I know that parents don't want to put a bunch of kids in a car because it can be so tiring to listen to them pick at each other for hour after hour after hour. Well, Bundren, an ebullient Oklahoma mom whose husband is a physician, takes a different approach. In my book I tried not to dwell on negatives because I'm trying to show parents that it is possible. But you really do have to plan a trip. Both are fun and good educational tools.
Kids can time things.
At rest stops you can time them in a 50-yard dash as you let them wear off energy. A compass can provide them with lessons in geography and map reading. After the trip is over, children can organize their photos in a trip memory book. When completed, it can be copied and sent to family and friends. From the outset, Bundren encourages parents to give children some ownership of the trip.