Traveling with Children
(Continued from page 2)
Time Together in the Car
DVDs and television are fine in the car, but only in the same doses you allow at home. To keep your toddler otherwise entertained, stage an impromptu puppet show with puppets you keep with you. Use the back of the front seat as your stage and entertain the kids in the back while you travel. Then, hand the puppets to the kids and let them entertain you for a while. For kids older than 8, books on tape can be a godsend (and lots more fun than singing endless rounds of "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall"). You'll be surprised at how much parents can enjoy the tape, too, if you select carefully — Harry Potter is the best and Lemony Snicket's series and PG adult mysteries like the ones by Diane Mott Davidson are other good choices.
Fuel the Fun
So the kids can eat when they're hungry and you won't be at the mercy of airline, convenience store or fast food offerings, pack your own "fun meals" in acrylic cooler-lunch bags for the first day of the trip, then make sure to replenish them at local supermarkets after arriving at your destination. Whether you're packing for a toddler or a vegetarian teenager, make sure to slip in your child's favorites and maybe a few ordinarily limited treats. Of course you'll want to eat at some special restaurants, too, but consider spending your main eat-out budget on meals where the kids will have tasty options, such as breakfast buffets, brunches or pre-packed gourmet picnics.
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