If you’ve got a road-trip coming up, cries of “Are we there yet?” “He’s hitting me!” and “She’s on my side!” are probably echoing through your head. Never fear. With proper preparation, you can avoid (or at least limit) the complaining. Start by packing your car full of things to amuse the kids. Things like:

Portable Crafts- Bring along a large Ziploc bag for each child containing items such as pipe cleaners, wikki stix, a pad of paper, stickers, new crayons (try glitter or scented varieties), a fun new pen, small containers of Playdoh, or sewing cards.

Worksheets- Go online and do a search for “printable word searches”, “printable mazes”, “printable dot-to-dots”, or whatever your child is interested in. Print out the sheets and attach them to a clipboard. If the clipboard has a clip with a hole in the center, attach a pencil to it with a piece of string. For younger kids, print out coloring pages and attach a small baggie filled with crayons to the clipboard.

Books-If your child can read in the car without getting carsick, bring as many books as you can. We put a book basket between our older kid’s seats (you can anchor it with the middle seat belt) and fill it with magazines, picture books, chapter books, and new library books.

Audio Books- These are a great option for kids that can’t read yet. If you have children of varying ages or tastes, consider getting each of them their own headphones and CD or MP3 player. To save money, check out books on tape from your library before your trip. Don’t forget to pack some kids music too.

Videos- If your car doesn’t have a DVD player, you may want to consider buying or renting one for longer trips. The ability to pop in a movie once in awhile will keep the kids entertained and give you a little peace and quiet.

A Lunch Bag- Bring a bag for everyone and stock it daily with a sandwich, fruit, cookies, juice box, and an ice pack. Keep a bag of non-messy snacks handy. For a snack that entertains, bring unflavored dental floss and a small box of Cheerios or Fruit Loops to make an edible necklace. Also throw in a bag of favorite candy; it could buy you an extra half hour of quiet driving time.

New Toys- If you have a really long drive ahead, wrap up new toys to surprise the kids and lighten the mood. These can be inexpensive dollar store items, like small travel games, action figures, or a craft kit. Or try making a travel ball. You’ll need several tiny toys (little animals work well) and a ball of yarn. Begin by wrapping yarn around the first item; once it’s well covered add additional toys and yarn until the ball reaches the desired size. The kids can then unwind the ball, finding little treasures along the way.

Maps- Bring along a map for each child to follow the route you are taking. Encourage them to highlight the route as you go along and search for interesting places to stop for lunch.

Blanket and Travel Pillow- These items will make car naps more enjoyable. Don’t forget favorite stuffed animals.

Puppets- Bring a variety of puppets to play with. Encourage the kids to act out a favorite story or put on a show for a disgruntled younger sibling. Even teenagers may get into this if they are bored enough.

Musical Instruments-If you think you can stand the noise, bring harmonicas, maracas, or tambourines, for the kids to create their own music.