Long car trips can be boring for kids. There are only so many times you can stand to hear “Are we there yet?” We travel quite a bit during the summer, whenever we have the opportunity we head out to the lake, or to the ocean.
When we head out for long trips I always try to make sure we’ve packed something for my son to do during the ride. Travel games are great, when it’s just him he enjoys playing solitary games, but sometimes we have one or both of our nephews along for the ride.

Minimus Games has some of …read more

Crayola has a whole line up of gift ideas for creative kids coming this holiday season. I know when I go shopping for my son and my nephews the first place I look is in the art supplies, or for gifts they can use to create. They’re always a hit. It’s gives them something to stay in touch with their creative side, even when they’re on the go.

One of my favorites is the Crayola Portable Art Studio. Kids can have all the art supplies they need all in one place. The best part for us is when we’re heading out …read more

Since my family and I are traveling to Colorado for Christmas this year (we live in Georgia…you do the math, ugh!), I am on the look out for travel toys to keep my three kids nice and busy. We are looking at two 17 to 20 hour days in the car. Yes, we are nuts, but this is a trip worth driving for.
So, I’ll be doing a series on travel toys to help those of us who are traveling. I’ll do some pricey ones and some not-so-pricey toys. Here’s the first toy that I am looking into getting for my …read more

We’re preparing for our summer road trip. Yeah, yeah, we’re a little late this year. Labor Day weekend seems about the last possible time to take a trip and still be able to call it a summer road trip, so that’s what we’re doing.
I’ve checked my list of Road Trip Travel Toys, gathered up some snacks, borrowed a portable DVD player and stocked up on the movies. We’re traveling mostly in the evening on the way, so I’m hoping the kids will fall asleep! There’s really no precedent for that in our family, but I …read more

KB Toys has released their top picks for travel toys this season. With the hope of a road trip or two for the summer, I’m looking for any help that we can get to keep the kids entertained (and not fighting) in the car. I did notice the absence of books in the list. That would be a must have for our daughter’s riding entertainment! Listed here are a few of KB’s top picks, as reported by Yacht Charters Magazine:

Battleship Folio and other travel games
Pocket Etch A Sketch
20Q Challenge
V Tech – Quiz Biz – Math Mania

You …read more

Our third travel toy is the Slinky. My two year old found one in the car bag that my friend packed for him. He LOVES it! He actually has one in the car when we just drive around town, as well. He has one of the plastic ones, so he enjoys the color variations in addition to just loving the uniqueness of the toy in it’s own right.
Now, if I could just keep him from trying to pelt me in the ear with it while I’m driving, it would be a much better car toy!

Oh, how I wish I’d seen this in time for our trip! Too late for me, but keep it in mind for your next trip.
The CAR VALET by Alex looks like the perfect surface for your kids to draw, color, fill in activity books, or do homework on a roadtrip.
A description from the Alex Toys website:

Play games, create art, or just keep gear within easy reach with a portable, adjustable, mobile play center and organizer. Attaches to the rear of the front seat and folds down for easy access to supplies. Fold and zip up when finished. The perfect …read more

This is the first in a brief “Road Trip Travel Toy” series. We’re leaving on a trip tomorrow, and my dear friend, who is traveling with us, packed up car bags for the older two kids. (She IS awesome, I know!) One item that she included, which we have purchased for road trips before, is similar to a Magna Doodle.
It’s unbelievable how the same kids, who sit in a house full of toys and say they’re bored, will sit and draw on a Magna Doodle for a good hour in the car. As long as it’s …read more