, food, and a hotel room (the only pre-arranged fixed cost). He also gets a notepad, a pen, and some cash. (Cash is best because it gives the child a more real sense of a dwindling supply of money.) When we stop for gas, he pays and gives the family an update on how much we have left. When we stop for a meal, he looks at the menu and decides if we can afford to eat there. When his sister asks if she can buy a souvenir at a rest stop, he decides if it’s okay and sets a limit on the cost. On the return trip, my kids swap roles. Of course, my husband and I guide their decision-making along the way. But my kids are getting a controlled taste of responsibility and learning valuable life skills. — Janice from Charlotte, N.C.
17. Before our last road trip, I collected a small jar full of quarters with US states on the back. During our journey, when one of my kids spotted a state's license plate, I'd give her a quarter with that state on it. If I didn't have a quarter for a particular state, I gave a dime or nickel, taped to an index card with the state's name written on the back side. When we got to our destination, the kids got to keep the coins to buy souvenirs. This incentivized version of the license plate game kept them much more eager to play! — Holly from Janesville, Wis.
18. On our cross-country road trip, I bought an inexpensive Styrofoam cooler and packed it with Gatorade, water, and mini cans of sodas. I also bought a large array of snacks, from trail mix to popcorn cakes, and made up individual portions in sandwich bags. I didn't have to worry when we hit a long stretch of road with nowhere to stop for snacks. It saved me money and also a lot of hassle about sharing snacks between kids. Everyone had his own! — Mindy from Carson City, Nevada
19. When your kids are young, it's a good idea to do a little prep work and choose fun places to stop every two hours along your route. I like to find interesting picnic spots, historical monuments, public parks and, whenever possible, a playground. To motivate my kids to burn off some energy, I always have a frisbee, a ball, and a jump rope in the car. It's amazing how much better they behave after just 15 or 20 minutes of playtime. — Lenora from Burlington, Vt.
20. On long car trips, I give each of my kids a crayon and a photocopied map of the USA. When we play the license plate game, my kids color in the states as we see them. This version of the game gives them a really good sense of our country's geography. — Carol Ann from Sparks, Nevada
21. Let your little one chronicle your journey from her point of view! Have her take pictures of stops you make along the way. The pictures will make great keepsakes and create another busy-bee project for later: A scrapbook. — Amy from Aurora, Colo.
(Editor's Note: If you don't trust your kids with your expensive digital camera, consider buying a disposable camera for each child at the start of your trip.)
22. If your kids are studying a second language in school—or if you're teaching them at home—a road trip is a great time for practice. Pop in those practice tapes or CDs, and make a contest out of remembering words for things seen on the road (tree, car, etc.). Mom and Dad can pick up the language, too! — Stacy from Allendale, N.J.
23. Make up your own road scavenger hunt game. Write out a numbered list of 20 things that you'll likely see on your route. Include vehicles (truck, minivan, motorcycle, police car), animals (cow, dog, horse, bird), and buildings and other roadside items (barn, stop sign, church, fence, bridge). Photocopy the page for every child, and hand each a crayon. The first kid to spot all the items on the list wins. For kids too young to read, use pictures instead of words.
— Karen from Brunswick, Maine
24. Encourage your kids to organize their backpacks with Ziploc storage bags. The one-gallon Ziplocs make great art bags—just toss in a small pad of paper, crayons, pens, and markers. Use a separate bag for each toy with lots of small parts: HotWheels, Legos, Magnetix, and the dreaded Barbies and Polly Pockets (all those teensy shoes and handbags!). Tuck in a few empty bags for cool rocks, pretty feathers, and other treasures picked up on expeditions.
— Sarah from Ithaca, N.Y.
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