Issue link: https://fredparent.uberflip.com/i/1396022
www.FredericksburgParent.NET 15 hope starts here. 540.373.3223 WWW.RAPPAHANNOCKAREACSB.ORG WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOPE AND HELP. RAPPAHANNOCK AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD Travel Tips GET THE KIDS INVOLVED Cut road trip boredom by getting the kids involved. Use games like license plate bingo or car color bingo. Encourage kids to keep a trip journal. Have them write down or draw favorite memories from each stop and add stickers and ticket stubs. Another great way to get kids involved is to give each a disposable camera for them to document their trip. When the pictures are de- veloped, they can add them to their trip journal. "Make a checklist of cities you will drive through with a fun fact about each or what you will do there. It helps cut down on the 'Are we there yet?' questions," says mom Kara Thomas. SURPRISES It is always nice to have a few surprises up your sleeve to break up the trip. Try packing up the kids' back- packs and have them waiting in the car. When they get bored, pull out a few surprise items—new magazines or books, crayons and a new coloring book, special snacks, small activities, and maybe some new mov- ies to watch. Websites like Pinterest are full of ideas for traveling with kids. Darcy King, mom of two, says, "Paint a cookie sheet with chalkboard paint and give the kids magnets to play with." She also suggests glu- ing magnets to the back of puzzle pieces to use with the magnetic cookie sheet. Jenny Klindworth, mom to preschool-age twins, recommends Melissa and Doug brand reusable stickers and Water Wow. "They are hands down my favorite activities for planes and cars." ELECTRONICS For most families, the go-to solution for road trip bore- dom is electronics. DVDs and video games are a great way to kill time in the car. "Loosen electronics time while traveling, but when you get there, restrict time more than usual. Without a gadget in their hands, they will get more out of your vacation time," says Thomas. Summer vacations teach kids to explore what is outside their hometown, the importance of family time, and to make downtime a priority. Best of all, you will create memories that last a lifetime. continued from pg 13