Travelling with Tots

"Making a list is an act of hope, and a form of dreaming as well as planning." The Savvy Source

10 days to go. This list shows my hope that Raccoon will have a good time flying (8 hours). Maybe he'll think that the airports (4.5 hours) are malls, which he loves. I am praying that he will surprise us, and that I'll surprise myself with my creativity, ingenuity, and patience to get through what promises to be a very long day with a very active toddler. I will be adding to this list over the next few days, but here is the start:

From the waiting games list on the Savvy Source:

*Let Raccoon take pictures with the digital camera
*Say “I’m going to the beach and going to bring my _____" (he fills in the blank)
*What am I drawing?
*Shoebox with felt underneath lid and figures inside
*I spy…
*Fill in the blank “Once upon a time there was a little ______. The little _____ liked to _______.”
*Post-it notes
*Whose name is it? (I write and he guesses)
*I say oink, what am I?

Sensory Ideas (to get the wiggles out)

*Run cars on his arms and back,
*Drawing or writing numbers on his back and hands, etc.
*A blanket swing - 2 adults take the corners of the blanket and swing the kid
*Wheelbarrow walks
*Sensory balloons (fill uninflated balloons with beans, rice, flour, etc) from the blog Creative Learning Fun
*cornstarch and water (it's messy, so maybe in small amounts in a plastic container)

From my friends or me:

*wrapped items
*new toys
*books (hide his favorites from now until the trip)
*crayons
*special snacks
*masking tape
*dioramas (I like these from Scholastic, we put the figures on popsicle sticks to use as a stage w/puppets)
*buckle, zipper, clasp, snap, button strip (homemade)
*new movies for mini-DVD player or computer

From a Parent Network:
*lock & key
*a wallet just for him full of old (real) cards
*mesh bag with several safety pins to hook on seat in front of you for storing crayons, toys, etc.