Long Trips Made Longer: How To Endure Road Trips With Children

Just the thought of a long car ride with a child is enough to make you tired. However, plane tickets can take a large toll on your bank account, and sometimes making the trip in the car is cheaper. With the economy struggling to get back on its feet, pinching a penny here and there can allow you and your family to take a much needed vacation. Canada and Mexico, as our closest neighbors, make great options for a very different kind of family adventure. Especially with the introduction of the passport id card, you and your family can take a fun trip without the hassle of airports.

My absolute favorite thing to do on car trips when I was younger were coloring books and craft sets. I remember specifically owning a Barbie coloring book, one with animals, and a huge baggie full of markers and crayons. With these supply in hand, I would spend hours coloring pictures for everyone in the car. Besides these coloring books, I absolutely loved these big felt pieces in all sorts of shapes that had holes in them along the edges. With a shoe lace or a string, it made the perfect little girl sewing set. My brother loved the jumbo building blocks, which could be put together in all sorts of shapes.

On road trips, my mom would bring along “worksheets” that had easy puzzles and games on them. She would give me one to complete, and when I finished, I’d hand it back to her to “grade.” I would get so unbelievably excited when she would hand one back with an A plus on it, and it honestly instilled in me a love of learning. When I got a little older, she would give me books with easy addition and reading in them, and this way I learned some easy lessons in a very fun way. So really, these trips are awesome learning opportunities for your children.

Technology has been making so much progress, and one of the best things I’ve seen that keeps children busy is the Leapfrog Leapster. It is a little hand-held electronic device that plays video games that are not only fun, but educational as well. Although it’s not as electronically advanced, you could get a tape recorder and record yourself reading your child’s favorite stories. You could even change the names to include him or her in her in the story! Don’t forget to include indications as to when to turn the page as well.

Passport cards are easy to obtain. All you need to do is visit your passport agency or apply online. Passport cards are so much cheaper than passports, and you get almost the same benefits. A passport card allows you to travel by land or sea instead of airplanes, and they let you travel to many places around the United States. Having these cards lets your family go on a great vacation without putting a hole in your wallet.

If you are thinking of taking a vacation, you don’t need to waste any time worrying about what to do with the kids. Whether you want to take a Mexican siesta or explore some beautiful Canadian landscapes, get your US passport id card by visiting your local passport agency, or simply going online. Some of my best memories come from traveling with my family, and you can give these memories to your very own children with an awesome family road trip.