Surviving your Thanksgiving road trip

"Are we there yet?  Are we there yet?  Mom, ARE WE THERE YET?" seems to be the kids' theme song on long car rides. AAA estimates that 38.4 million Americans will be driving at least 50 miles from home for the Thanksgiving weekend. If you are one of those people, you'll want to plan ahead to keep your children entertained.

Keeping our kids entertained with movies and music in the car

A spokesperson for AAA says more cars will be on the roads because of the economy, new airline restrictions and additional baggage fees.
Our last family road trip was quite an adventure, with four kids under the age of 5 we brought plenty of things to keep them occupied and I was able to plan ahead with the help of Susan Foster, author of Smart Packing for today's traveler.
Foster suggests:

• Bring a large supply of toys and games, avoid items with small pieces that may get lost and liquid or messy things that can spill.
• Have each child fill a plastic shoebox that makes a handy storage container that doubles as a lap desk.
  
• Stop frequently. Visit local parks or sights, have a picnic or visit a fast-food restaurant with a playground. 

Children's books on tape and kids music help to pass the time, checking some new music or DVD's out at your local library is something my kids really enjoy. Your children might also enjoy auto-bingo or games like I spy. Thanksgiving travel doesn't have to be too much of a hassle. Leave early, avoid rush hour and give the kids something to do, and you'll hopefully have arrived at your destination before the kids even get a chance to ask!.