Craft guru Donna Erickson joined us today with some fun and creative crafts for family travel.
Donna's show, "Donna's Day", airs Fridays at 7:30 a.m. on tpt LIFE, channels 13 & 17. Check your local listings for more information or visit www.donnasday.com.
You can also read Donna's newspaper column every Saturday in the Arts and Entertainment section in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
You can find Fabulous Funstuff for Families by Donna Erickson in bookstores everywhere.
Donna Erickson's Car Trip Countdown Bags
3 or 4 paper lunch bags for each child
Markers
String
Inexpensive toys that can be used on the trip: books, coloring books, stickers, jump rope for a rest stop, etc.
Snack foods: Peanut, raisins, fruits snacks, granola bars, rice cakes, juice, gum, etc.
Here's the fun:
If you want to take a car trip without hearing, "Are we almost there?" every ten minutes, then this activity is for your family. Kids will be motivated to be on their best behavior as they anticipate opening the next mileage bag, and older kids will sharpen their map reading skills as they trace your route and predict when the mileage bag will come.
Before your trip, print the name of each child on the outside of several lunch bags. Looking at your planned route on the map, determine points where you think the kids will be ready for a snack, toy, game, or book.
Write the number of miles you have traveled or the name of a city you will arrive at on each of the bags. Once on the road the children will receive the appropriate bag at the spot you have noted.
Put an item in each bag, making sure that each child receives the same type of treat or at the same time.
Tie the bags shut with string and place in a basket that will sit next to you during the trip. Explain the mileage game at the beginning of the trip, and watch the miles fly by!