Getting There:
“...Abraham Journeyed From Thence Toward The South Country...” Genesis 20:1
Just as the birds fly south every winter, I like to pack up my clothes and travel south in the summer. After driving about four hours going south-east I can see the ocean. Travel today is much more convenient than it was in Abraham's day, but it can still be boring for children. Here are some ideas that might help pass the time. Memory Book: Use simple binder covers or folders, or scrap books to start a memory book for each person. Begin with the maps listed here. Add pages with questions that begin, "Today we went ______." and "What I liked best about today was _______." Questions can also be about what you eat, and the things you see. Create pages with questions which relate to your trip and can be kept as a memory book. You might include a few photo album pages for pictures and post cards. At the back you might want to include some pages to color or some of the Bible puzzles on the Questions page.
Are We There Yet?: Print a map that includes your starting place and your destination. Let the children mark the roads you plan to travel with highlighters. They can mark the major cities as you travel through them.
License Plate Game: Go online and print out a map of the fifty states. Children can color each state that they find on a license plate as they travel.
Counting The Cost: Print out the Balance Sheet and teach your children how to keep up with how much money they spend.
Rest Stops: Have a ball, frisbee, or jump rope available for rest stops. Take a few moments to stretch your legs during long trips.
Travel Bingo: There are many travel bingo games available for different age groups.
Find The ABCs: Look for things that start with each letter of the alphabet, beginning with the letter A. Or, look for the letters of the alphabet, in A, B, C order, on signs.
Something New: When we made a long trip with five young children, I bought new toys for them to play with in the car, to give them "surprises" along the way.
Hidden Treasure:
“...Come Ye Yourselves Apart...” Mark 6:31
Jesus told the disciples, "Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while." On the seventh day of creation, we read that God rested. Many take time in the summer to take a vacation and "rest a while". This month, instead of the usual group meeting ideas, we are looking at vacation ideas. A Vacation Treasure Hunt is fun for children and teens and it will help everyone to become familiar with the location of places and items in a rental house. The prizes suggested are for a vacation at the beach, but you could substitute any prizes that would go along with your place of rest.Goody Bags:
“...Treasure In Your Sacks...” Genesis 43:23
When I was growing up candy was for special occasions and holidays. Just before a trip Dad would take us to the store and we could choose any kind of candy we wanted to put in a little "goody bag". This was special to me and I kept this tradition with my children. They always enjoyed choosing candy and snacks for their "goody bags". We would often use the lunch box they had carried to school the previous year. They would eat some of the candy going there, and save some to have during their vacation. Many times I would also let them refill their bags for the trip back home. Many companies now make snack packs of crackers, cookies, and other snacks which can be very convenient for "goody bags". If you don't eat in your car, it can be special to choose a special snack when you stop to fill up with gas. We used to travel through a small town that had chocolate-dipped ice cream cones, and it became a tradition to stop and get one on the way back home. Be sure to have wet wipes available for small hands. Devotions:
“The Lord Is My Shepherd...” Psalm 23:1
The 23rd Psalm can create a beautiful picture for vacation devotionals. Just imagine traveling with the Good Shepherd over the green pastures and beside the still waters. You may enjoy a 23rd Psalm Crossword Puzzle. You might want to talk about different Bible Places or work a Bible Places Crossword. When our children were small we often helped them "act-out" familiar Bible stories. They especially enjoyed the story from I Samuel 3, when God called to little Samuel while Eli slept. Older children you may enjoy some of the games on this page, and some of the Bible puzzles on the Questions page. You can print them and put in the memory book mentioned above.Out Reach:
“Go Ye Into All The World...” Mark 16:15
God wants us to carry the Word everywhere we go. Many of the vacation places we have visited have books and magazines in the houses. Take some gospel tracts with you and leave them as bookmarks. You never know who may pick them up and read them. You can also leave tracts on tables in restuarants and with clerks as you check out in stores. "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)Projects:
“...As The Clay Is In The Potter's Hand...” Jeremiah 18:6
We recently discovered the fun of Sculpey Clay. It comes in bright colors and you can mold it into small items, then bake it. We used it at a recent youth meeting to decorate the covers of summer scrap books. Some of the creative people also made small food items to attach magnets to, and use as refrigerator magnets. Younger children might enjoy Play Dough better since the items can be larger and easier to work with. You could create a scene from a Bible story for your devotions one evening.
