“Are we there yet?” Words parents dread hearing, right? And with the holidays upon us and travel probably in your future, you might want to hear about some cool products that will keep the kids busy (read: quiet) during those hours in the car, on the train, or the plane.
Sure, singing songs, playing video games or on the iPad, and reading are classic ways to pass the time, put there are some cool things out there that all the family can enjoy. Here are 10 great ideas to keep everybody busy!
Products Dad Might Enjoy…
Garmin Nuvi 1350LMT GPS
Not all of us can afford to have built-in navigation and GPS systems in our cars, but with this Garmin GPS system, Dad can get you where you’re going in a snap! This easy-to-use and keep with you GPS doesn’t require you to subscribe to a service – once you buy it, that’s the only cost to use it. A cool feature is that it also shows you which lane you’ll need to be in before you make a turn. Dad will definitely thank you for this gift!
Roadtrip by Griffin Technology
As you’re traveling that long, lonesome highway, chances are that Dad will lose his favorite radio station. But no worries! Check out this cool device that connects to your iPod or iPhone and play all of your favorite hits in the car!
Products Mom Might Enjoy…
I don’t know about you, but I always end up on clean up duty when we travel, so I’m always looking for things to make my job easier.
The Aladdin To-Go Tumbler is a 20 ounce plastic cup that comes with a screw-top lid and straw included. What’s cool about the straw is that it’s got a rim around the bottom of it that won’t allow the kids to pull it out of the cup. Little to no mess!
These Goodbyn Bynto Kits are a perfect way to hand out snacks AND keep the kids busy at the same time. Goodbyn Bynto Kit has three compartments to keep kids’ lunches and snacks from spilling, sloshing or mixing. You don’t even need to put stuff in plastic baggies. The bonus is that each kit comes with tons of stickers so the kids can decorate their own boxes. And they’re dishwasher safe.
Products The Kids Will Enjoy…
Melissa & Doug’s USA License Plate Game
I actually would like to play this game with the kids! They have to keep their eyes scanning license plates to identify states by their license plates. It’s magnetic, so no loose pieces to get lost in the car.
Roadtrip Bingo by Knock Knock
Another completely self-contained and portable game the entire family can enjoy. What’s cool about this game is that some of the bingo squares have the kids looking and finding things along the way…for example, they may be able to mark off a square if they spot a flat tire or a police car.
Magnetic Board Games / Wipe Clean Games
There are so many games to choose from that I couldn’t pick just one or two so I linked to Amazon’s “travel games” page! These will keep the kids and mom and dad busy for hours. And since most don’t have loose pieces, you don’t have to worry about finding pieces all over the place.
How do you keep your kids busy while traveling?
Don’t forget to check out our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide, full of the best products that have been reviewed on our sites!
