Low-Tech Family Travel Fun
"An 8000 km road trip? For three weeks with a 10 year old? Are you
crazy?" That is pretty much the reaction we received each and every time
we told friends and family about our summer vacation plans. When they
learned that we had no intention of packing a Game Boy or buying a
portable DVD player, they were dumbfounded. "But won't he be bored?"
I'm sure there were times where he was a little bored, but boredom
forces a child to be inventive. With his help, we came up with all sorts
of things to keep the monotony at bay.
What's out the window?
A small pair of binoculars, combined with a disposable camera, can keep
kids busy for hours. Before we departed, we downloaded and printed
information about the various types of animals we'd see on our journey.
Kevin, my 10 year old son, also spent time reading up on the animals and
then scoping them out. The early morning hours are the best time to
spot wildlife, and you may be surprised at what you see. Nighttime and
nothing to look at? Give each child a glo stick, flashlight, or other
glow in the dark toy and they'll be entertained for hours.
Get something along the way
A tried and true method is to never give your kids everything you packed
all at once. Dole the entertainment out bit by bit, or the excitement
factor will wear off, and soon you'll have cranky children and nothing
to amuse them with. Pack light, and small, and allow them to pick
something up along the way. Magnetic puzzles, travel games, puzzle
books, and finger toys are all fun to fidget with.
Learn a new skill
One summer I learned how to plastic canvas, and my sister and I spent a
drive from Saskatchewan to British Columbia making tissue box covers.
Knitting, crochet, plastic canvas, rug hooking, beading, friendship
bracelets, cross stitch...all can be done in the car by older children.
Have a child that is really good with their fingers? Get a two foot long
piece of nylon rope and with a lighter, melt the ends together. This
rope can be used to do finger string activities such as cat's cradle and
Jacob's ladder. Still itching for more? Sign out a book from the
library on sign language, and practice talking without saying a word.
Play a game
Games with many small pieces should really be avoided, since they can
easily be lost in a busy and full car. There are many different types of
board games on the market to choose from, but our favorite continues to
be Uno. Trivia games such as Brain Quest can be fun as well, and there
is a version especially for road trips. Other car travel activities
games that can be played include classic road trip games - spelling out
the alphabet by looking at signs, finding each state's license plate,
and travel bingo.
Pack a busy box
Younger kids (aged 4-7) are a little trickier to keep busy as their
attention spans are much shorter. When Kevin was small we would visit
the dollar store before the trip and I'd buy some items to give him
along the way. Each item would be gift wrapped to make it more exciting.
One year the collection was an assortment of plastic dinosaurs, and by
the time we made it to our destination he had an entire family of
prehistoric creatures to play with. They went into his busy box. A busy
box is basically a square, shallow Tupperware or other plastic container
filled with paper, crayons, blunt scissors, a glue stick, magazine cut
outs, stickers, coloring sheets, and other craft type items like a brown
paper lunch bag, etc. As he got older he began adding his own things
into it, like small race cars and action figures. He would happily
create things in the back seat to his heart's content. Best of all, the
whole thing could be set in his lap and used as a 'desk' of sorts.
Listen up!
Music CDs and stories on CD or tape are a wonderful addition to a road
trip. You can borrow them from the local library, look for them at
garage sales, or purchase them online or from the local book store.
Start a collection
Kids love a collection, and what better time to do it then while on
vacation? Stop at rock shops and pick up some rocks to look up in a
gemstone book in the car. Stickers can be put into albums or scrapbooks,
and postcards can be fun as well. Or, come up with your own collection.
Last but not least, books
Kevin's all time favorite road trip item is a selection of new books.
Sometimes he reads to himself, sometimes I read aloud to all of us. I
make sure to select a good variety of stories, and usually will pick up
one that I know he's been dying to read. However, I'm sneaky. I give it
to him half way through the trip.
A technology free road trip really isn't difficult, it just take a
shift in one's thinking and a commitment to look for other ways to keep
kids busy. In the end, you may be surprised at just how little you
really miss that Game Boy. Instead of the kids grunting from the back
seat in response to your attempts at conversation, you'll have the
opportunity to re-connect with them through play. Besides, you could
find out that little Henry really has a knack for numbers when he beats
you for the 10th time in a row at Uno.
Read more here
Upcoming Events In Urbandale, IA
Civil Service Commission Meeting: August 10, 2012
The Urbandale Civil Service Commission will meet on Friday, August 10th at 7:30 am at City Hall. View the Agenda.
Toddler Time: August 10, 2012
TODDLER TIME
Tuesdays at 9:30am
Fridays at 9:30am & 10:00am
Urbandale Public Library Story Room
Toddler Time will be held at 9:30am on Tuesdays and 9:30 and 10:00am on
Fridays. For age 2 with an adult. Stories, finger plays, and songs are
shared during Toddler Time.
For more infor...
Beginning Line Dancing: August 10, 2012
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Urbandale
Senior Center. The perfect way to start your weekend is dancing! Join
this enthusiastic group as they learn new, and revisit old-favorite line
dances. This is a great class for beginners, or anyone who wants to
dance and have a lot of fun! (And get your ca...
Tai Chi - Continuing: August 10, 2012
9:15 AM - 9:55 AM at the Urbandale Senior
Center. Modern Tai Chi is a kind of exercise much like what has been
practiced for health in China for hundreds of years. What is the main
principle of Tai chi? The mind is the first thing; the body follows.
Come try it with us!
Tai Chi - Beginning: August 10, 2012
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM at the Urbandale Senior
Center. Modern Tai Chi is a kind of exercise much like what has been
practiced for health in China for hundreds of years. What is the main
principle of Tai chi? The mind is the first thing; the body follows.
Come try it with us!
Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting: August 13, 2012
The Planning & Zoning Commission will
meet at 6:00 p.m., at City Hall (3600 86th Street). The deadline to
submit an item for this agenda is July 16, 2012.
Morning Fitness Class: August 13, 2012
9:00 AM to 9:45 AM at the Urbandale
Senior Center, 45-minutes of high-energy fun, focusing on
functional fitness. Classes may include stretching, strengthening and
toning, and aerobic exercise to keep the heart healthy, and to increase
muscular strength and range of motion. Weights, resist...
Morning Fitness Class: August 14, 2012
9:30 AM to 10:15 AM at the Urbandale
Senior Center, 45-minutes of high-energy fun, focusing on functional
fitness. Classes may include stretching, strengthening and toning, and
aerobic exercise to keep the heart healthy, and to increase muscular
strength and range of motion. Weights, resistance tube...
Public Art Committee: August 14, 2012
The Public Art Committee will meet from
12:00-1:00 p.m. in the City Hall Large Conference Room (3600 86th
Street). To view the meeting Agenda, click here.
Senior Singers: August 14, 2012
2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Urbandale
Senior Center. No singing experience is necessary to join this
enthusiastic, fun loving, and talented group. Songbooks are filled with
old favorites and new classics. The group also provides entertainment at
Senior Center events and for community groups. Men...
City Council Meeting - Lunch & Learn: August 14, 2012
The City Council will hold a lunch & learn work-session starting at
11:45 a.m., at City Hall (3600 86th Street). For a copy of the agenda
or information contact the City Clerk at (515) 278-3900.
THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
Older Iowans Day at the Iowa State Fair: August 15, 2012
8:00 AM departure from the Urbandale
Senior Center and arriving back at 3:00 PM. Register to ride with us to
the fairgrounds for a day of fun, rain or shine! $2 per person for the
ride. (Fair tickets may be purchased
in advance or at the fairgrounds). Limited space available! Registration
beg...
Taking Control with Exercise: August 15, 2012
10:00 AM to 10:55 AM at the Urbandale
Senior Center. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is a community
based program designed to help those who have joint and/or muscle
problems achieve improved joint mobility, muscle strength and endurance
in order to improve the performance of their d...
Yoga: August 15, 2012
2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at the Urbandale
Senior Center. Experience gentle stretching and relaxation as you learn
the basic positions of yoga. Bring a mat or rug and a light blanket or
towel. Mats are available for use to anyone wanting to try the class
before purchasing a mat. Beginners welcom...
Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting: August 15, 2012
The Urbandale Parks & Recreation
Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers at City Hall
(3600 86th Street). For Agenda information, please click here.
Tai Chi - Beginning: August 15, 2012
8:30 AM - 9:15 AM at the Urbandale Senior
Center. Modern Tai Chi is a kind of exercise much like what has been
practiced for health in China for hundreds of years. What is the main
principle of Tai chi? The mind is the first thing; the body follows.
Come try it with us!
Tai Chi - Continuing: August 15, 2012
9:15 AM - 9:55 AM at the Urbandale Senior
Center. Modern Tai Chi is a kind of exercise much like what has been
practiced for health in China for hundreds of years. What is the main
principle of Tai chi? The mind is the first thing; the body follows.
Come try it with us!
Morning Fitness Class: August 16, 2012
9:30 AM to 10:15 AM at the Urbandale
Senior Center, 45-minutes of high-energy fun, focusing on functional
fitness. Classes may include stretching, strengthening and toning, and
aerobic exercise to keep the heart healthy, and to increase muscular
strength and range of motion. Weights, resistance tube...
Visit Victor's Sports Club!
Victor's
Sports Club
Site Built by Dillon
Hurd....Victor's Sports Club- Copy Right 2011
Don't sit at home on Monday nights-
Come play Football Bingo! Everyone loves BINGO! Weekly Prizes and Grand Prize a
Trip to LAS VEGAS!!! Free to play. $2.00 Bottle Beer and other drink and food
specials.
Don't forget we have the "Best
Wings in Town".
Join us at Victor's Sports Club and
let us spoil you!
18 TVs and a new sound system just for you. Not a bad seat in the house!
18 TVs and a new sound system just for you. Not a bad seat in the house!
Tuesday
Thursday
Dmacc Students Eat for half off
Fun Stuff to Do in a Hotel
Hotels aren't just places to rest up for your destination or your next
day of travel. They are centers of relaxation and vacation fun all in
themselves. Whether you're staying in a five-star luxury suite or a
roadside motel, explore the possibilities.
More here
Go Swimming
Swimming pools are one of the greatest amenities you can find in a hotel. Swimming is fun, it's great exercise and relaxing at the same time. Many hotels are upgrading from their simple in-ground pools to full-on water parks with slides and fountains.Luxury Items
If your hotel offers room service, take advantage of it. There's something fun and luxurious about having dinner come up to your room on a cart. Get a spa treatment, walk around in a nice robe, get a manicure, or get your hair done for a night out.The Game Room
Many hotels have full-scale game rooms with pool tables, foosball, pinball and a selection of old-style standup video games. For adults, it's an opportunity to relive a bit of arcade magic, and for the kids, it's an opportunity to see what things were like before you could play intensely detailed and beautifully drawn video games on a handheld computer.Awesome Amenities
If you're staying at a resort hotel, there's a lot more than just a pool and a game room. You might have a beach, a man-made beach, a lazy river, a roller coaster, or amusement-park activities such as go-karts, bungee jumping or a giant swing.Do Something Different
No matter where you're staying or how nice it is, staying at a hotel can be fun simply because it's not what you do every other day. Even everyday games take on a new life in a different setting. Play cards. Play a travel version of a board game. Take a long bath. Jump on the beds or have a pillow fight. Take part in any leisure or social activities your hotel offers. Do something you don't usually do.More here
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