New Road Trip Activities

Ok so this is very old school...we used to count semi-trucks. We also play bug. If you call a bug when you see it you get one point for calling out "red bug" if it is an older model(original bugs) then you can say "old bug" and get 2 points and if you say "old orange bug" as in the color of the bug then you get 3 points. We also play the license plate game where you try to find the license plate that is the farthest from the state that you are actually in. You can also get postcards and have the older one right things that they see and that they like about traveling in that particular state on the postcard and they can keep it to remind them of the things that they saw on their trip. I hope this helps.

Walkman's with their favorite cd's. Get laptop tables and have a bag for each child with a puzzle, coloring book/colors, writing tablets/pencils, books......

We have used "ticket time":
I would divide up the miles we planned to travel each day by 30 and then give each child a bag with that many tickets. ex. 300 miles = 10 tickets.
I then packed a bag of activities. Every 30 miles (It ends up being about 30 minutes) we would call "Ticket Time!". When the kids passed up a ticket I would give them a new activity or whatever was planned for that time. Activities we've used are: Magna Doodles, Journals w/ special pens, coloring books, special books w/3d glasses, homemade feltboard face with different noses, eyes, etc..., sheet of sand paper w/ pieces of string to make pictures on, snacks, books on tape/cd, movies (our kids loved Magic Tree House on CD),stickers and paper. We used snack time and meals as an activity too. I kept a stash of smarties for when we were listening to a story or watching a movie to mark ticket time but not stop.

I check out the dollar store and the 1$ area at Target before a trip. Minivanmom.com has some great ideas too.

We started doing this last year when our kids were 6,4,2,1. It worked great!! Good luck! Happy road tripping!

The alphabet game is similar to ones mentioned. We started it with license plates but soon discovered it was too hard for younger ones so we allowed them to pick out any sign that had the next letter. Paper and drawin supplies are something I keep in the car all the time and books on tape with a headset and small tape recorder just for them. You can check out books on tape at the library so you can choose a variety. Most libraries will let you check them out for 2 weeks. Magnadoodle is always a good car distraction too. Good luck and have a great trip!

We often travel to NJ, or SC, so here's what I do for my 4 and 5 year-old. I have a bag of car-friendly activites (toys and games that don't make a lot of noise, those velvet color-by-number pictures that come with markers, etc.) that i pick up from Big-Lots or the dollar store that stays up front with the grownups. Every hour or so I give them a new surprise activity. When they are just starting to get bored with one, it's time for a new surprise. The anticipation makes the trip go faster and keeps them from getting whiny or antsy. every couple of activities I also give them a small surprise snack. Works for us and they really look forward to road trips.

Hi Katie! There is a great website called www.familyfun.com that has a section on road trip ideas. There are also activities that you can print out to take on roadtrips. Some of the activities are even state specific. Hope you and your family have a great time.

Not new, but we like them. We play "I see a (shape)" and "I see a (letter)" with our granddaughter when we are in the car. She does one, then we do one. With the age difference you have, that would work for both kids. Also, have them describe what they see. It's funny to hear how they put their thoughts together. We also have a lap board for her to draw.

One idea I read about was stringing up a clothes line and clip clothespins with pictures of things you may pass, cities (the article was talking about the the states they would pass). I don't how far your road trip is but I did see your requested info about Sea World. We have also done letter games I am thinking of an animal that starts with a, b, etc. Or spying letters on the sign or play I spy something green, etc. I did this last summer and my kids were 4 and 6. I have several magnet or felt type games. I also have a few children books on CD - you can always check some out at the library. Of course coloring books, crayons, books are always great. One piece of advice if you are traveling across states I would recommended stopping at a city park for lunch rather than restuarant where the kids have to be quiet and still. I traveled from Corpus Christi, TX to northern MN with my family every summer as a child. I have great memories of those road trip. I have only made that drive once with my kids - it was from Denton. I must admit for long road trips with my kids we have resorted to a dual DVD player that attaches to the back of the seat. We don't keep in the car and only use it when we travel more than 4 hours. I also don't want them watching TV the entire time. But when we were kids we could lay across the seat or sit on the floor and didn't have to be buckled in a car seat the entire trip. If this road trip will be going to Sea World you can always make it fun and educational and learn about the animals you will see there with fun bingo types games nad print out coloring pages of the sea animals. You find this on search on the web. I hope you have a great time.

I keep whiteboard markers in the car. My boys can draw on the windows. My youngest even practices spelling and math homework in the car.

www.familyfun.com

I found a lot of activities at this site.

We always buy them fun things to do in the car (color, activity books, etc.) then wrap them and let them open them when they get bored with the last one they opened. Our last trip they received Pixters and we didn't hear a sound for 10 hours!!

Happy Traveling!

We do the 'presents' too. we had a very long drive to Ohio and we let them open a new 'present' with bows, wrapping paper, etc. each time we crossed a state line. It taught them to read signs and figure out miles.
We also do the 'bringing in my suitcase' alphabet game--everyone takes turns saying what they are bringing in their suitcase in alpahbetical order (first does 'a', second 'b' and so on).
I also put together a family playlist of favorite songs for the ride.
Hope this helps--have a great trip :)

Like Becca B, we always used to count Bugs. I've found a new twist on that game. We now count PT Cruisers. Those things are very distinctive and here, they are EVERYWHERE. I've counted almost 100 in ONE DAY! Granted it was a day I was going from Fort Worth to Dallas and back and did a lot of other driving that day but still, that is my new record.

I spy is always fun!
We also play a alphabet game We just go through the whole alphabet just finding them in signs or whatever. My sons loving singing the alphabet song for each new letter. It helps my youngest with his alphabet and keeps my oldest looking and helping recognize his letters.

We always play the "dog" game where you call out "DOG!" whenever you see a dog. Dogs behind fences don't count...they have to be out like being walked or something..or in the front yard or something. Then when we see a breed that we actually have (Great Dane) then it's worth 5 points. All others are 1 point.

Katie,
We usually take 2 major road trips each summer. My kids LOVE the Matchbox Pop Up Adventure sets from Target or Walmart. They are little sets that come with a car/truck and then a play area that pops up that the car or truck can go around on. Both my daughter and my son love to play with these during general errand running trips so I'm going to get a couple of new ones for our long road trips this summer. They range in price from around $7 up to $20 per set depending on the size.
Good luck!
D.

My kids at that age really liked Fossil Rim drive through exotic zoo near Granbury--bring a picnic lunch.

My son loved a cookie sheet with roads, parking lot, etc. on it (use paint or markers). I would glue magnets to the bottom of his cars and he could drive them on the cookie sheet and the cars didn't roll/fall off. He could put it on the ground and pick it back up and still have all he needed.

I didn't read all your suggestions, so I apologize if this is a repeat. My sons and I play the alphabet game. We look for every letter of the alphabet as we're driving and see how fast we can get through the alphabet. We also play the going on a picnic game where you say "I'm going on a picnic and I'm going to bring apples." Then the next person has to do a B item and repeat what was said for A. So, he'll go, "I'm going on a picnic, and I'm going to bring apples and bananas." Once we go through the alphabet, we'll try again and say you can't repeat what was said last time.

It's not really an activity, but I remember my mom used to give my brother and I a roll of nickels (might have to increase it to quarters this day and age!) at the start of the trip. Anytime we'd argue or be naughty in the car, we'd have to give her a nickel back. When we got to our destination, we'd get to buy whatever we wanted w/ our remaining money. Might not work for your three year old, but could give you six year old extra incentive to behave.