Conference moira::parenting_v3

    If you're not a driver who's distracted by talking, you could try:
    
    * singing with him
    * talking to him
    * telling him stories
    * having him tell you stories
    * naming things for him
    * explaining what the things you pass are and how they work
    
    --bonnie

    
    You said "any thoughts", so here goes:
    
    Any possibility of avoiding the one hour commute with your son 
    altogether?   Maybe a daycare arrangement closer to home?
    
    I can't imagine having my almost two year old in the car for 
    2 hours a day!   I pity you!
    
    Carol

    My two year old likes me to sing.  Since I do the same songs every 
    day, he joins in whenever he can.  His favorites are the ABC's
    (I substitute "Now Jeffery knows his ABC's") and other songs that
    I've made up that include his name and his brothers' names.
    
    We talk a lot, and though he doesn't really speak English yet, he
    talks too.  He throws toys, too, but tends to carry one from the 
    house every morning.  He then plays with it for about 15 minutes,
    then drops it on the floor.  Books tend to keep him occupied, too.
    But mainly it's just interaction with me and his two brothers.  The
    car is *never* quiet!

    For toys, I'd recommend an Etcha-sketch of a Magna-Doodle.  They have
    small magna doodles for the car.  It's tough to describe, but
    basically they can draw with it, and the whole thing is completely
    intact.  The drawing implement is a magnet, with magnetic particles
    inside the magna doodle.  
    
    Our car is endless chatter, and singing, so maybe try that....?
    
    Patty

    If you have a tape player in your car I've found that tapes and books
    that go along with them are great for amusement.  They're sold packaged
    together...kiddie stories on tape with the book so the child can follow
    along.  They also have kiddie song tapes.  
    
    We've used this method back and forth from Boston to our cottage in NH
    *many* times.  
    
    LZP
    

    Bonnie,
    
    I'm the driver but naming and passing things may do something for his 
    boredom.  He usually tells me to quit singing.... 
    
    Thank you for the reply.
    
    Marian

    Carol,
    
    Since my son has asthma and I need to give him treatments at lunchtime,
    he needs to be close to my work.  
    
    I hope you never have to have your two year old suffer thru this type 
    of commute too.  
    
    Thanks for the reply,
    Marian

    Patty,
    
    Hmmmm - will try them.  Thanks for the hints,
    
    Marian

    Being overweight and seeing some of the 'mistakes' of my childhood,
    I'd discourage the use of food/snacks as a diversion while commuting.
    Can lead to some of the same habits such as 'having' to finish all
    the food on a plate.
    ed

    re: .9
    
    True.  On the other hand, a hungry child (and most of them are at
    4:30) is not a pleasant travelling companion.  If you don't want
    your child snacking in the car, it's a good idea to arrange with
    the caregiver to give your child a snack half an hour or so before
    you expect to get there. 
    
    --bonnie

    Good point about eating (Note .9 & .10) but my son is underweight and 
    has no problem with refusing to eat when not hungry.  You also are correct 
    that a hungry child is not a treat to be with in a closed setting. 
                
    Thanks for the replies,
    Marian
	        

    I have a similar length commute and found that on some days, JM would
    fall apart within minutes of our departure from the sitters (The a.m.
    commute has never been a problem - he is too sleepy).  I found that
    even though she gave them a snack around 4, by the time I picked him up
    at 5:00 he was getting hungry again.  So I will pack a juice box and
    banana or raisins for him to snack on.  A little box of raisins can
    last him almost halfway home, eating one at a time.  And I also found
    that I can have a regular radio station on and he seems to pay no
    attention at all.  Then, if I pop in a kiddie tape (he likes the Wee
    Sing tapes), he immediately starts tapping his feet and clapping his
    hands.  Almost like he knows its "his" music.  And I will vary the
    route on the days I have him with me and we will drive past the airport
    or through town instead of on the freeway - seems to help relieve the
    boredom. 
    
    Happy trails,
    
    Cathy (and John Michael, aged 2.5)
    

Jim does the daycare trek ... both "to" and "from" ...

Here are some of his rituals:

	.  singing (Juli has the alphabet ALMOST completely down pat!)
		and challenge her with the "action" songs (wheels on the
		bus, itsy/bitsy spider, patty-cake ...)
	.  playing kids' tapes in his car casette player
	.  lots of talking
	.  a different toy each day (doll, activity center, carpenter's
		bench/hammer ... and he keeps a few books in his car
		all the time)
	.  SNACKS! and a fresh "training" cup of ice water (the ice
		melts gradually and keeps the water cold):
			raisins
			ritz bits
			goldfish crackers
			mini-saltine crackers
			dry cereal!  (Life, cheerios, frosted mini-wheats...)

As she gets older, there's other things you can do:

	.  count all the RED cars
	.  count all the "5's" on the license plates
	.  see if there are more fire hydrants on YOUR side of the road
		than MY side of the road
	.  count all the out-of-state license plates
	.  "guess" the state capitals
	.  keep statistics on how many red lights vs. green lights
		Daddy "hit" going home  (see how many days it takes
		Daddy to get home without hitting ONE red light !!!!)
	.  there are many "car travel" games around, too



And don't forget the sunglasses!  (the sun can really put JULI into a
tailspin!).

And somedays no matter how well you plan things, she's still going to
be irritable and annoyed ... that's when you turn up the volume on the
radio and sing along!

Dottie

    Have a tape recorder handy the next time you read a story and tape it.  
    when you have a few stories on it, bring it with  you and play it for
    you tot. Also bring along the book so that they can "follow" along.
    My daughter Christine is just over 2 1/2 and she loves books!
                              Happy Reading
                                 Christine

    oops, I have my daughter on my mind because I just signed her name on
    the previous note!!!!!!!! Needless to say, I would rather be with her!!
                                 Cheryl
    I got it right this time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!