Entertaining in car easier than parents think

Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go.

It sounds so tranquil, doesn't it?

But if you're like millions of other Americans, you'll be going by car to grandma's this holiday season, and chances are, you may have a couple of children along.

You can help keep everyone happy by providing the children with lots of engaging activities. And quantity doesn't necessarily mean costly. You can rent an in-car video player for as little as $10 per day, or you can download coloring books from the Internet for free.

"Kids by nature are active and hate to sit still and get bored easily, and the most fun thing to do is drive your parents crazy and fight with your brothers and sisters," says Nancy Samalin, an author and parenting expert.

Comfortable clothing, snacks, pillows, favorite toys and frequent rest stops are some of the obvious ways to make long trips easier on children, but they're not enough.

Children today are too sophisticated for hours of simple games such as "I spy" and "license plate bingo," cautions Jerry Cheske, a spokesman for the AAA travel club. He recommends packing a variety of things to do from coloring books to handheld computer games.

Abundance of activities

The good news is that while youngsters may be more difficult, it's never been easier to stock up on fun car activities.

For about $900, you can have an in-car theater installed, while $350 will buy a portable video player with a 4-inch screen that runs off the cigarette lighter. It's also possible to rent video units for cars, minivans or SUVs from Survive-the-Drive for $50 per weekend or $100 for 10 nights.

Another high-tech device sure to keep the children distracted is the Nintendo Game Boy system. The new Advanced system and games can be rented. If you give the children headphones to plug into the system, the beeping won't drive you batty and adults in the car might even be able to carry on a conversation.

"I think it's great if you can play nice car games and sing songs and sometimes those things happen, but they don't happen for the whole length of the trip," Samalin says.

She suggests that those parents who avoid giving their children electronic gizmos on a regular basis indulge them on long car trips. "Let this be a special place where they can do that sort of thing," she says.

Children may also enjoy tracking the trip's progress on a map -- but each child should get their own. Maps can be obtained for free from state tourism agencies, or you can print them off the Internet.