Renee' Armour Erickson
A box of fun band aids for the little ones to cover themselves and anyone else while on plane rides. Hours of fun for the whole family. And the shoebox full of lunch bags filled with little what nots and snacks. Each on labeled with things like "open when you see a cow", "open when you see a firetruck", etc.
Julie Byers Brieger
Going to Seattle with 2 of my boys and my mom on the 21st. Mailed my luggage via USPS yesterday. Cheaper and now we don't have to wait to get our luggage or worry it won't arrive at our destination! It's saving me $50 and lots of stress!
Sarah Perry
I met a lady on a flight once that was on her way with her family to South Africa. She had 3 boys all of a young age and knowing the trans-Atlantic flight would be long and grueling, she brought along TONS of things for her kids to play with (packing them in their carry-on bags). She had legos and books and she played travel games with them between conversations with me. I was impressed and thought that this was the most prepared mom I've ever seen.
Amanda Siciliano
My mom and I flew from AZ to PA last summer with all 5 kids ages 9, 7, 4, 1 and 3 months. We brought a ton of snack and toys/games and I think the best tip I received prior to the trip was to space it out. Every hour or so we pulled out something knew. It kept the kids excited vs. getting it all at once and getting bored quickly.
Shelle Hoffman Winterhalter
If possible, when driving start out at bedtime. Put on a video for the kids to fall asleep to. My hubby and I take turns driving and sleeping so we can drive all night while the kids sleep. It also depends on the ages of the kids.
Gloria Thornton Johnson
A "car game" I saw.... write objects on post its. have one child stick it to his/her forehead (w/o looking at it first) then they ask questions about it and try to guess what it is. Like 20 questions. We also keep track of makes of cars, like Chevy, Ford etc.... anyone who gets a special one like say Ferrari, gets extra points.
Mandy Evans 

I plan on giving my kids a roll of quarters each for our 11 hour drive to the beach. It is theirs to spend once we get there. However, if they fight or argue during the trip, they'll have to pay us a quarter. They can earn it back for getting along!
Richard Fultz

You'll need a score keeper with paper and pencil. Every yellow vehicle you see yell out 'bingo'. First person yelling it out gets. 1pt for each yellow vehicle. 2pts if it is a Mini Cooper and 3 pts for a VW Beadle. No commercial trucks allowed. Change the rules around if it makes you happy. Color or type of vehicle. On our way to Texas an old grouch yelled one out after telling us it was stupid. lol



You'll need a score keeper with paper and pencil. Every yellow vehicle you see yell out 'bingo'. First person yelling it out gets. 1pt for each yellow vehicle. 2pts if it is a Mini Cooper and 3 pts for a VW Beadle. No commercial trucks allowed. Change the rules around if it makes you happy. Color or type of vehicle. On our way to Texas an old grouch yelled one out after telling us it was stupid. lol




Angelina Perkowski Karvelis

I have a Thirty One Trunk organizer JUST for trips. I toss it in between the captain's chairs of the minivan when we are ready to go - PERFECT place for easy reaching by both kids. I usually toss in a little zip cooler with 'special' road trip snacks. That way I'm not suckered into buying the ginormous stuff @ every Sheetz we pass. It also contains the portable dvd player, ipods, cameras, DS's and Leap Pad and an old Flip camera for making silly videos in the backseat - all charged and ready, all accompanying software are organized in pencil boxes, a box of tissues, baby wipes, hair brushes and elastics, and other distraactions (crayons, coloring books, books, binoculars (for road trip sightings), paper, DVD zippered cases filled with all our DVDs) make for an easily grabbed stash of fun. Did I mention headphones? Yes, headphones are necessary.

Redbox and Blockbuster kiosks save our trips. I can guarantee 90 mins+ of silence if I am at a rest stop with a kiosk. I can return it along the trip - sometimes right after we finish watching it! You can pretty much guarantee (mostly) clean bathrooms, gas and a redbox at most Walmarts. Free Wi-Fi also keeps up sane at rest stops. We can download new free kid apps to keep them entertained on the next leg of the journey.
Fav flying tip - fly redeye... kids usually can stretch out across the back seats since it's almost empty... they can sleep all the way so you can avoid the ear popping dramas and cramped grumpiness. Also, the airline attendants have WAY less stress managing the passengers so they are uber awesome and attentive. :)
Lynn Day

We have had a few trips with Keeley...driving to SC, eastern VA, NJ, western OH, flying to CA, and will be flying to Disney in November. A must have for us is a portable DVD player. Other than that, new games on any gaming system they have (Keeley loves her LeapPad). Go out and buy a few cheap toys to give approx every hour or so and that will help keep them occupied with something new. Blank paper and coloring book with TRIANGLE (can't roll away) crayons. There are websites out there that help with coming up with travel games. Keeley really enjoys story telling, so that alone can take up a good couple of hours in a several hour trip. Let them pack their own travel bag (Keeley has a small Disney Princess suitcase with wheels) with things they want. If traveling by car, I suggest stopping at every other rest area whether you have to go or not...gives the kids lots of opportunities to stretch their legs and burn some energy (there are rest areas with play grounds in eastern VA, not seen that before...LOVED IT). And get them exited for the trip. Yeah, they will eventually become bored with it, but you may get through the first half with happy kids who are still excited.




Jamie Landry 

We have always gotten lucky with flying with our kids. They usually pass out 20 minutes into the flight. We are always prepared though. Coloring books, books, ds's with headphones, hot wheels cars, and I also found these cute magnetic monster truck take n play mix and match tins that my 3 year old can build different monster trucks with and a magnetic hangman game for my almost 7 year old to play. Magnetic means less pieces to lose on the plane.:) We also always try to book our seats in the very back so that we are closer to the bathrooms for the kids. Lolipops are also a must to help with ears on takeoff and landing! Hope that helps!



Elizabeth Toman

If traveling by car: Play games like eye spy, search for license plates from other states, play the alphabet game- spot outside of the car something that starts with a, then b, etc until you are through the alphabet, read, sing songs, watch a DVD if you have the capability in your car (a red box rental is only $1 and can be returned to ANY red box rental) magna doodles, ds, leapsters are all popular with our littles as well. I pack snacks for the ride and usually something new to ease boredom for extra long trips. Removable sticker book was a hit over memorial day weekend and kept one of my sons busy for hours!



Randi Jensen Livengood

Each kid has a backpack with at least 3 books, a notebook, game system (DS, PSP etc), snacks and mp3 player.... there has to be a variety of things as we all know kids are distracted easily and often….



Karen L Mannella 

We bring kitchen towels in the car ... "car placemats" for eating. Amazing what they catch!!!



Stephanie Adkins Gailey

My parents would always have us play games in the car, like see how many state license plates we could see on our way there.





Deanna Cacciola Grover

Don't travel with giant heavy strollers . Try to limit carry on baggage ( the little Dora suitcase is cute but in the end you're the one carrying it) Bring snacks maybe a few coloring books.


Ria Fruscello

My best tip is to leave for a long car trip SUPER early in the morning. We typically put the kids into their seats at 4 am and stop for breakfast along the way. Makes the first part of the trip fly by!!!



Deanna Cacciola Grover 

Airlines are now restricting strollers ...if they are jogging strollers or over 20 pounds they are to be checked (for free) at the counter. Keep in mind that they can be damaged being gate checked and can cause injury to the employees. Best to travel with a simple umbrella stroller.


Kathy Tomko Kappert 

For car trips~ some years ago we started to pack lunches for the car so they could eat in the car shortly before a stop. Then they didn't have to get out of the car just to sit again to eat lunch. It gave the kids some time to walk around and burn off some energy. A friend of mine got me started on packing little surprise toys/games/activities to hand out during road trips. She would pack one for almost every hour. I never followed the hour schedule, but waited until they were really bored with what they wanted in the car or cranky. It could be as simple as a candy necklace (it takes a while for some kids to eat!) or little dollar store toys, etc to maybe a new ds game. A new game can last a while.


Tammy Judson Goffin

Magna doodle and reusable stickers!


Kristan Weir

Surprise travel treat bags for a road trip. I pack a bag for each kid with cheap or dollar store finds that they can use in the car. Things like a new notebook, coloring/activity book, stickers, crayons or pens, small toys, kid magazines or books and depending on how long the car ride maybe a new DVD (buy at a used price or at Target for under $5). It varies by trip and by what I find to buy. I have a 4 and 2 year old and these bags kept them interested and quiet on several 5+ hour car rides even before popping in the new DVD.
