Top Ten Tips For Traveling With Children

Schedule meal brakes at places that have a playground. This gives the younger kids a chance to burn some energy while you relax.
Make spontaneous stops at roadside parks or play areas. Swinging for a little bit or other outdoor activities are a welcome break that let�s everyone unwind.
Stop by a dollar store before leaving and buy some inexpensive toys. Things like doctor kits, plastic foods, or little zoo animals can keep younger children entertain. You might keep them in a plastic bag and let them pick one out every so often.
Bring some markers, paper, stickers, and tape. Encourage your kids to write letters to friends or draw pictures, anything creative. If you�re on vacation they can even draw things that they have visited.
Take some handheld games or CD�s with stories or songs. If your vehicle has a DVD player, a movie is a great way to keep kids occupied for a couple of hours.
Play games that involve the family. Try going through the alphabet and naming animals, food, or even countries that begin with each letter. Everybody can take turns, and it might even give the older kids a chance to stump their parents. Have everyone keep on the lookout for out-of-state license plates. Keep a list of the ones you find.
If you have room, sit in the back with your kids every so often. You can play hand games, sing songs, or maybe just chat.
Buy trivia games that everyone can play. Whichever parent is not driving acts as the trivia master and asks questions to everyone else. Make sure the driver gets a chance to answer.
Freeze some juice boxes and put them in an insulated bag or cooler, and maybe some other treats for the road. You can pass these out when the kids get thirsty or hungry.
Let older kids take turns navigating. Mark your route on the map and have them tell you which city you�re in, or how far it is to the next city.