Road Trip Survival Kit

Traveling with children can be quite a challenge on one's sanity, especially if you will be in the car for an extended length of time. There are, however, many things that you can do to make the trip easier for you and your kids.

First, prepare a series of games for the kids to play along the way. You know the ones - "On the way to Grandma's house", "License Plate States", "Alphabet Hunt" - these games can take up a great deal of time and be fun for parents and kids to play together. They can also become learning opportunities.

Second, prepare a survival kit for each child. The survival kit should be tailored to the interests of the child. To make your own survival kit you will need the following items:

-- A plastic container with a lid **shoe boxes purchased at the dollar store are perfect

-- Small toys

-- Crayons, pens or pencils

-- Small note pad

-- Small snacks suitable for eating in the car without parental assistance

Take the container and fill it with all the items. Decorate the container with each child's name, or let each child decorate their own box. Don't tell them what the box is for or what is in it.

You can wrap each small toy to be opened at various times along the way, or just put several different things in the box.

After you leave for your trip, give each child their survival kit. It might be a good idea to wait until the first half hour or so has passed and give them their kits as they start to get restless. Of course, it isn't necessary to wait. You can just hand them out when you first climb into the car.

Remember to bring blankets and pillows for each little monster (yeah, yeah, they're children - not monsters) so that they can sleep comfortably along the way.