Here's what to pack before you hit the road.
- A cookie sheet covered with magnets.
If your child is learning to spell her name, you might want to bring along a set or two of magnetic letters. If she's crazy about animals, you might want to tote along some magnetic animals instead.
- A set of peel-and-stick stickers
It's no wonder so many airport convenience stores sell peel-and-stick sticker sets. They're the perfect travel toy. Not only are they compact and easy to store: they're 100% mess-free!
- A magnifying glass and a grab bag full of things to examine
A quick trip to the dollar store is all that's required to load up on a child-sized non-breakable magnifying glass and a few treasures to examine under the magnifying glass. Who knew an old-fashioned hair curler could be so fascinating?
- Books on tape
You can either pop them into the car stereo or let your child listen to them on her own portable stereo. Either way, she gets to hear her favorite story while you're cruising down the highway.
- Hand puppets
Hand puppets can be a real life saver if you get stuck in a traffic jam, so get in the habit of leaving a few in the glove compartment of your car in between family trips. You never know when one will come in handy.
Want to encourage your child to unplug the TV, turn off the computer, and experience a bit of good old-fashioned outdoor fun this summer? Why not teach him how to use a compass and read a map. Then, once he's mastered the basics, encourage him to put his skills to good use by organizing a backyard treasure hunt for his friends. He'll have great fun hiding the treasure and then mapping out the route for his friends.
