A car bag or box for each kid: books, a small toy, a pencil and paperHave
Water bottles and snacks$10
A list of planned stops, written on paperFree
Wipes, a bag for trash and a change of clothesHave
Where: Your family car on a long drive to the Thanksgiving visit, plus the rest stops along the way.
Before you start
Never leave a child alone in the car. AAP says it is not safe for any length of time; a cracked window, shade or the air conditioner does little to cool the car.
Check the back seat before you lock up. AAP says to always look in the back seat before you walk away, and keep the car locked when it's parked.
Stop about every two hours. AAP says to plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours.
Right seat, back seat. AAP says kids use a harnessed car seat until they outgrow it, then a booster until the belt fits (about 4 feet 9 inches). Under 13 rides in back.
02Steps
Pack the car bag
TogetherEach kid packs their own bag: two books, one small toy, paper and crayons (a pencil for the older ones), and a snack. You add water, wipes, a trash bag and a change of clothes. Keep the bags on the floor at their feet, not loose on the seat, where kids can reach them. About 20 minutes the night before.
Plan the stops
DadLook at the route and write down a stop about every two hours, with a place to eat and a place to stretch. Read the list to the kids so they know the first stop. About 10 minutes.
Buckle up and set the rules
TogetherCheck that every seat belt and car seat is in use, then say the rules: "Buckled the whole way. Games are for voices, not for yelling. When we stop, everybody gets out." The driver's job is the road.
Play the car games
TogetherPick a game from the card and play until it fades, then pick another. The driver joins by voice only. If everyone goes quiet, let it be. A little boredom is fine.
Stop and stretch
TogetherAt each planned stop, everyone gets out. Look in the back seat to check every seat, then lock the car. Hold small kids' hands in the parking lot. Use the bathroom, drink water, and stretch or walk to a sign and back on the sidewalk, away from parked cars and traffic.
Arrive and unpack
TogetherWhen you get there, check every seat before you lock up, and bring in the car bags and trash. Ask the kids to name their favorite game of the drive.
03Car games (pick any, play by voice)
I spy: pick something you can see, say its color, and everyone guesses.
License plate game: find plates from as many states as you can.
20 questions: think of a thing; the others ask yes-or-no questions.
Alphabet hunt: find A to Z on signs, in order.
Would you rather: choose between two silly choices and say why.
Count the color: pick a color and count cars that match.
Story chain: each person adds one sentence to the story.
Quiet game: the first one to talk loses. Use sparingly.
This list is also on the printed card.
04If it stalls
If the same game gets old, switch, or let the youngest pick the next one.
If a kid gets restless, point out sights outside, or sing along to music.
If a kid feels queasy, put the book down and switch to a look-outside game.
If it's been two hours and nobody wants to stop, stop anyway. The next stretch goes easier.
If a fight starts in the back seat, change the game to one that doesn't need winning, like the story chain.
05Variations
Ages 3–5
Use the simplest games: I spy colors, count the red cars, sing along. Pack a few soft toys and extra snacks, and expect a stop a little sooner.
Ages 6–9
Add the license plate game, the alphabet hunt and would-you-rather. They keep a tally on paper.
Ages 10–12
They run the games and keep score, and help read the stop list. Try twenty questions and the story chain.
A field card like this one for the weekend, one quick plan for a weeknight. Nothing else. The first letter hasn't gone out yet. You'll get one email to confirm.
AAP, Tips for Safe & Stress-Free Family Travel: breaks, car seats, never leave a child alone. AAP's family travel page says to plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours, never to leave your child alone in a car, even for a minute, to point out interesting sights, and to bring soft toys and favorite music for a sing-along, plus safe water and snacks. It also says always to use a car seat for infants and young children, a belt-positioning booster once they outgrow a harnessed seat until the belt fits (about 4 feet 9 inches tall), and that children under 13 should ride in the rear seat. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) Checked Oct 18, 2026
AAP, Prevent Child Deaths in Hot Cars: check the back seat. AAP's hot-car page says it is not safe to leave a young child alone in a car for any length of time, that cracking a window, parking in the shade or using the air conditioner does little to change the temperature inside, to always check the back seat before walking away, and to keep the car locked when it is parked. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) Checked Oct 18, 2026
AAP, Road Trip Play Ideas for Backseat Fun: boredom and classic games. AAP's road-trip play page says not to be afraid of a little boredom and that it is natural and okay for kids to have occasional bouts of boredom on a long car ride. It lists classic games such as I see something, the license plate game, 20 questions, would you rather, counting cars and an alphabet game. American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) Checked Oct 18, 2026
Dad Field Manual · Field card 187 · Indoor & Rainy Day
Thanksgiving travel day with kids: car bag, stops and car games
The long drive goes better with a packed bag, a stop plan and a few games ready to go. Here's the whole travel day on one page.
Time
A travel day, 30 min prep
Cost
About $10
Ages
3 to 12
Where
The car
What you need
A car bag or box for each kid: books, a small toy, a pencil and paper
Water bottles and snacks
A list of planned stops, written on paper
Wipes, a bag for trash and a change of clothes
Before you start
Never leave a child alone in the car. AAP says it is not safe for any length of time; a cracked window, shade or the air conditioner does little to cool the car.
Check the back seat before you lock up. AAP says to always look in the back seat before you walk away, and keep the car locked when it's parked.
Stop about every two hours. AAP says to plan to stop driving and give yourself and your child a break about every two hours.
Right seat, back seat. AAP says kids use a harnessed car seat until they outgrow it, then a booster until the belt fits (about 4 feet 9 inches). Under 13 rides in back.
Steps
Pack the car bag. Each kid packs books, a toy, paper, crayons and a snack; you add water, wipes, a trash bag and clothes. Bags on the floor.
Plan the stops. Write down a stop about every two hours and tell the kids where the first one is.
Buckle up and set the rules. Check every belt and seat, then say the rules: buckled all the way, games by voice, everyone out at stops.
Play the car games. Pick a game from the card, play until it fades, then pick another; the driver plays by voice only.
Stop and stretch. At each stop, everyone out, check every seat, lock the car, then stretch, drink and use the bathroom.
Arrive and unpack. Check every seat before locking up, bring in the bags and trash, and ask for the favorite game.
If it stalls
If the same game gets old, switch, or let the youngest pick the next one.
If a kid gets restless, point out sights outside, or sing along to music.
Stops made
Favorite game
Car games (pick any, play by voice)
I spy: pick something you can see, say its color, and everyone guesses.
License plate game: find plates from as many states as you can.
20 questions: think of a thing; the others ask yes-or-no questions.
Alphabet hunt: find A to Z on signs, in order.
Would you rather: choose between two silly choices and say why.
Count the color: pick a color and count cars that match.
Story chain: each person adds one sentence to the story.
Quiet game: the first one to talk loses. Use sparingly.
