The Talking Suitcase

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Take a peak inside my kiddos travel activity box.  My kids are 9 and 11, so these items are designed for older kids.  There are so many different items you can pack in a travel activity box for kids, but this will give you some ideas of things to pack for your next adventure.

We have 2 Sterilite Notebook Cases in different colors. These are no longer available, but a scrapbook case or similar could work just as well.  I like that these fit notebook size items but aren’t so big that the kids try to pack their entire rooms.

Travel Activity Box for Kids:

1. Paperback chapter book
2. Drawing pad and/or activity book
3. Pencil pouch with colored pencils/crayons/markers/pencils (kids choice). I usually add 2 pencils to each bag and split a box of colored pencils between the kids.  We also have a tiny pencil sharpener that the kiddos share.
4. Stickers (My 9 year old likes these, but my 11 year old doesn’t)
5. DS with 2 games (1 game in player and 1 in my purse) *This only comes on road trips now that we have iPads.
6. Playing cards – fun for the whole family!
7. Silly putty
8. Journal for recording our travels
9. Magazines such as Highlights or Ranger Rick (these can be trashed or given away after reading) Tip – cut off the mailing address label before leaving home to avoid having personal info floating around during your trip.

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Traveling is one of the best forms of education a child can get. With countless enriching and fulfilling experiences, any trip away is sure to provide valuable life lessons that can’t be matched from a textbook or in front of a television.

However, although in theory it all sounds like sunshine and daisies, the practicalities of the situation can be very different. Keeping kids quiet and occupied during long journeys can be a nightmare and avoiding temper tantrums is a tactical operation for all parents.

Luckily, the invention of the tablet has become a lifesaver in this situation! Stocking up your device with a wide range of activities can keep the kids occupied for hours and allow parents to negotiate the linguistics of any trip in peace.

How to Stock Your Tablet For a Trip With Children

Games

There are countless great games to play on tablets regardless of what make or model you have. However, the thing that parents perhaps don’t consider, in regard to this, when taking a trip with their children is that the lack of internet access will make a lot of these games unusable.

Because of this, it’s essential you fill up your tablet with games that have an offline mode before you set off. Some of the best include Cars: Fast as Lightning, which is a highly customized racing game that fits in perfectly with the traveling theme! It’s available for free download on Android, and although it includes in-app purchases, they can’t be bought when offline so the little ones can’t rack up a major bill without you noticing!

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