Games on the Go

Remember the agonizing whine of "Are we there yet?" coming from the back seat of the car from your two wonderful, bored children on the last family vacation you took? Here are some game ideas that you and your family can try for your upcoming vacation.

1. Geography
Geography is a great way to get your family in an upbeat mood for the journey ahead. How to play: The first person thinks of a place (city, state, country, etc...) then the next person has to think of a place that starts with the last letter of previous place. Remember that you can't use the same place twice and the place has to be real.

Example:	Dad starts with: North Carolina
	Jill (daughter): Alabama
	Mom: Arlington
	Jack (son): New Mexico

2. Twenty Questions
How to play: One person thinks of a person, place or thing and each person in the family has 20 questions to figure out what it is. Remember that "yes" or "no" can only answer the questions.

Example:

Dad: Thinks of a person, place, or thing

Jill: Is it a person?

Dad: Yes

Mom: Is the person still alive?

Dad: No

Jack: Was this person a former President?

3. License Plates
Are you ready to try to find all fifty license plates from around the county? Be on the look for states that have more than 1 type of license plate. A map is included to help you keep track of what states you should be on the look for.

4. Buzz Here's a game that will test your math skills.
How to play: Take turns counting to 100. Whenever a 7, multiple of 7, or 7 in the number comes up, say "Buzz". Remember if one person makes a mistake, you have to start the whole game over again.

Example:

Jack:	1
Jill:	2
Mom:	3
Dad:	4
Jack:	5
Jill:	6
Mom:	Buzz
Dad:	8

5. Scavenger Hunts
Scavenger Hunts are a great game to play in the car. Before you leave the house, prepare a list of things that you can see easily from the car. Remember to bring a couple of lists with on the trip so your family can play against each other. Also, remind your family that the first one to spot all the items on the list gets a surprise!

Here are some ideas that can get you started on your list:

• Stop sign
• United States of America Flag
• Motor home
• Swimming pool
• Welcoming sign
• California license plate
• McDonald's Restaurant
• Mountain
• Bridge
• Boat
• Convertible car with the top down (weather permitting)

6. Alphabet Words
This is a great game for children beginning to read.
How to play: The object of the game is to find words on the road starting the letter of alphabet in order.

Example:

Jill:	A- sees AT on bill-board
Mom:	B- spots a Best Western sign

7. I Spy
I spy is a classic favorite for family car rides.
Remember that you can limit what you see to the interior of the car or you can include things that you have already passed. And the first one to answer correctly goes next.
How to play: One person spies an object and the rest of the family has to guess what it is.
Example:

Jack: I spy with my brown eyes something large.

8. Bingo
This version is a little different from what your family might be use to, but it's a lot of fun. Prepare equal size grids for several colors of cars and X out a square every time one is spotted. The first one that Xs out all the squares wins! Remember to make each grid different so your kids can compete against each other.

Example of the grid:

Red	Yellow	Blue	Green
Black	White	Red	Maroon
Blue	Black	Beige	Silver
Yellow	Green	Brown	Black

Painless Pointers for Packing

So you have your suitcases laid out for everyone in the family, now the question is what to bring? You already know that your whole house won't fit in the car. But no need to worry, follow these helpful hints and packing should be a breeze.

Stay organized, lists are a perfect way to keep control. Keep lists for each member of the family, this will prevent any confusions in what you have packed and what you need to pack

For the Kids:
• Diapers
• Diaper Bag- preferably waterproof
  • Diaper rash ointment
  • Pacifier
  • Tissues
  • Premoistened wipes
  • Travel size of powder and lotion
  • Bib
  • Food: formula, water, juice, snacks, bottle, sippycup and utensils
  • Toys and books
• Vinyl diaper wraps to prevent leaks
• 2 blankets
• one to lay on and the other to be covered with
• Stuffed animal
• Plastic bags to put dirty clothes in
• Clothes: bring at least 1-2 outfits per child a day
  • Two suggestions: bring mix and match clothes or preplan the outfits
  • Easy to clean
  • Comfortable
  • 2 bathing suits, weather permitting and if you kids like to swim
  • Comfortable shoes (sneakers) and water shoes
• Towels
• Pillows, if desired
• Travel size night light
• Stroller, car seat
• Portable crib, if hotel does not meet specifications
• Camera and film
• Disposable camera for your children to use
• Empty back-pack for day trips and outings
• Toiletries
  • Travel size to take up less space
  • Keep in a plastic bag to prevent leakage on clothes
• Soccer ball, Frisbee, and/or jump rope to play with during rest stops

You may think that you need everything but if you are really crunched for space, don't pack anything that you can buy at your destination. Maybe you really don't need that 100 pack of diapers, 24 might suffice for the beginning of your travel.

Hotel/Motel Safety Tips

Here are some safety tips to make you and family feel more secure away from home.

1. When booking your hotel room, make sure that the room comes equipped with deadbolts and peepholes.
2. Ask for rooms that open into the interior of the hotel, compared to the outside of hotel. Interior of rooms provides more safety because thieves can not monitor your coming and goings.
3. Make sure that all windows and doors are securely locked. And if your room has a balcony, make sure there is a net around it so your kids are unable to slip through.
4. Try to get a hotel that utilizes electronic keys instead of regular keys. Electronic keys are reprogrammed after each stay of a guest.
5. If your room comes with a safe, lock up your valuables. Don't leave valuables in plane site; more people have access to your room than you think.
6. Locate the emergency exits in case of a fire.
7. Teach your children how to call the front desk and 911 in case of an emergency.
8. Do not mention your room number in public, you never know who is listening.
9. Just to be on the safe side, make sure your family has ID on them, especially your kids. Let your children help make there own ID. The essential information that should be on their ID are:

• Name
• Address
• Telephone Number
• Hotel of where you are staying
• Phone number of the Hotel
• Parents Names
• Allergies of the child (if any)
• Age/ birth date
• Emergency Contact (family or friend from home)
• Recent picture (keep a copy of the recent picture in your wallet just in case you do get separated from your children, the police would like to get the most recent picture for their records)

Safety First: First Aid Kit and Emergency Phone Numbers

So you've decided to take the family on a trip, now it's time to pack. Don't forget to pack the first-aid kit. Use this checklist to help you form your own first-aid kit (you probably have most the supplies at your finger-tips)

• Container
  • choose a container that has plenty of room, easy to carry and able to with stand your family
• First-aid manual
• Adhesive bandages- varying sizes
• Antiseptic wipes
• Gauze bandage
• Tape
• Soap
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Hydrocortisone cream
• Diaper rash ointment
• Ibuprofen/ Extra strength Tylenol
• Benadryl (antihistamine)
• Extra prescription medications
• Instant cold packs
• Calamine lotion
• Sunscreen
• Insect repellant
• Lip balm
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Safety pins
• Q-Tips
• Thermometer
• Flashlight (with batteries)
• Emergency phone list
• Blanket

Your Emergency Phone list should contain:

• Child's Name
• Address
• Telephone Number
• Social Security #
• Doctor's Name and Phone number
• Health Insurance name, policy number, and phone number
• Emergency contacts
• Medical History: preexisting conditions, allergies, and immunization history

Happy Travels!

Conquering the Car Ride

So the games only lasted for 2 � hours of the 12-hour car trip, how else can you keep your kids occupied for another 9 � hours? These no fail travel tips will make the time fly:

• If your body can handle it, leave late at night or really early in the morning. The object is to travel when your kids are most likely to be asleep.
• If money is not an issue, the portable TV/VCR is a great way to keep kids entertained. Make sure you bring movies that the whole family likes.
• Hand held video games (with the sound turned down, so as not to frighten the driver)
• Numerous tapes
  • Books on tape
  • Sing-along tapes
  • Movies on tape
• Kids Pack - Each child gets his/her own backpack that they can take whatever they want. As long as it fits in the bag and isn't breathing it should pass. Some suggestions could be:
  • Their favorite book
  • Coloring books
  • Crayons
  • Legos
  • Washable markers
  • Stickers
  Remember not to pack anything in the car that could get too messy such as PlayDough or games that have small pieces that could get easily lost like Monopoly. Also, if you really want to be a great parent in your kids eyes, pack each of them a present and surprise them along the way.
  

Childproofing Your Hotel Room

Before you leave for the long awaited vacation you've been dreaming about, be prepared for childproofing your hotel room. Just because you're going on a vacation doesn't mean that your responsibilities are on a vacation too. Just use your common sense when planning to childproof your hotel room. Think of the room as a smaller version of your home, taking the same precautions. But before you leave, call your hotel to see if childproofing equipment is available at your hotel. If not, be equipped for all the essentials to do it yourself.
When you arrive at the hotel give the room a good inspection taking notice of the all the dangers for a child. If it is necessary get down on your hands and knees and view the room from your child's point of view. Look carefully at the floor, are there any staples or tacks lingering around?

Once you have inspected the room take some time to make your adjustments. Here are some helpful hints:

• Move furniture away from the windows
• Furniture needs to be stable and sturdy to avoid tipping over
• Knobs should be tight so your children will not remove them and pop them into their mouths
• Make sure that doors and windows are securely locked
• Tie up any loose cords to prevent strangulation
• Unused outlets should be properly covered
• Tables with sharp edges should either be removed or edges should be covered, washrags are a perfect solution
• Remove any table cloths;

The Crib

• Make sure that it is up to standards with the Consumer Product Safety Commission: slats should not be more than 23/8 inches apart
• Remove any pillows or blankets that causes suffocation
• If your hotel is not up to standards, pack along your own portable crib Bathroom
• Never leave your child alone in the bathroom
• When giving your child a bath, the water should not reach more than 120 degrees F, try to keep it between 96-100 degrees.
• Unplug any electrical appliances, i.e. hairdryer, and store them in a locked drawer
• Make sure there are decals or a non-slip mat on the bathtub
• Check to see if the bathroom mat has a stable backing to prevent slips.
• Any hazardous products should be put away: mouthwash, shampoo, cosmetics

Please take extra precautions when you are traveling. Your family is in a new, unfamiliar environment and may need even more supervision.

Babysitters on Vacation

So you and your spouse would like a quite dinner together and the hotel provides a babysitter, easy right? Double-check the hours of babysitting services. Make sure that they are available during the time you need. If not, see if they can recommend anybody. Ask the same questions as you would at home. If there is an organized program ask questions.

• Do they have planned activities?
• Are meals provided?
• How much does it cost?
• Are they trained in CPR or emergency procedures?
• What is the ratio between babysitter and children?

Remember that this is a family vacation. Try to do as much as you can with the family and your children, the memories can never be replaced.

Care Home Complaints

Occasionally your relative has something they cannot cope with any longer. For instance, it may be loud music from somebody's television. Ask one of the nurses if they could persuade the resident to turn down the volume to a more acceptable level. If there is no change you or your relative might like to make an official complaint. Start by speaking to the nurse in charge or the matron. If nothing is done speak to your relative's care manager if they have one, or to the manager or proprietor.

If nothing is done about the complaint write a letter to the manager or proprietor telling them no action has been taken. Suggest that they might like to visit the room and hear the noise for themselves.

Should your letter be ignored send a reminder. If you do not get a satisfactory solution to the problem write to the inspector of the home who will investigate the problem.

To make a complaint about a care home take the following course of action:

1. Make your complaint to the nurse in charge.

2. If no change complain to the matron.

3. Still no change: speak to the Care Manager.

4. No response: speak to the manager or proprietor.

5. Complaint ignored: put it in writing to the manager or proprietor.

6. Complaint still ignored: send a reminder to the proprietor.

7. Still no response: write to the Nursing Home Inspector.

8. The Inspector will:

• Investigate the complaint.
• Discuss it with the matron.
• Discuss it with the proprietor.
• Problem solved.