Cheap kid fun for car travel
July 25, 2009 by Jennifer Chait
Filed under travel
If you’re heading out on vacation by car, you’ll want to keep the kiddos busy without spending too much cash. Here are some ideas…
$0.10-1.00 thrift store books: For under $10 you can pick up a huge assortment of books and magazines your kids have never read at the thrift store.
$2.00 marshmallows and toothpicks: Give these to bored kids and let them build small people and buildings. This is sticky if the kids start munching, so have some hand wipes at the ready.
$5.00 – DIY travel art easel – you can buy one for $30 or buy each child an inexpensive white board + some white board markers (always on sale at office stores) you can also use the white board as a sturdy lap drawing surface and pack up take-along coloring books, crayons, and so fourth.
A few books on CD: These cost a little more but if you just buy a few they can help to fill in many hours and are worth the cost.
- $10 Nature books on CD
- FREE Check some out from your local library
- $20 for 14 nice audio books for kids
- FREE download stories to iTunes
FREE: See this list of free car games and activities for kids.
Don’t forget to take along a Frisbee or ball for at rest stops. The best way to get a cranky kid to settle down is to take an hour off and tire them out with some outdoor activity.
[image via stock.xchng]
When my kids were 12 and 10 we drove to Wyoming from Ohio. While we brought books and other things to keep busy, sharing an audiobook was one of the best ways to pass the time. DVD players with movies are okay, but I think the audio book is much better.