Entertaining Kids in the Car

Taking a family road trip can be a challenging experience. Even an hour drive with little ones requires entertainment. For the past four years, we've driven from Pennsylvania to Florida with three kids, so I have some experience!

First, time your drive. We've found leaving at dinner time lets us avoid heavy traffic around the major cities along the way - Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington.

This also allows us to begin the drive when the kids are fed and tired and more likely to be willing to sit awhile.

Second, plan a schedule. Sure, you're sitting in the car, but it's still many hours that should be scheduled.

We let the kids play DS for about an hour, or until the first rest stop. Then we have them watch a movie on the video player and let them have a snack or drink. The movie runs 1.5 to 2 hours, and soon after that we stop for another rest stop. At that rest stop it's usually about their bedtime, so we have them brush their teeth (good hygiene can't stop on the road!) and when we're back in the van it's quiet time.

I have found it's better to play some music quietly at this point to help them sleep. There are also several reminders that they won't miss anything by sleeping, and we' won't actually be at our destination until lunch the next day. Being as exact as you can about arrival time helps avoid the "are we there yet?" refrain.

Third, depending on how little your kids are and how well they sleep in the car you may want to take pillows, blankets and stuffed animals. I know they take up space you may need, but sometimes if a little one can snuffgle in their car seat with their favorite animal and feel the warmth of a blanket and rest their head on their own pillow it can help them sleep. My kids needed that when they were little.

When they were little we'd also take along pj's and change them in the car at this point so they could be comfortable sleeping. Now that they're older they're fine sleeping in their clothes.

Fourth, when you stop for gas or a bathroom if the kids wake up, quietly ask if they have to go. Sometimes they will, sometimes they won't. But don't be loud and make it optional. If they can stay half asleep during early morning stops, it's better.

Fifth, expect bathroom breaks and plan for plenty in your schedule. They're kids. They have little bladders. If you're traveling in summer, give them drinks when they ask (or make them drink every few hours they're awake even if they don't ask). You don't want to risk dehydrated kids the day after you arrive if you've made them stop drinking.

Sixth, stop for a good breakfast earlier than you'd normally eat breakfast (if you eat late). It will refresh the kids (and you, after driving all night). Plus it will signal to them the difference between the days.

Seventh, at this point I give out car toys. For the first couple trips I did it at every stop we'd make, but I've scaled back. This year it was Mighty Beans. I got packs of 6 on sale at Target, and they were an easy little goodie to hand out that didn't take up much space.

Eighth, books on tape are great. My kids could could them for our library's summer reading program, so I had a few ready to go. They made the drive a little more educational. And speaking of educational...

Ninth, let the kids get maps. When we stop at a welcome center in any state, I let them get a map or guidebook with a map. Then I show them where we are and how much farther we have to drive. Kids love maps.

And finally, tenth, have fun. Be ready for boredom and have the kids play I Spy or some other game you can do in the car. Put in a CD of silly kid songs they like. If they start picking on each other just have them change seats. Face it, adults don't like sitting still and driving 10+ hours, why should kids? The real point is to minimize the fighting and complainting, because you'll never completely eliminate it.

Remember, it's a car trip. Roll with it.

Free Book from Borders

If you have children age 12 and younger, don't miss the Borders summer reading program.

My little readers, who've already finished at least 25 books each, had no problem reading the 10 books required.

On Sunday we visited our local Borders Express at the mall to turn in their tickets, which I had printed online.

The girl working at Borders was very helpful, showing us where the books were that the kids could choose from. Then at checkout, all I had to do was hand the books and completed forms to the woman at the register. She scanned each book and each coupon, and they ring up as 100% discount with coupon.

Their choices were "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen, "The River" by Gary Paulsen and "Flat Stanley" by Jeff Brown.

The books retail for $6.99, $5.99 and $4.99, for a savings of $17.97 for three free books.

The program is simple and worthwhile. Just have your kids read 10 books, fill in the online form, and take the completed form to your local Borders.

Proof the Basics

Here's evidence that you always need to proofread your marketing material. Especially make sure your company name, address, phone number and email are correct.

Another Year, Another Novel

As we near the end of October the chill in the air can't diminish the excitement that accompanies the final days of the month! For some, the excitement is the anticipation of Halloween-costumes, celebrations and the sugar rush of too much candy. But for some of us literary folk, the excitement is the anticipation of National Novel Writing Month (or NaNoWriMo for short)-characters, write-ins and the rush of too much caffeine mixed with lack of sleep and constant creativity!

Imagine: writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days! Last year was my first year participating, and I did it! I "won" by hitting the word count by the end of November. It was not an easy accomplishment-late nights, piles of laundry, kids to bed on time every night so I could write after they were asleep, frozen chicken in all shapes and sizes quickly oven-heated for dinner and spending every waking moment thinking about what I would write next.

And the finished novel? It's terrible!

Am I still proud of it! Of course. The important thing to remember about NaNo is meeting the goal of finishing-there's no expectation that what you've written is good enough to show a publisher (or your spouse, or your cat). My first novel is tucked away on the computer...created but probably never to be read again.

I still love my main character, so maybe in a future NaNo I'll bring her back to life in another story.

This year I'm doing more planning, because I'd like my 2009 novel to have a plot that actually moves the story along (last year's character spent nearly 1,000 words making dinner) and auxiliary characters that have a little more depth than the ones in last year's foray (some of them I didn't even bother giving names!).

This year, I'm more prepared. I have a completed outline-20 chapters all lined up and ready to go. I have writing tips (and an idea how to use a short first person narrative in my third person story). I have character development sheets that are somewhat filled out. I even already named my protagonist, antagonist and two secondary characters.

I also am prepared for writing. I have a new notebook laptop I got for Christmas last year that I can use to write this year's novel. I've been in contact with some other local writers to do a few write-ins for moral support to keep going. I added writing buddies to my NaNo profile, and I might even use the forums to ask more questions than last year (other writers give great advice and guidance when you're stuck on a character or plot point.)

I'm raring to go! November 1 can't come soon enough. I'm already planning on taking a little Halloween nap so I can be awake after midnight to get a good jump on my word count. Maybe I'll even let the kids have some Halloween treats in the morning so the sugar rush wears off early so they sleep!

Will you join me for NaNoWriMo?