5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Occupied on a Road Trip #ad #ShopDropAndOil

**Full Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone. #DropShopAndOil #CollectiveBias

When my husband and I were dating, we talked about everything under the sun.  Something we talked about frequently was our passion for travel.  He told me a story I’ll never forget: my father-in-law told my mother-in-law to grab her purse & camera.  They were going somewhere overnight, but they were going to decide where that was along the way.  She was concerned about not having any clothes or toiletries, but my father-in-law told her they’d buy them along the way.  Doesn’t that sound like FUN?!  When my kids are older (and can stay home alone), I want to take a trip like that with him.

But for now, even though my husband and I enjoy road trips, we don’t take them nearly as often as we’d like to. Partly because we have two kids that make the drive less fun and partly because our calendar is chock-full of busy-ness.

Since we’ve had kids, the farthest we’ve traveled by car has been to Dallas (5 hours from us).  But last April we changed that by taking a road trip to California!  The boys were pretty great, but there were some things I would have done differently.  That’s where this list – 5 Ways to Keep Your Kids Occupied on a Road Trip – comes in.

5 things for kids to do while on a road trip:

1. ‘I Spy’ Jars (or App) – Download the app or make your own ‘I Spy’ jars.
2. Busy Bag – Fill a bag (or basket) with games, books, toys, pens, etc. for the kids to pull out as needed.  I usually add one or two new things for them to find as they are looking through.
3. Binder Games – You’ll need one 1/2″ binder for each kid.  Print out Road Trip Scavenger Hunts, Bingo, Crossword Puzzles, Coloring Sheets, etc. and fill the binder.  If you add a pencil pouch with markers, everything will be handy!  (This could go in the busy bag.)
4. Snack Box – This idea came from a friend – but it’s brilliant so I use it every time we travel.  Purchase a tackle box (under $6 at Walmart!) and fill it with all kinds of finger foods: graham cracker bears, pretzels, marshmallows, Ritz crackers, Nutter Butters, applesauce (or other fruit) pouches, snappea crisps, etc.  Hint: I take the containers with me so I can refill the snack box before our return trip. My kids can’t make a mess with the big packages and it saves a little money because I don’t have to buy snacks all over again.
5. Nap – Pack pillows and blankets so the kids can get comfy and take a nap.  The ride won’t seem as long to them if they sleep through it!
6. Bonus Idea: Roll of Coins – I just found this, so I haven’t tried it yet, but give each kid a roll of coins (you pick the denomination).  Each time they misbehave, take away a coin.  They can keep whatever they have left at the end of the trip.

Before you take any kind of road trip, make sure you get your oil changed!  I kill two birds with one stone and get mine changed at Walmart (because I can pick up snacks and the like for our trip while the oil is being changed). Plus, the cost savings of having my oil changed at Walmart is worth it for me!

Most recently, I was going to drive to Dallas to visit my sister.  So I popped into the Automotive Care Center at Walmart.  I had my oil changed with Penzoil (I always use that one!) High Mileage Vehicle oil.  I used the High Mileage Vehicle oil because my car has (many) more than 75,000 miles on it.  Additionally, High Mileage Vehicle oil helps reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or higher mileage engines.  It’s specifically designed to keep engines with over 75,000 miles running clean and going strong.

Penzoil products help clean out the sludge that lesser oils leave behind.  It’s designed with complete protection in mind and will allow you to drive an additional 550 miles per year vs. a dirty engine.  No other oil provides better protection from friction.

Tell me: how do you keep your kids occupied on a road trip?