Mommy's Helper - Making the Best of a Car Trip with your Children

Preschool -

The Color Game
Call out a color and have your child look for something that color (in or out of the car).

Sing Alongs
Sing your child's favorite songs with them. A cd/tape player is a great addition.

Books on Tape/CD
Your child can follow along with their favorite books. (our favorite is Usborne Books Farmyard Tales Big Book with CD)

Puzzle Books
Children love to search for things, so books that have them searching for animals, and other items keep them busy for some time. (our favorites: 1001 Things to Spot on the Farm, and Puzzle World)

Sticker Books
Children love to play with stickers, so buy a notebook and a few packages of stickers. This will keep them busy for hours. My daughter loves books that have stickers to be placed in the story. Her favorite: Nursery Rhyme Sticker Book

Crayons and Coloring books

For the older kids -

ABC Game - Start with the letter A and see who in the car can find items using all the letters of the alphabet.

Car Travel Game Book has car facts, and interesting games they can play.

Puzzle Books (see the preschool section for good ideas)

Flash Cards to help learn basic math facts or to help learn the alphabet.

Grade appropriate workbooks to keep the learning process alive.

Hand held games to help hand eye coordination.

For any age group -

SNACKS and plenty of them!

As a last resort, you can always invest in a DVD player (or a laptop computer) with headphones and pop in their favorite DVD for part of the trip.

---------------------------------------------
Louella Grindle owner and web-mistress of Wannabe a Work at Home Mom and Dad Working hard to give up my Professional life to be a work at home mom for the sake of my two children. Also an Usborne Books Educational Consultant, and more.