A Child's Tools for Travel Fun

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Preparing for a travel adventure with your kids? Including your children in vacation plans with special projects and fun activities can make your family's trip exciting and memorable.

Anticipation is half the fun when you and your child are buzzing about travel plans. If you're looking to make your adventure even more meaningful, try these fun travel ideas—no matter if you're traveling by train, plane, or automobile.

Getting a Kid's Perspective

Do you sometimes wish you could see the world through the innocent eyes of a child? You can! Whether at home or on vacation, children love to take pictures. Give your child a camera and you'll get his unique and very honest perspective on what's happening around him.

If you're squeamish about handling over your expensive camera, relax. A number of toy companies have come up with cameras just for kids, with easy-to-grip handles and other special features. Disposable cameras are fairly inexpensive and will also do the trick—yet it won't be too big a tragedy if the camera gets lost or dropped.

After your trip, put the photos in an album or scrapbook and have your child write (or dictate) captions. She'll love sharing the book with her friends and family, and even in daycare or school when everyone asks, "What did you do on your vacation?"

Young Explorers

Before leaving on a trip, show your child your destination on a map. Point out its distance from home and talk about the direction in which you'll travel. For travels outside the United States, look at globes or an atlas together. To further interest your child in maps, create your own map of your neighborhood. Take a walk and jot down landmarks, homes of friends, even noteworthy trees. Do a little at a time so the project is not overwhelming. This is a great activity for toddlers and older kids, too.