Are We There Yet?
Tips for an Enjoyable Trip

Are we there yet?

What parent hasn’t heard this question countless times. Yes, it is possible to take your kids on a long trip and maintain your own sanity. We have traveled tens of thousands of miles with our kids. Here are a few tips to help pass the time, keep the peace and minimize Are we there yet.

Start Early

This will be easier for some people than others. Since my husband gets up by 5 am for work, leaving at 4 am is not much of a stretch for us. Sleepy kids fall asleep pretty quickly after being steered into the car. We can usually get a good 4 hours of travel in before they really wake up.

DVD Players

Need I say more? Whether you have a built in player in your vehicle or a small handheld one a few good movies can fill substantial amounts of time. Before the trip I have the kids choose and pack a small bag with some of their favorite DVD’s. If it’s a collection of old sitcoms like I Love Lucy they can actually be entertaining for everyone whether they can see the screen or not. If it’s a favorite that they’ve seen a hundred times, we highly recommend headphones for your own sanity.

iPod

If your kids are into music, for a little vacation treat you can check out iTunes Store Music for a few new songs for their iPods. Depending how fancy their iPods are, audio books, iPod Games and tv shows may also be options.

Surprise Time

Before the trip I make a quick trip to Target and pick up some snacks, dollar section items and maybe a video, book or small electronic game. We like Monopoly and 20 Questions (both with the volume turned off). I pack these in our Surprise Time Bag. Every hour on the hour if the kids have behaved reasonably well they get a treat. You will be amazed at how well this eliminates Are We There Yet and what eagle eyes they have on the clock!

ABC Game

Watch signs outside to find each letter of the alphabet in order. For young kids it’s a great game to do together for learning the alphabet and letter recognition. For older kids it can be done competitively. To make it harder, require the letter to be the first letter of a word on a sign.

License Plate Search

Try to find cars with license plates from all 50 states and more. A checklist is very helpful. You can download a free one here (PDF). (help) We had such a hard time finding Idaho that our family joke is that Idaho doesn't exist. Hawaii license plates are hard to find. Check out front plates in states like Florida where front plates are not used, occasionally you'll find an old one that was kept as a souvenir.

Klutz Books

Klutz has a wide variety of books with accessories included for all kinds of projects such as string figures, magic tricks, friendship bracelets, paper airplanes and more. Choose one that is car appropriate and would interest your kids. A couple that our girls have enjoyed are the one about string figures and the one about friendship bracelets. The Cat's Cradle book gives very clear instructions for cat's cradle as well as Jacob's ladder and several other string figures and also includes a string. The friendship bracelet book has instructions and supplies for several styles. You'll need to bring your own scissors. This project was detailed enough to delay the are we there yet for a couple hours!

Auto Bingo

Another way to keep them looking out the window is a friendly game of auto bingo.

Energy Breaks

When the car is low on gas we stop at a fast food place with a playground. While I encourage the kids to climb, play and burn energy, my husband fuels the car and buys the food. We enjoy our food while watching the kids play. Then get on our way and let the kids eat in the car. We recommend spill proof cups. Yes, you will have to clean french fries out of the car, but we think the trade off is worth it.

Short Stories

Short stories provide a wonderful family diversion. We have enjoyed books in the Stories for the Heart series and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series as well as Guideposts Magazine. As the kids get older, they can do some of the reading too. They have a variety of titles. Choose one your kids will love. If you're headed to Panama City Beach...how about Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover's Soul? Along with amazing sea stories you get Wyland artwork as a bonus in this book.

Audio Books

There are some really good audio books for people of all ages and interests. The best ones leave you wanting more at the end of each chapter. Some of our favorites are The Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Against All Odds by Chuck Norris. Yes, karate is a family hobby even though we have all girls...who would have predicted that!

We hope this tip page helps you keep your sanity and eliminate are we there yet!

How Do You Keep Your Kids Entertained in the Car?

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