Traveling with Children

I posted this some time back, but since it's almost the end of the school year and families will be hitting the highways, and airports for their family vacations; I thought it worth repeating. Plus I'
ve added a few more do's and don't's at the end for you.

"Are we there yet"? "I'm hungry". "Mom, he's on my side........Brings back memories I bet for lots of us. Make travel easier for all. Make your child his or her "special", very own trip tick. You can keep them busy, make them feel special, and the time spent in the car will be more pleasant for all. PLUS, the bonus is your kids will actually learn something while on vacation.

Supplies needed:
3 ring notebook
pocket dividers
colored pencils (not crayons they melt, not markers they're too messy)
Plain White Paper for drawing
Lined paper for writing

Divide by area, or state depending on the age of the child and where you're going AND how long you'll be in the car.

Make a few math problems that involve the kids keeping track of monies spent for gas, food, miles traveled, ...let them figure out how many miles per gallon you're getting. Things like how far it is from point A to point B.

Make hidden word puzzles about vacation, the things you're going to do and see along the way.......like the names of cities you'll travel through, the capitals of the states you'll be in, the state bird.

Have pictures to color that are appropriate....like the state bird. See if they can find them or the state flower as they look out the window.

Make a fact sheet about what's interesting in that area, like what famous person came from there, or what sports teams are in that city (if you've got a sports minded kid). Always cool is to find something the kids can identify with, like a child about their age who famous for something from the area. Think Shirley Temple, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Johnny Shilo and the like.

Encourage them to write a travel journal (we left the house at 7 am, and I was the first to see a Cardinal, the state bird of Ohio...), tie it all in together. If your child's a reader, try to find a book appropriate for the area so they'll have something they can tell you. **For helpful tips on how to encourage them to journal, PLEASE visit my SIL's blog. She has all kinds of writing exercises, some can even be verbal depending on the age of the child.

As you travel ask them what you're going to see next, how far it is to the next stop etc. Make them a part of it.

I did this every year, and after the first year; my daughter could hardly wait to get in the car and see what I'd put together for her. DON'T LET THEM SEE THEIR TRIP TICK BEFORE GETTING IN THE CAR. KEEP IT A SURPRISE.

Turn off the DVD player, car time is wonderful family time...use it. They can watch TV and DVD's anytime; make vacation special--make it different.

And think about how far you're going, how old the children are. Make sure they get a good nights sleep before you start out. Don't count on them falling asleep on the plane or in the car. Generally, even young children know something is different, something special is going on and they don't want to miss it. So, they stay awake; then you have an already tired grumpy child who makes everyone involved not enjoy themselves. Be respectful of their need to rest, to use the bathroom. Never ask them if they have to go. Simply stop and everyone use the bathroom (if you're in the car). Ask any adult how many times they've asked a child who says no. They don't use facilities when they exist and you get rollin again then they urgently have to go. If you're flying go to the bathroom right before boarding so you don't need to mess with it on the plane. Limit what they drink. It stands to reason if you give a child a biggy size drink they're going to need to use the bathroom.

If you're going to be in the car for an extended time, take breaks. Pull off and let the kids run and swing at say a school yard. Prepare the kids ahead of time. Let them know how long they'll be in the car. Let them know they need to get along. Don't throw surprises at them. Prepared children fare far better and when they do well, so will you.

Next post will address some specific issues when flying with children in more detail. Stay tuned.

Wanted to add this comment from my daughter, when parts of this post were published previously.
Christine said...

As the person for whom the binders were made ... loved it. Wish more parents did this rather than plugging their children in and letting them tune out - is it a wonder that so many children are unable to communicate with adults?!

I'd like to add, my daughter is now a school teacher.

Honoring those who served on Memorial Day

Here's Flat Stanley with a WWII Memorial of those who served from Upper Arlington. This memorial is near what was Upper Arlington High School, (now Jones Middle School); the former location of Camp Willis.

Please take some time this long holiday week-end to honor those who've served. Is there a memorial near you?

Join Flat Stanley and me as we honor these brave individuals:
Abernethy, Adair, Albanese, Allen, Andres, Andrus, Anstatett, Anthony, Armstrong, Aschinger, Ashby, Atkinson, Auld, AuMiller, Axene, Azbell, Babb, Bailey, Baker, Barklanoff, Baldwin, Baley, Bard, Barkman, Barnes, Barr, Barrcklow, Bass, Baynes, Bweightler, Bell, Berlin, Best, Betts, Biddle, Billman, Binder, Blackburn, Blackford, Boettcher, Boggs, Bohannan, Bohmer, Bolen, Brandt, Brannan, Berehm, Bright, Brooks, Brown, Bucher, Buck, Burbridge, Burkhart, Burton, Cameron Cammarn, Carn, Canning, Carruthers, Carver, Casto, Chamberlin, Chester, Childers, Clark, Collins, Connolly, Copper, Corson, Crane, Crockett, Culbertson, Cunningham, Curtin, Dabe, Dame, Dauben, Davidson, Davies, Davis, Deckhaard, DeMey, DeVere, DeWitt, Dittoe, Dix, Dodd, Dodge, Dowdy, Duncan, Dupler, Durrant, Ebright, Edgar, Edmonds, Edwards, Emerson, Emswiler, Evans, Faehner, Fallon, Fauber, Fay, Fenner, Ferguson, Fidler, Fitzgerald, Folk, Folkerth, Forsythe, Fowler, French, Frost, Fuller, Fusco, Gardiner, Gardner, Gerrard, Garvin, Gatsch, Gessinger, Geohagan, Gerlach, Gillespie, Graf, Grafe, Greegor, Green Griffith, Grinstead, Grossman, Gruesser, Gutches, Guthrie, Hager, Haines, Hall, Hamilton, Hamlin, Hammel, Harmon, Janton, Harris, Hartzler, Hayhurst, Hays, Heath, Heinzerling, Held, Henning, Herl, Hershberger, Hetsch, Hickey, Hoagland, Hodges, Houghton, Howe, Howson, Hudson, Huntington, Ingalls, Isaacs, Isaly, Jackson, Jaefer, Jarvis, Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Junkerman, Kauffman, Kelley, Kelsey, Kennedy, Kepley, Kerschner, Khourie, Kibler, Kiefer, Kienle, Kioght, Kimes, Kimmel, King, Kionney, Kinsel, Kirk, Kirkwood, Knell, Knight, Knoderer, Knowlton, Konold, Kraft, Krause, Kutschbach, Lande, Landis, Lanich, Larrimer, Lee

That's a total of 204 names. As you can see, this is only the first half. The sun was bright the day Stanley and I were there and I couldn't read the sign. I need to go back and re-take the other portion. The 2nd photo wasn't readable I'm sorry to say.
This Vietnam Memorial honors the following for their service to their country:
Barnitz, Harlow, Joecken, Kohr, Oliver, Ritchie, Smith, Swensberger, Sherwood.

Is there a memorial near you? Please take the kids. Encourage them to draw our countries flag. Explain what the meaning of this long week-end is. Let them help you put up your flag.

Did you miss Stanley's previous Friday Adventures?

• April 23, 2010 Books and Parks (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
• April 30, 2010 Traitor or Hero (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 7, 2010 Flat Stanley and his friend Captain Pinney (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 14, 2010 First Flight and Flat Stanley (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 21, 2010 Up The Indian Mound with Flat Stanley (Columbus, Ohio)
• May 28, 2010 Flat Stanley Goes to Camp (Upper Arlington, Ohio)

Flat Stanley goes to Camp!

Ok, firstly let me say oophs, this post for Friday Fun with Flat Stanley was suppose to focus on Art, due to some technical difficulties that's not happening. Sorry folks, please though do check back next Friday June 4th when Stanley hopes to share some fun art with you. And remember click on all photo's to enlarge them.

This is Flat Stanley in front of a Franklin County Historical Sign marking the location of Camp Willis. The sign indicates The National Guard was trained here in 1916 in order to go into service against Pancho Villa on The Mexican Boarder. Some 8,000 men trained here. Pancho Villa was a cold blooded killer, though loved by many. He had the reputation of a Robin Hood, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor; but he forced 18 American miners off a train and shot them in cold blood in 1916. He was ruthless many times over.

The men who trained here served under General Pershing. The camp was short lived and was dismantled in September of 1916. The need for this camp to train men interrupted the plan The Thompson brothers had for a "Garden Club Community". They had purchased land from Mr. Miller.
These historical markers are placed in a mall area in front of Jones (now middle school) High School. Upper Arlington is the birthplace of notables like Jack Nicklaus and Bev D'Angelo.
This fabulous old photo was published back in 1941, in The Norwester's publication was prior to Upper Arlington becoming a city. If you click to enlarge you'll see the high school, to the right where the arrow is you see the pool. Both exist to this day. The white oval in the bottom left marks where the current mall area is, the location of the historical markers noting the interruption in the planned community with the building of Camp Willis.

As always, Flat Stanley suggest word puzzles, maps, math, coloring activities to make these stories come alive. History is not dead, it is more then dates and facts of long ago, it is stories of people who lived, and loved their families just as we do. They made mistakes along the way, just as we do. Much of history teaches us what mistakes not to repeat. Remember some lessons from Upper Arlington's early history?

Til next time, Flat Stanley out.
Please check back for a Special Memorial Day with Flat Stanley and again on Friday June 4th for the Friday Fun with Flat Stanley Series.
Did you miss Stanley's previous Friday Adventures?

• April 23, 2010 Books and Parks (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
• April 30, 2010 Traitor or Hero (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 7, 2010 Flat Stanley and his friend Captain Pinney (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 14, 2010 First Flight and Flat Stanley (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 21, 2010 Up The Indian Mound with Flat Stanley (Columbus, Ohio)

River Street, Savannah, Georgia

*remember to click to enlarge pictures
Historic River Street in Savannah Georgia is fun even on a cloudy, rainy day. You can walk the coastline of The Savannah River and enjoy watching the boats and ships come and go. You can see pleasure boats, cruise boats/ships, and cargo ships coming and going from this busy seaport. You can sign up for a fun filled Pirate Ship Tour. This is a particularly good activity for families, the small children love it.
This quaint slippery, steep cobblestone street is closed off. We're at the waters edge looking back up the hill.
Can you begin to see how steep this hill is? How old and uneven the cobblestone is? I was glad I had tennis shoes on for walking; everyone we saw with sandals and less sturdy shoes was having a time of it. It had rained and these aged and very worn stones were treacherous.
Looking down the row of old businesses, you can see how narrow the street is. Savannah you might know is one of the cities saved when Sherman's troops marched through Georgia. It was deemed to pretty to destroy, so the city has many historic streets, houses, and businesses. This would have been the original main street when the port was busy transporting cotton and other trade goods.
We're on a bridge of the now main street looking down watching the old meet the new. This narrow, slippery cobblestone street and parking lot present quite a challenge for today's modern vehicles. Note the Budweiser truck and what little space he has to turn. Note the sawdust. He had made his deliveries and could not keep up the ramp due to the steepness and how slippery the roadbed was. They had quite a team working to get parked cars out of the way in case the truck flipped, slipped, and or needed more space. They had been working on this for over an hour we were told by other interested visitors.
The 2nd truck driver is also watching closely, assuming he'll have the same trouble. Another reminder if you haven't already done so; click on these 2 truck pictures so you can see the situation.
We spent a couple of hours walking this area, stopped for lunch, hit a few shops. A fun way to spent time in Savannah. I do hope we're able to return for a longer visit. We had driven over from Hilton Head and the weather was getting bad, fog rollin in and we felt it best to get back. The road to and from is narrow and curvy; not the best place to be in the low country when the fog moves in.

Recommendations wear comfortable supportive shoes, if you have small children use a stroller; there's too much difficult walking for them. Do a child friendly activity like the Pirate's Cruise.

Up The Indian Mound with Stanley

If you want to stretch your legs, run around, have a picnic and feel like a giant, come along with Flat Stanley. This activity is fun for the whole family, the kids and pets too. On the west side of McKinley Avenue in Columbus just south of Trabue Road is a large grassy mound. If you drive by fast; that may be all you'll see. Slow down and park the car; it's quite a different story. You'll see a small parking area that can accommodate a couple of cars and this stone gate. To the left of the gateway and grassy mound you'll see this 2 sided historic marker.

This mound goes by a couple of names. The area, the park it self is called Campbell Memorial Park named after a man who was governor of the state for 2 short years. Probably more remarkable was his Presidency of The Ohio Historical and Archaeological Society. His daughter Jessie Campbell Coons name this area after him in 1929.

The mound is the last of The Conical Indian Burial Mounds in the city of Columbus. It's 20 feet high and 100 feet in diameter. It was placed on The National Register of Historic Places in 1970, not that long ago.

The Adena Indians date from 800 BC to 100 A.D. and are some of the earliest known settlers in the state; primarily the middle Ohio Valley. They were hunters, gatherers, traders, and farmers. Mounds that have been excavated, or partially excavated show evidence of wooded structures (houses), trash pits, fire pits, bones of important tribal leaders that were cremated, pottery, and other tokens.
The land was deeded by Mrs. Shrum to The Ohio Historic Society (formerly known as Historic and Archeological Society).
An additional marker honoring her is placed on a large boulder just beyond the historic marker.
Stanley is laying there in the grass just to the left of the trail. Take time and climb to the top of mound. Once on the top like this little boy (click to enlarge picture and see how small he looks way up there on top); you can see downtown Columbus in one direction and The Scioto River in another. You get a real feel for the size of the mound and pretty fenced park area.

The mounds were made in layers. Historical evidence indicates an important tribal leader that died would be placed in a wooded house/structure and burned down as part of their burial ceremonies. Tokens would be placed with the cremated remains, then earth piled on top. When another important tribal leader died the process was repeated...over and over; thus making these mounds quite large. Over the years many of the mounds have deteriorated, some have gone by the wayside due to plowing the land, or building for exploding populations throughout the state.
There's The Scioto River just beyond the stone wall of the park. Children enjoy running around The Mound, and following the trail up one side and down the other. Pack a picnic or snack and sit under the shade of one of the many trees so you can talk about your adventure, and perhaps catch your breathe after the climb. This Conical Mound is larger than one I recently visited in Chillicothe; Story Mound, and more accessible.

When you return home get some string....measure (let the kids help you) 100 feet. Make a circle with the string in the backyard. Let the kids burn up some more energy running around it; but also get them thinking about what all could be put in that space. As always grab maps, due math comparing the measurements, the dates etc. Paper and crayons will come in handy as the children draw what they think an Ancient Indian looked like. Make word puzzles with the words from the days adventure:
Mound
Ancient
Adena
Indians
Burial
Conical
Governor
Historical
Archaeological
Society

Do the kids know what those words mean? How bout digging out the play-dough and let them make their own Indian Mound. Ask the kids how tall they felt when they stood at the top....did they feel like a giant?

Learning can always be fun. Join me, Flat Stanley for our next adventure on Friday May 28th when Art will be the focus. Until then Flat Stanley out.

Did you miss Stanley's previous Friday Adventures?

• April 23, 2010 Books and Parks (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
• April 30, 2010 Traitor or Hero (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 7, 2010 Flat Stanley and his friend Captain Pinney (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 14, 2010 First Flight and Flat Stanley (Worthington, Ohio)
• May 21, 2010 Up The Indian Mound with Flat Stanley (Columbus, Ohio)