How to Keep Children Entertained with Actitivities While Traveling

"Are we there yet?" As a mother of five, I have heard those words hundreds of times over the years as I traveled with my family. Car traveling with kids for an extended time can be fun, yet challenging all at the same time. Keeping children entertained while traveling is even more difficult when they are young.and have short attention spans

Here are five things I have in my arsenal for keeping kids entertained while traveling in the car.

1. Bring along books and magazines- Picture books will give children something to look at when they get bored looking out the window. Activity books and magazines that include hunting for hidden objects like those found in Highlights magazine are a favorite with children. Sticker books are another good choice.

2. Crayons, coloring books and drawing paper- these are a classic favorite for the little ones. They can spend time coloring in the pictures or you can suggest things to draw that are related to your trip. This will keep their mind focused on the activity. If you are taking a ski trip, for example, ask your child to draw a picture of a mountain with snow.

3. Travel kids games- Some things never seem to go out of style. Children still like to play guessing games while traveling, such as "I am thinking of a color' or "I Spy". Another travel favorite is count the cars. Each traveler picks a color and then as a car passes in that color, each gets a point. Choose a time limit and the one with the most points win. You can even provide a little token prize for the winner.

Another fun car game, especially for young ones is "Name That Sound". Purchase a few CDs of sound effects and have the children take turns identifying what sounds they hear, such as a train whistle, a cricket chirping, and a goose honking, it makes these games for kids educational and fun.

4. Movies- Children are easily entertained by bringing along a DVD player and a stack of their favorite Disney movies. If you can afford it, bring a separate one for each child, along with earphones. This allows children to watch what they want without an argument.

5. Music- Young children enjoy singing. What better time to sing one of the old time travel song favorites, such as "She'll Be Comin' round the Mountain"? You can also bring their favorite CDs to listen to with their headsets; however, one of the things about being in a car together is the opportunity for quality time as a family. Singing lightens the mood and energizes everyone, including the driver.

Travel with children can be a fun time if you come prepared to stave off the boredom. This is a great opportunity for you to enjoy your family, while at the same time, enjoy the scenery as they are engaged in watching a movie or listening to music. When they ask the question, "are we there yet?" tell them you will be there soon, and then divert their attention by choosing one of these five fun travel ideas with your children as you travel down the road.