The following games and activities are sure to entertain any 3-6 year old while on the road (and maybe even her parents, too):
The Colors Game - Start with the letter red and have a friendly competition to see who can find something red first. Continue through the rest of the colors of the rainbow, but watch out for purple!
Guess My Number - Pick a number and tell your child, "I'm thinking of a number between __ & __." Have your child guess the number by asking more and less questions.
Car Counter - Pick an animal or a common object seen while driving. Together, count how many times you see that animal or thing up to a pre-determined number. Continue the game with a different animal or thing.
Car-ioke - Take turns picking out your favorite songs. Have every one join in on the singing (but be forewarned - you might just be singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" each time your child has a turn).
Try some of these suggestions to help make your journey a little easier. These take a bit of pre-planning but will pay off for you:
Craft Kit - Put together a pencil case with crayons, markers, stickers, stampers, safety scissors, coloring pages and glue for your child to use while on the road.
Easy Lap Desk - Use an old cookie tray as a lap desk for your child. She can use the tray for a variety of activities including coloring and eating.
Magnets - Pack along some alphabet or refrigerator magnets for your child to play with his cookie tray lap desk.
Are We There Yet? - Find a black and white basic United States map that your child can use to color in the states as you drive through them.
Potty Time - Don't forget to pack a portable potty for when the gas station restrooms are, well, gassy...
FREE audio books! - Check out the following websites for free audio books that you can download: www.librivox.org and www.audiobooksforfree.com.
Pack snack sized baggies of a mix of whole grain low-sugar cereals such as Kix, Chex, Barbara's Bakery Brand Puffins.
Use ¼ cup each and add ¼ cup of dried fruit for a mix of sweetness, texture, fiber and b-vitamins to keep your kids blood sugar level steady, their mood happy and the atmosphere in the car more enjoyable for the long run!
The traditional celery, peanut butter and raisins is always a nice stand by.
Pack mini-kabobs using grape tomatoes, carrot discs, hunks of string cheese, cucumbers and squares of bread. This is a satisfying snack with a mix of sweeter and less poignant vegetables, protein and calcium in the string cheese and of course, more b-vitamins and fiber (depending on the brand).
Turn the above version into a fruit-kabob as well. Include the string cheese if desired, a sting pineapple, melon, grapes and berries.
Create a wrap and slice into smaller sections by using a small tortilla, adding peanut butter, sliced banana and a dab of honey or try a thin
layer of a light cream cheese, a slice of a low-fat cheese.
If you want something less creative, pack along the 100calorie packs of granola, teddy grahams or cheez-its.
Whatever you may choose from the above suggestions or your own ideas, don't forget about nutrition and the main goal. Kids need to consume smaller snacks more often. Think about what they will be getting at a meal at a restaurant and build around that. So, if you know that they will not have fruit at a restaurant, than make sure one of the snacks you provide offers fruit. If you know that it will be awhile until you do end up stopping for a main meal, remember to include a mix of foods with fiber and a bit of protein. This will help keep blood sugar levels steady by allowing a slower release of energy into the blood stream instead of a sudden increase and rapid decrease of blood sugar. This leaves kids as well as adults, crabby, tired and challenging.
For smoother travels, plan and pack well!
Article written by: Nicole Fasules, R.D., C.D, Way Of Life Nutrition, Fitness, Massage, Milwaukee, WI 414-940-6662 or 414-774-6662 www.wayoflifenutrition.com