Email
PrintTravel Time With Kids
provides learning opportunities
Summer has arrived and that means family vacations. Of course, it also means traveling.
Traveling doesn’t automatically mean boredom and constant “are we there yets?” Just like most things in life, you get out of it what you put into it. It’s easy to pop a movie in the portable DVD player, but why not use the time to help your kids learn and make memories they’ll keep forever?
It’s not hard. If you’re brave enough, let them have input on destinations. Encourage older kids to research locations along the route. Have younger kids help pick out what they’ll take in their travel bags. It stimulates decision-making skills, plus makes them feel as if they’ve had a hand in planning the trip.
Once on the road, there are countless (and inexpensive) ways to fill the hours. Here are a few …
Share Stories: Tell your kids about your childhood, your pets, your parents and places you vacationed. This is a perfect way to increase bonding and cultivate a sense of family.
Count the License Plates: Print off a map of the United States and have players check off states as they spot different license plates. This helps kids learn geography. For older kids, add layers, such as naming the capital or nickname of the state spied.
The Alphabet Game: There are countless variations to this one. Choose a topic … “animals,” for instance. The first player names an “A” animal, such as “alligator.” Second player names a “B” animal, such as “bear.” Play progresses through the alphabet, with players eliminated when they fail to name an animal. This game stimulates thinking skills.
I’m Going on a Trip: This is a variation of the Alphabet Game. Each player says, “I’m going on a trip and I’m going to take a ______. Players must fill in the blank with a word. First player picks an “A” word, second player picks a “B” word, etc. This game increases vocabulary.
Make a Travel Journal: Give each child a small notebook and pencil. Encourage them to illustrate their journal with drawings, or buy them a disposable camera to shoot things they see. Not only will it keep them busy during a long trip, it encourages them to write descriptively about the places they visit and the things they experience. Best of all, it preserves memories for a lifetime.
Aluminum Foil Art: Keep the kids busy and stimulate their imaginations. All it takes is a roll of cheap aluminum foil and some creativity. Give them a sheet, pick a topic – zoo animals for instance – and let them see how many they can make. Or just let their creative juices flow.
For more ideas, hit the Internet and type in the phrase “educational travel games” to download hundreds of ideas and activity sheets.
A Word of Caution: Once on the road, resist the temptation to have your kids work on non-stop games. Let them have some down time. Remember, it’s a vacation.
Article courtesy of Lawton Public Schools
