TOP 10 ITEMS TO BRING ON A ROAD TRIP FOR YOUR KIDS!

In the previous post, I wrote about my favorite road trip planning app (Roadtrippers). And, now, it’s time to pack! So, what in the world do you pack to keep the kids occupied?? Well, I have compiled my 10 favorites for our family!

10. Extra Clothes – Every single time that I do not pack extra clothes for my kids, I inevitably regret it. Someone either spills something or gets sick (worst case scenario). If you have room, I always recommend that you pack extra clothes and layers! I’d rather come home with extra clean clothes rather than have to run out last minute for more underwear, etc.

9. Kids Atlas/Map – My girls absolutely love to understand where we are going on our road trips. It’s easier for them to comprehend that we have a 7-hour drive if I show them how far it is on the map. For our long road trip this past summer, I purchased a kids road atlas. Each page has a map of a particular state as well as an activity to go along with it.

8. Water Bottles – Save some money, as well as the environment, and invest in reusable water bottles. Each child then has their own drink to use whenever they want. We love the Takeya brand because it doesn’t spill like some of the other brands that we’ve tried. Don’t forget to fill the water bottles up every morning!

7. Travel Tangram – These magnetic tangram puzzles were a hit on our road trip. The girls loved figuring them out! The magnetic tiles stuck great to the travel book!

6. Ipads & HEADPHONES – I am not a huge proponent of sticking the kids in front of the iPad whenever they want. But, on a long road trip, we allow them to use these devices. We always download different movies before the trip so they are excited about their new choices. If you allow iPad use, do NOT forget the headphones!!! No one needs to hear your child’s current favorite Disney song 45 times in a row.

5. Stuffed animal/blanket/comfort item – If we get lucky enough, our kids fall asleep during long stretches on the road. It always helps them fall asleep if they have their favorite stuffed animal with them. My kids also spend lots of time pretend playing with them while in the car. If you forgot one, let your kids pick a small stuffy out during one of your stops. It becomes their comfort item for the road trip as well as a souvenir.

4. Games – For our road trip, I decided to make a binder with printable games. I had a field day printing free printables from all over Pinterest including word searches, tic-tac-toe, hangman, road trip scavenger hunts, I Spy sheets, etc.

3. Travel Journals – In addition to the game sheets, I also printed travel journal pages. I found this great free kids travel journal from Embark on the Journey (thank you for sharing!). And, I am now compiling these pages with pictures for a keepsake book for the girls. Isn’t kids writing and spelling just the cutest??

Just an FYI – Tom is the horse that we drove around Mackinac Island, and the girls thought it was hilarious when he stopped to poop.

2. LCD Writing Tablet – This writing tablet was a life saver for us. It runs on a replaceable battery. We have been using our tablets for the past 6 months without having to replace the battery. The top has a built in area for the pen, which is great for young children. Our girls can color over and over again without worrying about markers and crayons falling or breaking. If your kids like to color, it is a perfect road trip accessory.

1. SNACKS!!! – Snacks make EVERYTHING better. No one needs hangry children while you’re trying to get the perfect picture or enjoy a museum. I wish my kids would just eat all of their meals and not ask for snacks… Unfortunately, it never happens. So, I make sure we are well stocked with snacks to avoid cranky behavior.

I hope our favorite travel items help you with your next road trip! What are your favorite travel items? Thank you for wandering along with us!