What is it they say about the journey being more important than the destination? Whoever wrote that never travelled in a minivan full of kids for more than an hour.
Being a mom in a passenger seat often means you are equal parts navigator, food-distributor, thrown-toy-finder, contortionist (when the DVD remote goes missing), activity director, puke mopper-upper...it's a glamourous role.
And it seems to change with every age and stage. Bringing a baby on a plane (like momstown Edmonton's owner recently did—with hilarious results), requires a completely different set of tricks than surviving long car trips with toddlers and preschoolers.
Having the latest gadgets and electronics can be a sanity-saver, but it also helps to have a few home-made, low budget options thrown in there for a change of pace. Here are some of our favourites:
Shoebox Felt House
Perfect lap-size activity that you can make yourself using a shoebox and felt - lid included. Felt sticks to felt so that kids can play with the small pieces and design their own scene as they miss the great scenery whizzing by.
Change of seasons file folder game
This one is more suited to train or plane travel where you've got some sort of 'tray' to play the game on. But it's perfect when you're travelling to a warmer or colder clime—kids can play 'change the seasons' on their way.
Button practice on the go
Like it or not, Velcro has its limits. Kids do need to learn how to button up, and this take-along homemade button activity disguised as flowers is a great way to keep little hands busy and learning.
Enjoy your next trip with your kids—or at least survive it—and enjoy your destination!
Printer-friendly version