vacation

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2004
vacation
4
Thu, 03-29-2007 - 2:25pm

Just let you guys know I'll be away on vacation the 3/31 till 4/8. The kids and I are going to my mom's in portland. We have a nive 12 hour drive from California. IF you have any travel tips for keeping the 2 year old and 7 year old occupied would be wonderful.

i have some Road games planned for the 7 year old but I am afraid that the 2 year old is going to be bored. H eloves to go bye bye but not sure he is going to want to go bye bye after this trip.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-08-2006
In reply to: k8tbugsmom
Thu, 03-29-2007 - 2:51pm

Enjoy your trip!

I think books, those magnetic travel games, and color wonder coloring pages are a great thing for the older child. For the younger one, make a cd or tape of kid songs, and grin and bear the music.

Also, if I were you, I'd leave at night, since then hopefully both kids will sleep through most of the trip. I travel at night whenever possible when I'm driving a long way- by the time they wake up, you can say you're almost there, stop for breakfast to break things up, and it really does help to make a smoother trip.

Moody, glad she's not taking a driving vacation this year


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
In reply to: k8tbugsmom
Thu, 03-29-2007 - 3:56pm

I like Moody's idea to leave at night. The other alternative that I always did was to get up really early - with the car already packed from the night before - and hit the road. DS would sleep in the morning for most of the drive.

I would always let him have water and not a sweet drink - because if he drinks a sweet drink like juice or punch he drinks a lot more and then we had MORE potty stops!!

New toys, great food treats - those are good things. And also patience and not expecting a 12 hour trip to pass in 12 hours - it might take more - those are good things for your nerves!! And perhaps the 7 year old can have payment for keeping the 2 year old entertained?

I hope you have fun! Come back and let us know how you did! Maybe you will have even more good tips for us!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-03-2003
In reply to: k8tbugsmom
Sat, 03-31-2007 - 7:07pm
Yes, get several hours of travel in while the kids are sleeping. Reading and driving makes my 8 year old sick. Invest in a dvd player for the car...it is WELL WORTH THE $$!!! I am not kidding, it will buy you silence if you get headphones for the kids and even if you don't, listening to the movie is better than listening to kids fight and whine. My family really enjoys listening to stories on cd. Your two year old is a little young but, is at least old enough to be told to keep it down because, the rest of the group is trying to listen. There are some short stories that should be interesting for a 2 year old (you can check out a stack of material from the library). Have a wonderful trip!!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-13-2005
In reply to: k8tbugsmom
Sun, 04-01-2007 - 1:47pm
Oh - good thing you brought up the DVD player - how did we all forget to mention that one? Those things are worth their weight in GOLD!!