As the mother of school age kids, I'll be the first to admit that I'm struck with fear as the school year comes to an end and summer vacation looms large. Three months of long, lazy summer days may sound fun for kids, but it makes the life of this busy mom a bit more, well, busy!
I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that I believe there is no better way to combat summer boredom than by hitting the road and traveling together as a family.
Whether you're driving around the United States, or Central America like we are, here are some fun road trip tips to encourage the kids to get engaged in the adventure and sneak in some education at the same time!
Be sure to pack these items in your car to help facilitate a fun and educational summer while you're on the road.
Digital Camera
These days, entry-level digital cameras are inexpensive and widely available. Skip the kitschy kid-themed cameras, and opt instead for a solid, basic digital camera for the best results and longest life.
I love encouraging kids to record summer adventures from their point of view.
Also, I always like to throw in a few disposable cameras when packing for a road trip or other travel adventure. Remember how much fun it used to be to wait for photos to get developed after a fun trip? Your kids will love that too.
Notebook and Colored Pencils
Even very young children can draw pictures of what they are seeing while traveling.
I like colored pencils, as they won't melt like crayons, make messes like markers and tend to last a long time.
In addition to recording observations and drawing pictures, be sure to talk to your kids about the elements of a story, including a beginning, middle and end. Encourage and help kids really tell a story, share feelings, and facts for a special memory of your travels and another opportunity to sneak education into the summer's fun.
A Good Map
Purchase a map of where you're going to be traveling and let the kids take part in navigation. Sit down together before your trip and show kids the route on a map. Encourage kids to suggest routing, stops, roadside attractions and other things they might like to see.
Make marks all over the map and encourage kids to track the trip while you're on the road. You can ask kids to calculate how many miles are left, educate them about the different kinds of roads that may be highlighted on the map, and to look at alternate routes available.
Even a close-to-home road trip is an opportunity to work education into summer travel fun. How do you encourage kids to stay engaged while you're on the road?
With spacious seating, ample cargo space and available safety and entertainment technologies, there's no better vehicle to bring the family together than the