ROAD TRIP!!!! 1st with kids 5,3,1

[Laurabearz]

We are headed to the wonderful sity of COlumbus Ohio TOMORROW.

Normal ride 6 hours... with kids I am figuring 8 (at rest stop, I pee, dh pees, girls say they dont have to pee, 15 minutes later one has to pee, the other still says she doent have to pee, 10 mintues later, other girl needs to pee, 20 minutes after that boy poops....) Okay so maybe 9 hours! LOL

I have some new books, crayons and coloring books, I bought a DVD player for the car and a couple of new movies.

Lots and lots of snacks....

What else.... How can I amuse the boy (1 yo) What else can I bring to amuse the girls.

We will be leaving around 4 tomorrow and will hit traffic, but leaving later puts us in Ohio way past midnight.... so no real choice there....

I am thinking about starting them off with nothing, for the first hour. Just talking and singing... then when that wears off, Then feed them.... then when they are done.... toss some coloring books at them.... and so on... until they are about to kill each other then I will whip out the DVD player (a surprise for them)

I really want to take a lot of road trips with them.... DH is worried to the point of freaking, but gosh there is so much to see and do within 8-10 hours of here, I want my kids to be as good at road trips as they are flying.

Sooooooooooo top tips for road trips with littleones!

Thanks bunches!

 

[MamaLema]

We're going on a road trip also with 3. My kids will be 7, 5, and 1 on our long long road trip from Canada to WDW.

We have a DVD player so that will help but I'm worried about the baby also. He's not into watching TV yet. So far I've bought some stickers for him to play with and that's about it lol.

I'm looking foward to ideas also.

 

[Kendra17]

We're doing a road trip to WDW, too. . .

Okay, prior to dd1, on past road trips, I bought those little bags that attach to the back of the front seats. Each child had their own bag, with their own "kit" of activities.

This included a couple of two people travel games--if they were inexpensive, I'd purchase 2. (For instance, a water game that when you pressed the button, these little rings would have to flip onto little things ...like horseshoes, kind of). . .

Invisible pen game books age appropriate

sticker books (especially the kind with features to make funny faces)

And, believe it or not, the absolute BEST car item, that kept them occupied for LITERALLY hours, silly putty.

I also have a portable video player. I really wish I had a dvd player, but I bought the video player just a couple of years ago, and I want to get more use out of it before I make the switch for the van. Plus, since my oldest dd is 12, all the disney movies we have are vhs. . .so this trip will be their opportunity to re-watch many of those movies when we go.

Klutz makes some good travel activities, but I think they're for kids who are reading a lot. . .my oldest daughter loved her klutz book last trip.

For this trip, I was at a bookstore, and purchased a shrek travel book for this upcoming trip for my 7 year old son and a really nice travel game kit for my oldest daughter--they haven't even seen them yet, so I'll be adding those to the chair bags.

For my youngest, the one year old, I'm a bit worried, too. . .but she's a tv head wannabe, so I think that some of the movies may occupy her despite her young age. Also, my kids will attempt to entertain her, as well. Sitting in the travel chair that long will probably not be too entertaining for her. . .I might get a tray or something that attaches on the chair, but I don't really know--I can't imagine that a tray toy will make too much of a difference. I guess it will be movies, a few activity toys, and nondrivers' attention.

 

[mickeymousefan]

Did the trip from NJ to WDW last Dec with a 2 (almost 3) year old and a 20 month old. Definetley bring video/DVD player. DD2 watched videos the whole time. Bring lots to drink and lots of their absolutely favorite snacks. We made a lot of stops and let them get out and stretch when we sensed they needed it. We drove down staright through and home with a stopover in NC. My kids did better with the stopover. I guess sleeping all night in a carseat is not that comfortable and makes for crankier kids!!!

 

[lovesdumbo]

We're driving to Maine with my 5, 3, & 1 year old this weekend and I'm worried about the 18 month old! I'm having my DH put the 5 & 3 in the 3rd row of the mini-van so I can sit next to the 18 month old. She only wants to listen to 1 track of Disney Music from the Parks-It's a Small World-it drives my DH crazy on the ride to Grandma's house 1/2 hour away. We won't survive a 4-5 hour trip with that on repeat so no music for us until/unless baby is asleep-though that does help her relax to nap.....

I have 2 trays to use with the car seats so I'm hoping DD(5) will be able to handle just a lap desk. I think baby will like tray with snacks & toys.....I've got new books for baby, crayons, markers, stickers, sticker books, color forms, snacks....I think we'll make it.....

Now sleeping once we're there is another all together.....

 

[Sydnoahmom]

I have a metal cake pan that has a lid that slides on and off for a secure fit. I filled it with a couple of packs of small, magnetic, alphabet letters. Kids (8 & 5) have loved this for years. We have spelling contests(fun and educational).

WE also play who can find... a red truck or a white van, ect, first. We make it more challenging as it goes along -- like a McDonalds semi or a purple truck.

I have also given them window clings to play with .

Of course, we take the TV/VCR along. I tape shows a few months in advance. Lilo and Stitch for DS, Raven for DD and alternate for a 6 hour tape. Much easier than changing a movie every 75 min. We have also watched tapes of our previous WDW trips. This year we will have DVD, so will have to rethink the plan.

We also work on homework and I printed off some Disney word search puzzles for this trip.

Hope I am of help to someone,
Laurie

 

[Kendra17]

Originally posted by Sydnoahmom
I have a metal cake pan that has a lid that slides on and off for a secure fit. I filled it with a couple of packs of small, magnetic, alphabet letters. Kids (8 & 5) have loved this for years. We have spelling contests(fun and educational).

WE also play who can find... a red truck or a white van, ect, first. We make it more challenging as it goes along -- like a McDonalds semi or a purple truck.

I have also given them window clings to play with .

Of course, we take the TV/VCR along. I tape shows a few months in advance. Lilo and Stitch for DS, Raven for DD and alternate for a 6 hour tape. Much easier than changing a movie every 75 min. We have also watched tapes of our previous WDW trips. This year we will have DVD, so will have to rethink the plan.

We also work on homework and I printed off some Disney word search puzzles for this trip.

Hope I am of help to someone,
Laurie

You are of help to me! I think that magnetic pan with magnets is a great idea! My dd12 has a magnetic poetry set. I didn't even think of that to take (and she hasn't used it for a couple of months), but we could take that, as well.

And, I could see buying some disney window clings. those are really good ideas. Thanks!

 

[excitedmom]

i bought large cheap cookie trays (3bucks each) and found disney magnetic stuff like princess' that you can dress and some faces that you change the hair and stuff for. i'm taking a 23hr drive with a 9,8, and 4yr old in sept. i bought mini magnadoodles, printed disney colouring activities am buying some new disney movies they haven't seen yet (home on the range, brother bear) and i bought some crayola window markers as well

 

[llp479]

Princess Polly Pocket dolls would be good for the girls as long as the little one isn't into sticking things in her mouth. You could always just leave the shoes at home as they always get lost anyway

My DDs were also into paper dolls. They had fun changing their clothes, etc. What about travel size magna doodles or Etch-a-sketch or Pixter? We have fun with those too.

Good luck! My grandma lives in So Il a lovely 7 - 8 hour car ride so I feel your pain.

 

[bobcat]

Use a sheet or an old beach towel over the seat for easy clean up. You might want to pack some bubbles for those rest stops. Crayola makes the color wonder paper and coloring books so there is no mess in the car. Wish they had that when my kids were little.

Have fun in Cow town!

 

[CrazySun27]

I love the cookie sheet idea, we are traveling from Texas to WDW, with my DS-5, DD-7, DD-9 and my neice-8....so I need all the help I can find!

Thanks for all the great tips!!!!!!! I can't wait!

 

[summersfam4]

Wow, there are some great ideas here. I think I am going to go with the magnet and small pan idea for both DD's (ages 5 & 17 months on the trip). I am also thinking about a color wonders set for both as even the small one likes to color and no mess is a wonderful thing. I have the VCR set too, but the little one isn't into it yet, but I will bring some sing alongs for the VCR as she loves music and I can be hopefull right Also I will pick up a couple of small age appropriate new things and a goody bag packed with smaller stickers, coloring books, travel games for the older one!


excitedmom: Where did you get the disney magnetic princess' and magnetic faces, my DD's would love those!

Thanks for the great ideas and the post for suggestions!

Kelly

 

[disneymom3]

There are these cool book kind of things by Imaginetics that are like magnetic colorforms that are great! They have all kinds of different themes--cnstruction site, dollhouse, Betty Spaghetti, Thomas etc that are a lot of fun. Also, we have found lots of books with magnets that you read the story and put the magnets in where they belong. Those sound books are good for the car too.

We also use etch a sketch and Magna Doodle, plus we have this other magnet/bead thing. I forget what they are called but there are all these flat little disks enclosed in a holder that has indents for the disks to land in and you use a magnet wand to pick them up and deposit them where you want. (Do you get the idea at all?)

We also love, love love, books on tape. Anything from tall tales to Boxcar Children and Mrs Piggle Wiggle. My boys who were 1.5 and just 3 on our last long car trip even listened to them. I know, it seems crazy about the baby, but he was totally quiet during the stories. I also read aloud, we sing songs, play I Spy, find things in the clouds and we get a couple of new music CDs for each long trip--you can get them at the library.

My oldest gets some Game boy time and all three of the kids like the Leap Pad and Power Touch. We don't have a TV in the car and don't intend to get one though I will confess that sometimes the idea has appeal.

 

[disneymom3]

Oh I forgot--in our car there is no such thing as "I don't have to go" My response to that is, "I didn't ask. I told you to go." Everybody goes potty every time we stop unless it is the middle of the night. Can't control baby, but it cuts down on some of those stops.

Also, for those younger ones, toys that hang from the handle/cour hook thing of suction onto the window are great for long trips.

 

[newtowdw1]

My parents live 4.5 hours away, one way. We've done road trips forever!

I have a 'trip bag' that is absolutely TOP SECRET! In it are little books and toys, sticker books, magnets and magnet boards, snacks, candy (generally forbidden!). Ring pops and push-up pops are the best. I save all toy catalogs and pass them out on long car trips. They get a highlighter each to circle their favorite items. Every little bit each gets something new. I recycle the toys and put in a few new ones. I find nice things at Big Lots. What has worked well for us is my singing (when DS was tiny the only thing that shut him up was my singing. for 4 hours).
When he was a little older, we put up the Fisher Price aquarium toy for him on the back of the front seat. DD(then 4)'s job was pushing the button when it stopped.
Now I read books, and read books, and read books. We've done Little House on teh Prairie, Ramona, Curious George, and Birnbaums Disney travel guides (great pictures!).

DD7 gets sick in the car, but she can play with her Pollys for a while. We do math problems, and DS3 counts for us. Sticker books are great for both.
The worst part is their fussing at each other. Or they get silly, which is fine, but then they get carried away. We have a Mazda MPV. DD goes in the third row, DS is in the second row. Then they each have their own space.

Lately we've traveled at night.