v 1 issue 15: On the Road Again

Make travel time easy and fun with these products. Be sure to read our article on free and fun travel games.



Cover byLeah Profancik





On the Road Again


1 Three in one and tons of fun! Zoobie Pets are soft and cuddly toys which easily transform into a pillow or blanket, making them the perfect traveling companions for your little critter. Grab a Zoobie for your next excursion before your favorite becomes extinct.
2 Zoom off on your next trip with the Kids Car Suitcase from GST Industries. Sized to fit in carry-on bins, it also is the perfect size for short trips or just storing their favorite toys. Available in red, yellow and blue for just $50.

3 Stave off backseat boredom with Road Trip Trivia by Klutz. Each page has five questions with multiple choice answers, slid the peg to choose your selection and flip to see the correct answer. As the ladies at Madallie ask, does pondering fundamentally inconsequential information like this make the miles fly? Do bedbugs bark? (Answers: Yes and, believe it or not, yes).
4 The Plane Spotter is a compact, sure fire way to keep your little traveler entertained until take-off. Filled with flying facts and pictures for identifying all types of planes on the tarmac, this game is a winner! Be sure to check out lots of other helpful travel related goodies at madallie.com.
5 Beat backseat blues with Namits Challenge Game, a colorful ring of 22 tear-proof cards that hold 165 categories of “thinking prompts” that will keep your kids guessing for hours. For ages 4+; Namits is a compact game that is fun for the whole family. Example prompt: name things that crumble.
6 Mudpuppy's 'Around and About' Learning Wheels will keep your child’s brain running in circles. These fun yet educational wheels rotate to display tidbits about the related subject. Learn about wildlife, dinosaurs, the United States or the solar system while on the go. Just $10 at Galison.com.
7 Accessorize her passport with one of these leather passport holders to get her excited about her travels and make it easy for you to keep track of whose is whose. With plenty of brightly colored choices, everyone can have their own choice.
8 Keep kids fastened in an upright position with Noodlehead's kid-friendly version of the neck pillow. Great news! The Travel Buddy now comes with an attached Baby Buddy to tame the irresistible urge to play with the pillow, instead of sleeping with the pillow.



Travel Trivia

Make your time in the car a little more pleasant with one of these fun games.

Guess the movie
How to play:
For guess the movie, we describe either the character(s), the plot of the movie, clothing they are wearing, etc. Describe according to the age of your audience. Modify to play guess the person in Disney World by describing Disney character’s (or any other favorite family trip)…the color dress, the color of their hair, etc. With older kids, the person who guesses gets to go next. Ages 3 and up.

Buggie
How to play:
Count Volkswagen bugs that pass by. Just like ‘Punch Buggy’, instead of punching, yell (color) buggie. Keep track of the number you have spotted and the one with the most wins. Ages 4 and up.

Alphabet Hunt
How to play:
Start with the letter A and try to find A’s in road signs, store signs, anything with letters and call out the letter when you see it. Once you find an "A" move on to "B" and so on until you complete the alphabet. Beware, X and Z are difficult! Ages 5+.

The License Plate Game
How to play:
Print a U.S. map off the computer and give one to each child along with a set of crayons. The kids color in the states as they spot license plates from each one. Ages 6+

Travel Scavenger Hunt
How to play:
Create a list prior to traveling for your kids to find while on the road. Add a lot of easy items like railroad track signs, yield signs, and stop signs; then throw in a few harder items like state line signs. Check a map prior to the trip to add some extra hard items. Ages 6+.


Color Hunt
How to play:
Start with the color red and watch out the windows (or in the car) for objects that color. Move through the colors of the rainbow. See who can find the most objects of a particular color. Younger kids can point to colors. Ages 2 and up.


This Week's Mom Tips
Cleaning Tip:
Need to get out an ink stain? Apply rubbing alcohol to a white cotton cloth and dab the stain carefully (don’t spread the ink!). Now use a cloth and blot in order to remove a bit of the stain. Repeat this until the stain is removed. Rinse well. Works for carpets and cloth furniture.
Organizing Tip:
Reduce clutter in the playroom or your child’s bedroom by going through their toys periodically and picking out the toys they don’t play with anymore. Pack them up and donate them to a local play area, church, clinic or goodwill.
Time Saving Tip:
Save time by having your grocery list sent directly to your cell phone with Cozi, a free family organizer. Cozi helps busy families manage schedules, appointments, shopping and communications from wherever you are — the kitchen, car, office or even the grocery store. Learn more at www.cozi.com
Financial Tip:
Live within your means! Truly a problem in America today, but beyond what problems it creates for us, our children grow up not learning about restraint and personal finance.