Yesterday, Roy over at CampingBlogger had a great post on 10 Kids Camping Activities. Following truth in advertising, the post discussed ten different way of entertaining your kids while camping. When I finished reading it, something made me think about the other half of the battle that wasn't discussed: how do you keep them entertained (and yourself sane) while getting to and from the campsite? So, with due credit to Roy for sparking the idea, here are ten activities for keeping your kids entertained during the road trip!

1. Along the Way Journal

This one takes a little time and prep work on your part prior to the trip. Do some research and the Internet and find things (e.g., local landmarks, restaurants, etc.) that will see along the way. Print out pictures and have the kids paste them into a notebook. We usually order the pictures in the same order you pass them during the trip, hence the name. We work with the kids to paste the pictures in, talking about each item and getting the excited to see it. The object is for each kid to find each object along the way. We give ours a sticker book so they can place a sticker on each page as they find the objects. If your kids are old enough, you can have them write in the journal as well. Our kids really get into this one.

2. Car Bingo

Make a couple of sheets with either a list of objects, or pictures of them. Each time one of your kids spots one of the objects, they get to place an X through it. First one getting the line across the board wins. You can even do variations of this game by having them find something that starts with the same letter as the object, is the same color, etc.

3. Up and Down the Dial

This game is probably better suited to older kids, especially early teens. We used to sit around our neighborhood playing this one in the shade of a tree on a hot afternoon to cool down after a game of baseball. Essentially, you start at one of the radio dial (ok, I'm showing my age a little bit here, now you would "scan" down the digital dial to one end!) and slowly tune up the frequency (again, in the digital age, just hit "Seek" to go up the "dial"). First kid who can name the song playing on the station gets a point. If its a commercial, you skip it (or, you can throw in bonus points for naming the product being advertised!). Its sort of a play on Name That Tune. Its a great way to expand your kids musical taste too!

4. Family Fun Bag

Purchase some new, small items that your kids enjoy. A deck of cards, a small Etch & Sketch, Colorforms, Play Doh, action figures, dolls, etc., and place them into a bag. Occasionally, let your kids choose from the bag. The key here is to tie the privilege of selecting from the bag to some positive behavior (even just generic good behavior works). Then, based on different random frequencies of displays of that behavior (e.g., the first time, then wait for three in a row, then two in a row, maybe four times, etc.) acknowledge your child and let them pick from the bag. The key here is the randomness. Think of slot machines in Vegas. The reason people keep playing is because they are random. Its the thought that the next pull could be the one with the payoff that keeps people playing. Its the same with your kids. The thought that the next good deed (sharing with their sibling, holding a door for someone, saying thank you, etc.) could earn them the reward will keep them going. (Note: For younger kids, you can even do this with sugar free Tic-Tacs. They love them, and feel like its super special to earn them. Every friend who has traveled with their kids and tried this simple behavioral technique has raved about it. Give it a shot.)

5. "Yes, but..."

Chose one of your kids (or you!) and have them start by saying anything they want. "Man, I can't believe its raining during our trip!". Then, the next person continues by saying, "Yes, but....". For example, they might follow-up by saying, "Yes, but its making awesome puddles we can jump in." Then, the next one might say, "Yes, but then we'll have to make dad jump in the puddle too!" "Yes, but he's so big, he'll splash all the water out of the puddle!" "Yes, but...", you get the point. Depending on the age and gender of your kids, you might not make it very far. My 4 and 6 year old never get much further than, "Yes, but" before they start giggling hysterically because they got to say, you guessed it, "but". They'll laugh for a good 30-45 minutes, just repeating those two words. Do to the need to maintain external appearances in front of my spouse, I only laugh along on the inside.

6. Rock, Paper, Scissors

Another timeless classic that's good for filling time. You can switch it up and play Odd and Even too. To do this, one kid picks either odd or even. You then pump your fist; one, two, three, and each hold out however many fingers you want. Add up the fingers from all the players and if the resulting odd or even matches what the person guessed, they win.

7. Reading

One of my all-time favorite activities is reading. I truly believe that fostering a love of reading in children is one of the best gifts you can give them, and is something that will provide them with a huge advantage in life. I've lost track of how many times something I have read has proven useful to me at just the right time. So, take your kids to the library and check out some new books. Or maybe take them to the bookstore and make it a special gift that they get to pick something to buy for the trip. Its a great way to have some quiet time in the car after a couple of the other games. Or if one kid needs to nap, the other can read quietly.

8. Video Games/Computers

Overall, we try to limit the amount of time our kids spend playing video games or on the computer. Especially on family trips where the idea is, basically, to spend time with your family. However, everyone needs a break from each other at times. These can be a great way to let kids have some time "alone". Our kids are even really good at sharing their games and helping each other learn how to advance them. At least usually. They are kids after all, so occasional bickering comes with the turf. Some good options include the Gameboy, Nintendo DS, and Leapsters for younger children.

9. DVD Movies

Another great way to provide yourself with a break from MC'ing the road trip is to pop on a movie. For longer road trips, this is a great way to make time fly for the kids. Most kids movies are around an hour and half long, so you will have eaten up some decent mileage while they weren't even paying attention. We'll usually check some new, or not seen in awhile, movies out of the library and make it special for the kids.

10. Sing

Pop in a favorite cd of the kids and get everyone singing and dancing along. The reigning favorite of my kids is The Music Man. Yep, the musical. Much to my wife's chagrin, they also enjoy 'rocking out' to Kiss, Johnny Cash, the Drifters, J Geiles, Frankie Valli, and Metallica. If you can't tell, I'm trying to instill an appreciation for a wide genre of music! Anyhow, pick a favorite and go, its a great way to kill time.

Bonus Tip

Its a road trip, so inevitably you will get the age old question of "When will we get there?!". You have to find a way to diffuse this one quickly. You'll need to find your own way to do this, but I like to bring in a little humor that throws them off. My stand by (and given the discussion in number 10 above, this really shouldn't be that shocking) is to answer them with: "When you have a beard like ZZ Top." This always gets them to laugh. If they continue, and I really need to divert them, then I switch it up a little bit: "When MOM has a beard like ZZ Top!!!" That usually gets us laughing. We'll, at least the three boys.