Following are some genius ideas of what to have on hand when traveling with children. Grab the majority of these and guaranteed, you’ll hear fewer cries of “Are we there yet?”

Activities

Books, magazines, and comics

Games. Try the license plate game or travel bingo

Sketchbook or paper, washable markers, and colored pencils

Pre-stamped blank postcards (you can find them at the post office)…let your kids decorate, or postcards bought on the road. Then, have your children write to friends and family!

Doodling options: a small dry-erase board, Etch A Sketch, Magna Doodle

Pipe cleaners, easy origami, and other scissor-less craft supplies

Portable DVD player and DVDs; don’t forget headphones to keep your own sanity!

Tape recorder: Let the kids produce a vacation broadcast

Books on tape for the whole family, such as the Harry Potter series or “The Chronicles of Narnia”

Scrapbook envelope—entrust your children with the responsibility of collecting postcards, ticket stubs, and brochures for a scrapbook

Food

Individually packaged snacks such as bite-sized goldfish crackers or fruitsnacks.

Hard-to-bruise fruits such as apples and berries; or try fruit roll-ups or fruit leathers

Trail mix, which will leave kids feeling full longer (and keep fingers greaseless)

Refillable water bottles labeled with each child’s name.

What Else?

An emergency kit. In a click-shut plastic bin, stock jumper cables, a first-aid kit, a flashlight with extra batteries, road flares or reflective triangles, a fleece blanket, bottled water, and a few protein bars.

Garbage bags to collect trash

Extra diapers and wipes ….just in case!

Change of clothes, in case of accidental spills

A blanket for fly by the seat of your pants picnics at “view points” and unplanned beautiful spots.

Jump ropes and balls, so energetic little travelers can tire themselves out at rest stops!