Disclosure: This is a post sponsored by J M Smucker Company for Smuckers®. I received compensation for this post. All opinions, as always, are my own. #Snackation
I previously shared with you my behind the scene shopping trip to pick up snacks for our road trip. We have taken many road trips this year including twice in one month we drove from Louisiana to Wisconsin – only about 1200 miles or 19-20 hours each way! That’s a total of 80 hours in the car for those two trips, so I’ve got many ideas for entertaining a child while in the car.
I have to say that S travels very well, however we have been traveling since she was a baby. We take many trips a year with most of them being road trips.
I always bring a couple items that S has never seen before, whether it’s a new sticker book, a small toy, a new app for the iPad/iPhone or a new book. The new items do not have to be expensive, items from the dollar section or the dollar store work great. I always wrap the new toys for S which adds a little bit of excitement and also prolongs the process. Depending on the trip, I might give S a new item every two hours of a trip or when she starts getting antsy.
This past summer, S’s two favorite ways to pass the time in the car was for me to read chapter books and to listen to audio books that we electronically checked out and downloaded from our local library (for more information about getting free eBooks and AudioBooks from your library check out this post). S was able to plug her headphones into an old iPhone and listen to some of her favorite books for free. This seriously kept her entertained almost the whole way to Wisconsin. She would also color, “scrapbook” or play with animals/Barbies while listening. When I read the chapter books aloud it was not only entertaining for S but also helped keep the driver (my husband or my mom depending on the trip) entertained too!
What to Pack
- Snacks – giving my daughter a snack helps distract her. We do not like to stop often so packing snacks in the car is essential! My favorite snacks are Smuckers® Fruit Fulls, JIF To Go with apple slices and celery sticks, and Smuckers Uncrustables. Be sure to pack plenty of water too!
- Coloring book with crayons or colored pencils (color wonder products are wonderful especially if you have a child who likes to write on items other than paper)
- Leap Pad
- Barbies with a couple changes of clothes (no small pieces like shoes that could get lost)
- Books – some of our favorite chapter books are Judy Moody, Junie B. Jones and the Magic Tree House.
- Sticker/Activity Books
Lake Bruin State Park in Louisiana
When we camped at Lake Bruin State Park a couple weeks ago, we spent time fishing, riding our bikes, watching the sunset and S connected with a new friend by collecting rocks. I was so happy that I brought along plenty of snacks to keep us going. It was the perfect weekend spending quality time together and recharging as a family. Our campsite was literally steps from the edge of the lake with bald cypresses everywhere. It was beautiful! I would recommend Lake Bruin State Park if you are in the area.
If you’re headed on a road trip make Walmart your SNACKATION destination!
What’s your favorite way to entertain your child or favorite snack for road trips?
We are always on road trips and my girls usually packs their tablets or their handheld games. Also we make sure to pack some snacks so we don’t have to make unnecessary stops.
Snacks are always so important on a road trip!
Snacks are a big part of our roadtrips with 3 kids too, it takes a tool on our car, but it makes them happy. Great tips, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Crystal!