We have been using these amazing Dollar Tree finds for years! We love these small plastic trays and use them every time we eat in our vehicle… which is often!
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This is my new solution to keeping the kids’ toys organized when we are on lengthy trips! The best part is that doing this was cheap and required minimal stitching. Plus, they are washable.
Sometimes I just really need a way to mark bags for each child, but I don’t want to write on the item with a permanent marker. Problem solved… I came across a package of three of these key/luggage tags at the key kiosk for less than $2 (if I remember correctly), and they are wonderful for attaching to zippers on bags, backpacks, lunchboxes, etc. With different colors, it’s easier to tell which whose is whose at a glance. Almost a decade later, we are still using them! You can find a pack of 40 in 9 assorted colors for about $6 on Amazon.
Here’s one way we have found to re-use an empty travel wipes case… I added some band-aids, neosporine, burn ointment, and cleansing cloths to create a great little first aid kit! It’s easy to toss in my bag, the back of the car, or the glove compartment, so we are always ready for those surprise boo-boos.
There are many other great ideas for reusing these containers! My friend, Magen, suggested creating an on-the-go Art Kit filled with construction paper, index cards, stickers, and a few crayons. And if you have a little one just loves pulling out wipes, turn this empty container into a Play Wipes Container by filling it with cut up scrap fabrics which can be pulled out to their heart’s content. Thank you to DisneyBaby.com for featuring this post.
If you have another idea, please add it to the comments below!
“It takes so little to make a child happy, it is a pity grown people do not oftener remember it and scatter little bits of pleasure before the small people…” – Louisa May Alcott, Under the Lilacs
Ava and I have been able to spend some alone time lately, and because we spend so much time at home, I have been taking her out of the house for a little while. We don’t have any beautiful, public gardens for my little flower-lover to enjoy, so sometimes it’s nice to go to a home improvement store or nursery and just browse around the flowers and plants. It’s not the same, but Ava likes it. And it’s nice for me, too, to take some time to look around and focus instead of hurriedly purchasing items on an errand run.
Here are some other little outings we have been up to… What do you like to do with your child? We are always interested in more ideas.
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Ice Cream Outing: We have made a trip to Sonic where I let Ava move up to the front passenger seat and enjoy a dollar ice cream sunday while we talk or listen to her favorite music in the car.
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Fun at the Park: Let’s not forget the park. Definitely a favorite.
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Library Time: The library is another favorite. Check to see if your library has storytime or other programs you may want to check out.
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Popcorn Outside: Popcorn isn’t just for enjoying movies. We have been popping a bag and taking it outside for a sunny afternoon snack.
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Walking: With this beautiful weather, we have been taking lots of walks. Here are some ways we have spiced them up… 1) Sometimes, Baby Carrie gets to come along in her own stroller, 2) Sometimes we have “Dinner Walks” – which means I put my children in the stroller and then toss them each a sandwich and a travel cup; then we take off around the neighborhood :), and 3) “Bedtime Walks” are a favorite, too. At dusk, I dress the kids in their pajamas, let them each pick out a favorite blanket and stuffed animal, and put them in the stroller. Then I recline their seats and we head out for a quiet “sleepy time” walk.
Whip up a pouch with some felt, embroidery floss, and a needle. Personalize it with buttons or trim or other felt cut outs like our hearts. We made ours to hold a car air freshener, so it no longer has to dangle from the rear view mirror, and we will also be using it as a glove box organizer. Make it any size to accommodate a gift. It could be filled with candy, a sachet, a gift card, or whatever else you dream up.
When I was growing up, my family had the opportunity to travel all over the country for our vacations. After being to 43 of the states myself, I consider it important for my children to have some way of looking back and seeing all the places they have visited.
It would be wonderful if I created scrapbooks of our family travels, but the truth is, I don’t have the time or the inclination. So, I came up with a very low-cost, easy, and quick way to log Ava and Landon’s vacation destinations. Each child has a photo album (a.k.a. travel book) which is being filled with a postcard from each of our trips.
When we go on vacation, I let Ava pick out a postcard she likes, I write the date on the back, and then we add it to her travel book. That’s it. I also added a 4×6 map of the United States to each of their books for them to color in the states as they visit them.
As you already know, entertaining children (of any age) is a challenge when you are spending hours in the car. Earlier in the month, we went on vacation with Tim’s parents to Ocean Isle Beach, NC, and packing the kids’ toys and snacks to keep them happy in the car took just as much thought and work as packing for our time at the beach itself. I tried to think of a way to engage Ava for longer than 5 minutes at a time, so I decided to figure out a way for her to be able to color.
I started by shopping around and I found this plastic, purple, RoseArt clipboard at Target. It even came with sets of crayons, markers, and colored pencils. This clipboard pops open to store supplies inside – perfect for what I was aiming to accomplish. Inside the clipboard, I stashed crayons, markers, colored pencils, stickers, construction paper, and a coloring book!
The only thing missing was a holder to keep crayons/markers/pencils handy for her to reach and use and to potentially save the car’s upholstery from lost, melting crayons. So, I made one. I already had the felt, the needle and thread, and the velcro I needed. I simply folded the felt to create the long pocket, and then stitched it into mini pockets to fit crayons. Velcro attaches it to the side of the clipboard (just below where the clipboard opens).
This was the perfect size for Ava, and it met all my criteria for a creative traveling station that effectively engaged Ava and kept things simple and organized for me.
