keeping kids busy during drive from canada

[GUNER]

Can anyone help me? I am looking for websites that would have sheets that i could put together for my kids on each state that we will be driving through on I-75 from Canada. I would like to make up booklets with activities sheets related to each state. Or can i buy such a book? thanks

 

[flexsmom]

What a great idea! I don't know how old your kids are, but give this link a try:

http://store.doverpublications.com/0486401685.html

I googled "50 states coloring book" and came up with a huge list - I'm sure more than one have other activities other than coloring! Good luck with that drive (and have you considered a small DVD player!?!)

 

[CM_Mom]

This site seems to have some great suggestions and links. Have fun.

http://familyfun.go.com/family-travel/road-trips/feature/famf48gamebag/

 

[aprilgail2]

I drove from NY and what was a lifesaver for me was the TV/vcr in the back seat for my daughter! I have since upgraded to a portable DVD for her for long car trips! I remember when I was a kid if I read or wrote while in a moving car I would get car sick so I haven't tried her on reading or writing on long trips yet.

 

[EmmasGrammy]

When we go on long drives my kids like to play an alphabet game. (I some times play it when the kids aren't even along!!). Starting with the letter "A" you find a road sign or store front or liscence plate with the letter "A". Then move onto the letter"B" etc. etc. The letter must be the first letter in the word you see. Some letter are more difficult to find. "Q" look for a Dairy Queen. "U" look for a U-Haul truck. "X" some Ford trucks use XLT on them. "Z" can usually only be found on liscense plates.

We always have a lot of fun playing this game, and it really helps the time fly by.

We have also played "car color". Each child picks a color before you begin driving and they get one point for each car of that color that you see. The cars must be driving. (parking lots and car dealerships do not count). Be careful. Some colors can be questionable and may cause arguements. Pick mommy or daddy as the judge.

Have a great and safe trip. Hope these game suggestions help.

 

[gonna go cruising]

I used to print out a United States map with all of the states labeled and my daughters would play the license plate game. Amazingly enough, we would find all but Alaska and Hawaii almoste every time we went on a really long trip and sometimes would find them and miss others. They could use crayons or colored pencils to color in the states. I also would make up scavenger hunts for them to look for such as 3 taxis, 2 cement trucks, a moving van, 5 dogs (alive, not road kill), etc. Just be creative with it and it does help to occupy them fairly well.

Have a safe trip!

 

[jrabbit]

keeping kids busy during drive from canada

Maybe that's what the duct tape is for thats on the packing lists "Mom: he's touching me again!!" then mom can reply: "Johnny - Don't make me get out the duct tape and tape your arms down!!"

Sorry, couldn't resist.

When our kids were younger and we took a long car trip, we would make copies of the maps of our route. Every couple of hours (when we would stop for a quick manditory stretch and potty break) we would color in our route to where we were. For those really really long trips (like yours) it can be a litte depressing for the first 8-10 hours or so But we could see our goal and how far we progressed towards it

my daughters would play the license plate game

One trip to Yellowstone we did this and found all of the states including Alaska and Hawaii and most of the Canadian provinces!


Oh yeah, one last thing - be safe!! a drowsey driver is almost if not more dangerous than a drunk driver!! Keep rested and trade off driving duties every 2 to 3 hours. No one drives more than 3 hours at a time. And when the drivers switch, EVERYONE gets out of the car to walk around a little!!

 

[april riddle]

What part of Canada are you coming from? We drive to Sarnia Ontario at least twice a year (Yeah Mike Weir!) from North Carolina. It takes about 13 hrs probably half the time it takes you to go to Orlando. We have recorded DVDs with current favorite cartoons - can you imagine 13hrs straight of Yu-Gi-Oh! yuck. We also bring a game system - that they can play for certain periods of time. I also insist that they each bring a couple of books that they have to read a certain amount of chapters. Cracker Barrels also have some fun things you can get for back seat fun. do you remember Mr. Fuzzy? Plus if you stop at cracker barrel you can get a great breakfast. A lot of times we will break it up and find a hotel with an indoor pool - they love that for some reason. I do like the duck tape idea - mine are two years apart and love to argue with each other. By the way - earphones for the TV are essentials that I don't leave home without. One more things you can go to Discoverykids.com and you can make puzzles and word searches with your own words. My kids love doing this. Good luck - I don't like that drive - although we go straight down I-77 which I think is much better than I-75

 

[greytlady]

My son picked up "The Road Trippin' Back-Seat Shrek-tivity Book" at his school's bookfair. It looks like it has a lot of activities to keep kids occupied and fun for kids too.
(ISBN 0439641349)
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...f=sr_1_1/103-1618807-6838248?v=glance&s=books

Just another idea to keep kids occupied in the car.

 

[Disneycrazymom]

Fact Monster is a great site for kids! We use it a lot to help with all kinds of homework. Last year DS had to do State Reports (2 per quarter,but thats another story) and we found all kinds of info at Fact Monster. Be safe driving.

 

[DSNY FN]

If you e mail me I have some Disney word searches I could e mail you that will help to pass the time. We drive down from London every year. We just bring the girls some books for colouring and their walkmans etc. We also play the liscence plate game to.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

The only way I know to keep kid busy for that long a period is one of these video systems where each child has a small flat panel display connected to a single player (they make them for video tapes and DVDs).

 

[Disneycrazymom]

We have 2 of those. (1 for each really spoiled child). They are wonderful. Complete with headphones and very quiet , happy riders in the back seat. I find myself saying " We'll stop after this movie" much less than PLEASE be nice to each other! And somtimes, if I am really good I get to go in the back and watch a movie too!