Traveling with Kids: Make an Entertainment Bag Submitted by Janie from TX

When traveling on extended trips with my children (11 & 4) I pack a bag that closes with "entertainment".  This is really important! NEVER, NEVER let the kids look in the bag! Keep it closed.  Dole out the entertainment during the entire trip whenever boredom sets in.  If you give them the entire bag they will rip through everything in about 15 minutes and then you're stuck for the remainder of the trip.  I keep my entertainment bag in the back of my closet all year long.  As I find things I take them straight to the closet and add them to the bag.  When it's trip time I don't have to remember where I stashed my goodies.  They're already packed and ready to go!  My bag came from a garage sale for only $1.  Most of these items are very inexpensive, free or one time expenditures that can be used over and over.  The backseat peace is PRICELESS!! 

• Zip top bags or found containers of animal crackers, goldfish or other favorites.

• I always keep an eye out for books on tape for the whole family.  Walkman type cassette players can be found at Walmart for $5-$6.  Of course they will want to listen to the same tape at the same time.  Avoid those backseat fights by looking in the electronic hardware section where the speaker wire is kept and find a headphone splitter.  It's worth its weight in gold and should be less than $10. 

• I always look through the toys at garage sales and pick up kids meal toys and other small things.  Beginning reader books for the 4 year old and mysteries and adventure books for the 11 year old.

• Make up window games.  Make a list of things to find and give a prize to the one who finds the most.  Gear it to the area you'll be traveling through. 

• Pack blank paper and drawing supplies.  Use restaurant take home-trays or lunchable type containers to keep everything together in the seat.  They are also excellent for those bags of beads and string or small craft projects you packed.  You did pack them didn't you?? If you never eat out or never have anything to take home, ask people at work who order take out for lunch if you can have them.  Rinse them out and wash when you get home. 

• Request brochures from the tourism department or chambers of commerce in the areas you'll be visiting.  Texas has a wonderful book and free CD (with games) at http://www.traveltex.com/index.asp  Click on Free Travel Guide.  The book has coupons in the back as well. 

• Pack safety scissors and a glue stick to use with that blank paper.  There are also post it glue sticks available.  They turn anything into a post it note.  Cut out pictures and stick to vinyl seatbacks or windows.  Just be sure the driver can see.  They remove very easily. 

• Show your children how to make a bead slider.  Use a large bead and 2 strings long enough to reach across the back seat.  Thread the bead onto the 2 strings.  When the 2 strings are pulled apart on one side, the bead slides to the other side. 

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• If you're really brave, pack a tub of homemade baby wipes (the recipe is in the Frugality, Baby & Kids section) and if you use coupons and buy the supplies when they're on sale, the price per recipe is about $.15 - $.30.  

• Pack cookies and icing squirters (Icing in zip top bags. Cut a small piece off one corner to use.)  Use those restaurant trays and throw away the mess when you're done.  Be prepared for a sugar rush.

• Keep a supply of plastic grocery bags for trash sacks.  They aren't too big and can be handled by almost any child.  They also make great kites at the beach or any other windy location.

• As you are in businesses shopping, ask the clerk if they have any freebies.  Explain what you're doing.  Most have little things to give away that will fascinate children.  Our local phone office still gives away those little phone key rings.  Shoe stores will have shoe horns or miniature leather shoe soles.  Magnets are popular (just keep them away from those books on tape).  If you work at a company with a marketing department, ask them for any little freebies.  They get lots of things from specialty advertising companies.

• Pack an inflatable ball to play with at rest stops.  Deflate when you're ready to travel on.

• Make favorite flavors of juice or Kool-Aid.  Pour into individual soft drink bottles and freeze.  Use instead of ice in the cooler.  Saves on ice and mess and keeps the kids from asking to stop and get a drink.  Don't forget to freeze some water too.  Pack a few unfrozen bottles in the cooler to drink right away.  These can be used partially frozen for an ice cold drink that won't dilute.  Don't drink soft drinks in bottles? Ask the people at work who are saving their restaurant trays for you. If you explain why you want them, most people will gladly help. Usually they feel very sorry for anyone taking an extended car trip with kids.  It's because they never took an entertainment bag with them! 

• Make some soap clay.  Grate bars of fresh soap.  It has more water and is easier to grate.  Add food coloring to shavings and essential oil for smell if you'd like and stir until shavings are mostly evenly coated.  Make several colors and place in zip top bags. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time and squish until the mixture is a clay consistency.  The mixing part can be done in the car as well.  Use on a flat lap surface covered with one of those grocery bags turned inside out so the paint doesn't ruin the creations.  Kids can create as long as they like AND they will be CLEAN when they get done. Just wipe off with those baby wipes.  Let their sculptures dry and they can wash with them on the trip!

• If you're worried about the seats of your car, cover them with an inexpensive or old vinyl tablecloth, then an old sheet.  The tablecloth will keep spills off the seats and the sheet will keep the kids from sticking to the tablecloth.  Remember to watch at garage sales for both the tablecloth and the sheet.  When you get to your destination, both can be used as ground covers for picnics, etc.