Traveling With Kids

TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1304 -- More Projects »
Kids' activities expert and mom Stephanie Gutierrez shares tips for traveling with kids.
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Figure A
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Figure B

  • Place snacks, games and other activities in personalized zipper bags (figure A). Refill the bags daily.

  • Cookie sheets are a great thing to bring along on a road trip (figure B). They work well as trays for eating and drawing, and store nicely underneath the seat of the car.

  • Play games during long car rides. Write out the child's name and encourage them to spot words beginning with the letters in his/her name. Another idea is to make small words out of larger words (such as the states you are traveling through). \
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Figure C
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Figure D
  • Put together a personalized activity book (figure C) for your child.

  • Before leaving on the trip and to spark interest, go to the library or bookstore and find books that pertain to the vacation destination (figure D).

  • If traveling by car, highlight the trip on an atlas or map and encourage your kids to follow along as you go.

  • Give your kids a personal tape or CD player to listen to music or books on tape.
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    Figure E
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    Figure F
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    Figure G
  • Inexpensive personal video games (figure E) are also great to bring on trips.

  • Pack all of the essentials you think you might need, including comfortable clothes(figure F) for the kids in your carry-on bag.

  • Bring along familiar toys, but pack new ones too. Wrap them up and present to your child at certain landmarks--after 100 miles, during an airplane layover or after the child reads 20 pages, for example (figure G) The new toys will keep your children occupied for a while. Be sure to save some for the trip home.

  • Dress your kids in brightly colored shirts while on vacation, especially when relaxing at a crowded beach or at a theme park so they will be much easier to spot. Another idea is to have each family member dress in similar colors.
    • Also in this Episode
    TIPical Mary Ellen : Episode TIP-1304
    •Traveling With Kids
    •One-Minute Ironing
    •Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
    •Tip of the Day