Ideas to Keep Your Kids Busy On Any Road Trip

PEKIN, Ill.,–– What makes a road trip last longer than it should? Young, bored passengers. Hearing "I'm bored", "Are we there yet?" and other repetitive questions can make a trip seem that much longer and can make driving a less-than-stellar experience. However, if you know a few tricks, you can keep your passengers from distracting you. In fact, distracted driving is the number one cause of car accidents and can be severely reduced with just a little pre-trip prep. Use the ideas below to keep your kids busy on any road trip!

1. Create a Busy Box or Bag

Turn a shoebox or pencil case into a busy box for the younger kids! You can fill them with educational activities like the one above, Lego sets, classic games like tic-tac-toe, or other fun activities. All you need is a small box with a securable lid and something that fits the fancy of your little ones inside! 

2. Turn Your Windows into Canvases

If you're willing to have your windows a little messy, use window markers to turn your windows into canvases for your kids! You can give everyone in the vehicle one window and have them draw something a piece of art with the window as their "canvas". Before you know it, you'll be piloting the best collaborative art project on the road! Just make sure to avoid blocking blind spots and the windshields.

3. Pack Plenty of Movies

Whether you own a vehicle with a built-in DVD player or have movies downloaded on a tablet, having digital entertainment on hand will keep everyone occupied for hours at a time. We recommend bringing family-friendly classics such as The Wizard of Oz, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo for movies that everyone will love!

4. Invest in a Polaroid

For younger passengers and teens, a simple Polaroid camera is a great way to keep everyone entertained. It'll give them a chance to express themselves with photography and the instantly developed photos look great in a scrapbook. You can alternatively purchase a disposable camera and wait until the end of the trip to develop the memories! 

5. Play the License Plate Game

If you're driving across state borders, it's a guarantee that you'll see non-Illinois license plates! You can have fun and do a little competition with your kids by playing the license plate game. This will help little ones learn a little more about our country and can be done sans-technology. Whoever finds the most unique license plates during the whole drive wins. You can incentivize winners with money, candy, front seat time on the way back, or whatever else you decide!

6. Make a Road Trip Playlist

Listening to music is one of the best, and most classic, ways to pass the time in the car. Get everyone to add their top 10 favorite songs to a playlist before leaving and play it on the drive through the speakers. You can keep the playlist and burn it on a CD when you get home, that way you'll have audible memories of your road trip!

7. Download Fun and Entertaining Apps

Get everyone in the vehicle involved in the family fun with some entertaining group apps! Play the famous guessing game Heads Up, play a unique version of Roadside Bingo, and sing your heart out with Karaoke Anywhere! There are plenty of apps to choose from, but these are our road trip favorites.

With this handy guide of ideas to keep your kids busy on any road trip, you'll be ready to take the best road trip yet! Before you head out on your trip, make sure you have all of your road trip essentials packed. You won't want to leave without them! If you happen to run into trouble on the road, knowing what to do in the event of an accident will help you prepare and get help as soon as possible. Don't forget to schedule an appointment with us before you leave to have your vehicle looked at to ensure that it's ready to go on your vacation!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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Top 20 Road Trip Essentials

PEKIN, Ill.,–– Packing for a road trip? If you're planning on heading out of state, across the country, or simply through Illinois, we have a guide for you! To make your vacation a fun, exciting, and relaxing experience, make sure you bring these top 20 road trip essentials so you and your passengers have the best time possible. A great way to plan out your road trip is by budgeting out your gas with the AAA Gas Calculator. It gives you an estimate on how much gas your vehicle will require, prices in the areas you travel, and more based on the make and model of your vehicle.

1. Jacket: If you're going somewhere warm, it won't hurt to bring a jacket in case it rains or gets cold at night.
2. Boarding Passes, Tickets, Etc: These are some of the most frequently forgotten items on road trips, and are essential in ensuring you make it to your destination!
3. Extra Phone Charger: There's always a chance you may lose or misplace your phone charger, so bringing an extra one will keep your phone at full battery whenever you need it.
4. Several Pairs of Shoes: Tennis shoes, flip flops, and weather appropriate footwear will keep your feet comfortable on the beach, sidewalk, or wherever you go!
5. Extra SD Card: If you fill up your SD card on your camera, you can keep an extra SD card to fill with other memories so you won't have to delete old photos.
6. Copies of Travel Documents: If you're driving or traveling outside the country, keeping extra copies of your travel documents will save you a trip home and can reduce a lot of stress.
7. Headphones: Listen to your favorite tunes while shutting out any unnecessary noise with a pair of sound-isolating headphones.
8. Extra Tube of Toothpaste: In case you run out, bring an extra tube! You'll save yourself some extra money in the long run.
9. Sunscreen: In some tourist destinations, sunscreen can cost as much as $8 per bottle. Avoid an extra trip to a convenience store by bringing a bottle of sunscreen!
10. Hats: On scorching hot days, hats can protect your head from sunburns and discomfort.
11. Towels: Whether you're going to the beach or exploring a big city, bringing a towel never hurts if you have to dry off from a day full of swimming.
12. Sunglasses: This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you forget your pair, you'll have to purchase some from the convenience store, and like sunscreen, it can get very expensive!
13. Extra Socks: Have you ever tried to put on wet socks? It's not an enjoyable experience. Prevent this inconvenience by bringing extra socks along for the journey.
14. Umbrella: Protect yourself from any unexpected rain, snow, or other weather with an umbrella. On sunny days, it can help you reduce the chances of sunburn!
15. Snacks: For long journeys, whether you're on a plane or driving, snacks can hold you over and reduce the frequency of pit stops.
16. Medication: Bringing along ibuprofen or Tylenol can help you in the event that someone gets a sore throat or feels sick to avoid any road bumps in the trip!
17. Refillable Water Bottle: Help the planet out with a refillable water bottle so you won't have to purchase so much disposable plastic. Plus, they are easy to fill up and help save space!
18. Hand Sanitizer: In case you stop somewhere that's a little less than ideal, hand sanitizer will keep everyone's hands clean and prevent the spreading of germs!
19. First-Aid Kit: In case you run into an emergency, making sure your first-aid kit in your vehicle is well stocked will prepare you for any situation. It's better to be safe than sorry.
20. An Empty Bag: This may seem a little silly, but bringing an empty bag gives you the chance to fill it with any souvenirs you collect along the way!

There are tons of things you can bring on your vacation, but these top 20 road trip essentials should keep you prepared for just about anything you'll encounter on the road. Before you leave on your road trip, however, you'll want to make sure your vehicle is able to handle the road ahead. Use these summer car care tips to prepare yourself (and your vehicle) for the summer, whether you're going on a road trip or simply heading to work! Give us a call if you'd like to have your vehicle inspected before you leave for your vacation. Our helpful Service Staff can inspect all of the components of your vehicle to make sure you'll be able to hit the road without any bumps along the way!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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