Setting off on a family vacation with the kids can be a daunting prospect if you don't prepare well. Children may soon begin to whine, argue with their siblings, and generally make everyone else in the car miserable if they have nothing to keep them busy during the trip. If you're about to take the kids on a cross-country car trip, you need to pack appropriate items to keep them happy as you barrel down the highway. Try these tips to make your family road trips a pleasant experience.
Purchase travel-sized games for your kids. Most discount stores sell smaller versions of popular games so that kids can play them on the road. Whether your children like to play games like checkers or Memory, you should be able to find reasonably priced travel games that will keep them occupied during a long road trip.
Go to a dollar store to buy some cheap coloring books and crayons. Most kids love to color, and they'll happily scribble away as you drive in relative peace and quiet. If you have older children, consider purchasing word searches, activity books and crossword puzzles.
Check out books on CDs or tapes from the public library. You can find popular titles that will keep your kids enthralled as the miles fly by. Whether they like spooky stories or funny ones, you should be able to find an interesting audio book that will keep your kids quiet as they sit in the back seat.
Purchase a portable DVD player and check out some free DVDs from the public library. Portable DVD players are relatively inexpensive, and they can be found in discount stores like Wal-Mart. The kiddies can watch their favorite flicks, allowing you to drive without too many distractions.
Pack healthy snacks for the trip. Kids can munch on nuts, pretzels and fruit to keep them happy. Bring along plenty of bottled water so you don't have to rely on sugary soft drinks.
