keeping toddler occupied- without a DVD-flashcards?

[Anonymous]

We are going on a 6 hour car ride to the beach and Im searching for ways to keep my 4 yr old occupied. My son loves being asked questions about animals,numbers, etc- are the brainquest flashcards good? Any other suggestions?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

My 4 YO (and 2 YO) have taken many 6 hour trips w/o a DVD or flash cards. We start with some new fun music. move to magna doodle. Might take some action play mobile figures with us etc.

We travel in a sedan w the 2 kids in the back and they are fine.

[Anonymous]

One thing I used to take when my boys were that age was a small board that they could put on their laps and their hotwheels, matchboxes and toy trains.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how you do it. The DVD player has been a lifesaver!

[Anonymous]

CDs
I spy (you can vary the level of difficulty depending on child's ages

This is one I'd love to try: car bingo.
They each get a card with pictures of stuff (truck, car, tree, etc) and stickers to mark off the things they see. (If you could put it on a dry erase board somehow, you could use that instead.)
Actually, if you have a way to print on a transparency, you could then use dry erase markers on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know how you do it. The DVD player has been a lifesaver!

probably b/c TV is never the issue at home - so it is not expected in the car.

[Anonymous]

Brainquest would certainly be fun but some of the questions require looking at pictures so you would have to hand them back and forth.

We drove to Knoxville, TN last summer with a 3 yr. old and a 1.5 yr. old and did fine without a DVD player. I think we did have a leapster that helped amuse.

[Anonymous]

What about audio books?

[Anonymous]

Sadly it is the apps on the Iphone that keep our 3 year old happy. Who knew dressing princesses and smiley faces could be such fun? Take the charger.