Keep Kids Busy in the Car

by Kate Wallace

With airfare prices sky high these days, many families are turning to the open road this summer. So, if  “Are we there yet!?” is a refrain you are not wanting to hear, we’ve got the goods for you. Atlanta Parent has combed the field to find the best new toys and games to keep kids happy and occupied during a family road trip. Our picks range from classic cardboard bingo fun to pre-packed activity kits. So buckle up and enjoy the ride – with the help of the great stuff we’ve found. With these toys, getting there really is half the fun.

Games

Travel Tangoes by Rex Games. Magnetic puzzles have pieces in seven simple shapes and challenge kids in many ways. Sure to stump even the expert puzzlers.
Ages 5 and older, $7.99.

Travel Bingo by Melissa & Doug. Package includes two wooden game boards and four double-sided game cards. Hunt for various objects along the highway. Ages 4 and older, $19.99.

Jeepers Peepers by Super Duper Inc. The Ask and Answer Question Game. This award-winning game promises lots of laughs and is a great teaching tool for kids ages 5 and older. $29.95

Head to Head Brain Races by Klutz. Compact game pads for ages 8 and older. Perfect for competitive siblings trapped in the back seat. Choose from a number of different challenges and race each other to the finish line. $10.99.

IQ TWIST by Smart Games. An IQ-building game for ages 6 and older to play alone. Use logic and puzzle solving skills to get all of the pieces to fit into the game board.  $12.

Kits and Toys

TravelKiddy Activity Kit. Pre-packed backpacks are full of games, toys and accessories great for the family on the go. The kits retail for $70 and are available for girls, boys, or both. Kits available for ages 3-5 or 6-9. Don’t miss the company blog full of travel tips and suggestions, travelkiddytips.com.

Make a Face Sticker Pad, Crazy Characters by Melissa & Doug. An extra-large, wild and colorful sticker book with over 160 stickers and five sticker sheets so kids can create many crazy-faced characters.  Ages 4 and older, $4.99.

Wikki Stix Little Travel Fun Kit by Omincor. A portable way to enjoy the creative play of Wikki Stix – bendable, wax-infused yarn pieces that can be used again and again; kids design all sorts of artistic scenes.  Ages 3 and older $16.95.

TrayKit by Content and Calm. An all-in-one convertible backpack that can strap to tray tables and hang from the seat of the car to provide a flat play surface for coloring, games, snacking, etc. Ages 3 and older, $31.95.

Books

National Geographic KIDS, Ultimate U.S. Road Trip Atlas. This fun book includes maps, activities and games relevant to each state.  Ages 10 and older, $5.99.

National Geographic KIDS Almanac 2013. Everything You Have Always Wanted to Know About Everything from animals, geography, sports, the human body and much more. Just the ticket for the curious kid. Ages 10 and older, $13.99.

Toyland Express: Can You See What I See by Scholastic. A great search-and-find puzzle book for all ages. Will keep keen eyes busy for hours.  $13.99.

Frommer’s 500 Places to Take Your Kids Before they Grow Up. This one’s for parents and maybe for the glove compartment. From must-see destinations to must-do activities, the kids may ultimately forget the toys that they played with, but they’ll never forget the great places they visited. $19.99.