The Ultimate Car Pack for Kids

If parents know anything, they know the importance of being prepared. Whether you’re going on an hours-long road trip or across town, you need to have various items ready and available to keep your kids calm and engaged. To help you get prepared and organized, here’s a list of items to include in the ultimate car pack for kids.

Food for Hungry Kids

Face it: kids are bottomless pits when it comes to eating while traveling. One way to deal with their cries for food is to keep non-perishable food on hand. First, go for healthy snacks such as dried fruit, granola bars, trail mix, pita chips, applesauce pouches, and dry cereal. Avoid anything containing chocolate or other ingredients that are prone to melting.

After you’ve loaded up on nutritious items, mix in a few “just for fun” snacks too. This could include gummy bears, Dum Dums, and potato chips. Offer these favorites as a reward for good behavior.

Craft Supplies to Keep Hands Busy

When hands are busy, they’re less likely to touch a sibling. Bring along washable markers, crayons, and colored pencils to use in a blank sketchbook or a coloring book featuring your kids’ favorite characters. With their imagination in full swing, kids can come up with cool “inventions” using pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, and sticker-based projects. If you’re going to encourage doodling and crafts, consider buying your kids a lap desk so they have a flat surface to use in creating their artwork.

Cleanup Supplies

The items in this category are a must to help you deal with the inevitable spills and messes kids create. Wipes work well on hands and car surfaces for removing sticky residue. For quick trash cleanup, keep plenty of plastic grocery bags in the car. Facial tissue and napkins help kids stay tidy during snacks. If you’re concerned about stinky messes, bring along some scented car spray. In cases when you need total cleanup, it’s nice to have extra clean clothing in the car.

In case a child gets hurt, you may need some medical supplies to clean it up. Consider bringing a first-aid kit that includes bandages, medical tape, antibiotic ointment, medical scissors, gauze, and alcohol pads.

Entertainment Options

Use road time to encourage your children to read. Store some of their favorite books and comics in the car. If you have an extra e-reader or tablet, include it in your car pack along with a car charger. When the kids start to ask if you’re there yet, whip out a game such as travel bingo or an on-the-go version of your favorite board game. Audio books suitable for the whole family are another entertainment option.

When you stop at a rest area, it’s nice to have toys for active play in your car. Some good examples include jump ropes and small balls to toss.

Rather than having these items scattered in various places throughout your car or van, find a bin with a secure lid for storage. Keeping everything in one place means you can access all these kid-friendly items quickly.