poll
If you had $1000 to donate to a charity, which of the following would you pick?
Related Articles
EVERYONE’S FAVORITE Groups
Toddlers and Road Trips
Author: Jeannie Fleming-Gifford
Nothing is quite as much fun as a good ole' fashioned road trip. You know, good music, a cup of java, and plenty of time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery. Oh, wait. That was life before the kiddo. Welcome to traveling with toddlers. Whether you are headed 5 minutes or 5 hours down the road, it's good to have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep your munchkin amused. Let's face it, without a few ideas, 5 minutes on the road may end of feeling like 5 days and 5 hours, well, let's just say "way too long."
Remember, print off these ideas and stash them in your glove compartment…a few miles down the road, you'll be glad you did!
Ways to engage a toddler on the road:
- Singing. It's easy and they love it. If you don't know a song, make it up. If you forget the song, make that up too. Can't carry a tune? Your child won't care at all. Here's a list of songs most everyone knows (easier to go by the list than to try to come up with something on the fly):
Old McDonald Had a Farm
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
ABC's
Row, Row, Row Your Boat
B-I-N-G-O
Mary Had a Little Lamb
I've been Working on the Railroad
London Bridge
Itsy Bitsy Spider
More We Get Together
Take Me Out to the Ballgame - Got a mover and a shaker (what toddler isn't)? Don't forget action songs and fingerplays! Even in their seat, they can wiggle away.
Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes
If You're Happy & You Know It
The Hokey Pokey (put your hand in, put your hand out - don't worry about left and right, the idea is simply to get your munchkin to think about moving parts of their body
Five Little Monkeys
I'm a Little Teapot
Where Is Thumbkin?
- Tired of singing? Let your (free) library rentals do it for you! Free kid-friendly CDs with plenty of new music to jam to. Don't forget about books on CDs or tapes (if you're "old school" like me).
- Try a new take on the old game of "I Spy." Instead of "I Spy," use a phrase as "What do you see?" If you're feeling musical, sing the phrase (make up a tune of your choice) and encourage your child to reply, "I see…."
- Play "Where's your…" or "Where's the…" This is a great time for your toddler to develop body awareness. They may have the basics (eyes, nose, etc.), but challenge them with such body parts as forehead, chin, neck, elbow, ankle, etc. Of course, keep your eyes on the road! This isn't the time to be checking that they are correct.
- Pack a few "new" toys. This is the time to get in the stash and put a few in reserve for the road trip. Choose toys that have novelty (i.e. the keys or pretend phone or doll), but that won't drive you nutty (i.e. the toy that makes all the noise with only one volume - loud!). Depending on the temperament of your child, they may enjoy having a small sack of toys (always think safety first - i.e. no chokables) to rummage through or hand them one-by-one to keep them engaged a few minutes longer.
- Invest in a non-breakable mirror. There's not much more interesting than one's face, especially your child's own face. Encourage your child to make silly faces - i.e. happy, sad, surprised, or mad. Ask them questions: What color are your eyes? Where are your teeth? How many teeth do you have? If you are feeling musical, sing a little song such as: I look in the mirror and whom do I see? Who do I see? Who do I see? I look in the mirror and who do I see, a beautiful - insert your child's name - looking at me.
Home > Parents > Planning a Vacation > Toddlers and Road Trips
