Ah, summer. It’s the season of s’mores, sprinklers, and backyard campouts. Families gather around the grill, build epic sandcastles, and tell stories under celebrities. Summer is additionally the time when children and oldsters load into the family car and hit the road — crisscrossing the country, seeing the sites, and making lifetime memories together.
The family road trip is an experience like no other. It’s an enormous mixture of bonding, back-seat squabbles, roadside dessert stands, natural wonders, cheesy souvenirs, and learning opportunities! Aside from resting assured that no accidents on the road that you might need assistance from service providers such as towing San Jose, keeping your trip as interesting as possible can make your children more engaged, especially in learning something new. As you travel, your children will have many nearly endless opportunities to practice skills, pick up new information, and satisfy their boundless curiosity.
Here are some skill areas your children can work on as you travel. For each skill area, I’ve listed some fun learning ideas perfect for your next road trip. Here’s to a summer of learning, lifetime memories, and safe travels.
The Alphabet
- Start with A, and have your kids attempt to spot words on roadside signs and buildings that begin with each letter.
- Have your children try to find each letter of the alphabet solely on the license plates of passing vehicles.
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Maps and Geography
- Print out a blank map of the country of the realm within which you’ll be traveling. As you undergo each state (or city/county/province, etc.) have your children color it in on their maps.
- Explore for registration codes! anytime your kids spot a special vehicle plate, they’re going to colorize the corresponding state on their maps. Kids will enjoy seeing what number states they’ll “collect” on your trip. Here’s how you’ll extend this activity:
- Before you permit, have your children make predictions regarding what percentage states they think they’ll be able to find.
- Ask, “Which states do I think are the foremost difficult to find?”
- Ask “Which state(s) do you think we’ll see the foremost of?”
- Hand your children a paper map or atlas. In today’s digital age, many children haven’t had experience with paper maps. Let your kids play the role of “navigator” or have them try to find the route you’re on, noting the roads, landmarks, etc.
Literacy
- While many people have difficulty reading within the car, a road trip is that the right time to concentrate on an audiobook! hear a classic or discover an innovative favorite — and don’t forget to talk about it as a family!
- Read the signs! I don’t realize you, but I’ve stopped at many historical markers and roadside plaques and never read one word! Stop and skim the knowledge. Have your kids read the signs aloud if they’re able to.
- Collect brochures. Reading the informational and advertorial brochures that appear to abound on road trips could be a good change-up for the bored reader.