After a fun weekend away, I thought I would share a few tips to help you rock a road trip with young kids! When we travel, we tend to choose locations that are in driving distance… since I would rather drive than fly with two young kids. Most of our trips are in Florida anyway, since we are lucky to live about 3 hours from Disney World!
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| Packed and ready to go! |
In the past, I have used movies (thanks to a portable DVD player) to help keep the kids occupied. I don’t like them using the iPad unsupervised since I don’t entirely trust the parental controls. (I have found my son on YouTube just randomly searching through videos, and he got there directly through one of his apps) So I was THRILLED when I found out I was a selected as a Leap Frog mom ambassador, since I knew they would send me fun toys just in time for this recent trip.
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| Yay! Thanks Leap Frog! |
I received a box full of Leap Frog awesomeness… which included the new LeapPad Platinum and 3 packs of Imagicards! Let me tell you, my kids were so excited to open the box and even more excited to dive in and play.
The LeapPad platinum has a 7-inch hi-resolution screen, tons of apps and it even has wi-fi with a kid-safe web browser. So I know my kids will never get to a website or video that isn’t age appropriate. That was a HUGE plus for me.
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| Happy boy! |
My son just turned 7 and my daughter is only 2 and 1/2 so I was a little worried that my son would quickly realize he was actually learning and that my daughter may be a bit too young for this device. Well, I was wrong. My son is obsessed with this pad. He plays it all the time, and has been asking for it over the iPad! That is HUGE people. His favorite game is Stretchy Monkey. Hudson also loves the Imagicards that actually transport characters into the game! He showed that one to his cousins while we were away and they were very impressed.
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| He rushed to get ready for school early so he could fit in some LeapPad time! |
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| He selected the LeapPad over the iPad! |
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| My sweet nephew loved the Paw Patrol Imagicards! |
My daughter quickly figured out how to use the LeapPad. I was able to create a profile for each child, so they just click on their name when they start playing and it brings them to their own customized home screen, organized how they like. Mila loves playing pet pad party. (she now owns a ton of purple animals, since you can customize the colors!) I want to get her some DocMcStuffins ebooks, since I know she would love them.
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| She’s obsessed with her pets! |
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| I need to get pictures on there, but I love the separate profiles! |
I need to sit with the LeapPad Platinum myself (if I could ever get it away from my kids) to explore all the options and there are a bunch of apps and games that I need to check out! This is going to be a very popular holiday gift and I think it is well worth the money. (it is also more affordable and durable than an iPad!) My kids are very picky, especially when it comes to electronic devices and they love it!
Other tips for a successful car trip with young kids:
- Don’t forget the snacks: Bring PLENTY of snacks & drinks. Pre-cut fruit, nuts and pretzels are favorites for my kiddies.
- Always have a backup: Keep extra clothes where you can reach them in case there are any accident, spills, etc.
- Potty Breaks: My daughter has been wearing underwear full-time, so I packed a little potty for her. (In fact, I always keep it in my trunk with some tissues) That way, when she yells, “I HAVE TO GO PEE PEE,” all I have to do is pull over and have her pop a squat in my trunk. (I have an SUV)
- Create a Fun Playlist: When all else fails, don’t underestimate the power of good music! A mashup of Disney (yes, Frozen is involved here) and pop hits always liven up a car ride and give grumpy kids a boost!
What are some of your go-to tips when it comes to road trippin’ with the kids? Also, be sure to look out for more fun Leap Frog reviews and giveaways coming up!
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Great tips. I absolutely love the Leap Pad for kids. It combines education with fun play. Snacks and spare clothes are also a must for trips. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, we had never had one.. my kids LOVE it!!
It looks like you really did "Rock the Road Trip". Leap Pads are a great way to keep the kids occupied while they are actually learning something at the same time.
I love it.. and my kids do too! I wish I would have bought one sooner now! Thanks for stopping over! 🙂
Awesome tips. Anything to keep the children busy.
YES!! Including lollipop bribes! 🙂
Our kids love their Leappads too. Back-up clothes are super important. We learned this the hard way!
Me too! I think it only takes one time to realize how far an extra set of clothes can go! ha!
This leap frog pad looks amazing! I would love to check that out for my daughter. She is also 2 1/2. We always try to have a bag of car only toys to keep her occupied when she gets car sick and she LOVES to read books in the car so we have a ton of those too. Kuddos on getting your daughter to use the potty in the car, I think mine might have a small meltdown 🙁
She did have a meltdown the first time.. but then another time she really had to go.. and ever since then she has no issues with it! 🙂
I don't have a leap pad but i will have to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
I never thought I needed one since we had a iPad, but this is really good for the kids.
Great tip, thanks!v I love a good road trip, now maybe I can get my kids on board!
This is the first time they didnt both just go to sleep.. so I am so glad I had some help with the leap pad and snacks! 😉
Great tips!! We'll be going on a car trip soon, so these will come in handy! Also, the leap pad sounds awesome! My daughter would love it!
She totally would! I am looking forward to getting some new games for it..
I remember when my daughter used Leap Pad products. They were so helpful & educational. Now, she s a teen! We love road trips.
We love all of their stuff.. the kids like having their own 'fancy' tech toys!
LOL!!! Pop a squat in your trunk!!!! I loved this review. I had no clue they could get in passed parental controls on the iPad (not that we're there yet). This is a huge selling point to the Leap Pad. Normally, I would have never thought of getting this for my daughter, but I think she'd love it and get a lot out of it!
I didnt think so either, but sometimes the angry birds app sends him to these short animated videos.. but then he is ON youtube.. and anything can come up on there!!
The extra potty in the trunk is GENIUS. Not sure why I didn't think of this before. And I think you sold me on the next level for Leap Pad 🙂 Great tips, mama!
Ann
#SHINEbloghop
It is so funny, since everyone who sees the potty is like, "Why the heck didn't I think of that?" and I am obsessed with the Leap Pad, I wish I would have gotten it for the kids sooner!
Great list! I also LOVE that you took the dog in that picture, too haha! I think breaks are essential, for sure. Even though it stops you along the way, I can definitely tell it keeps my kids in a better mood and makes the driving much smoother.
Yes, sometimes just running around and stretching helps get through the last part of the trip.
The DVD player is a MUST! we never use it otherwise… so it's the novelty!
ha! That is so true.. DVD players are old school!
Planning a road trip with kids requires creativity, and your guide is so helpful! For travelers heading to Texas, staying at RV parks Midland TX offers a family-friendly and convenient base for an unforgettable journey