Toys to take in a van

A Kite, binoculars, swimming stuff and an Ipad

Get a cheap camera. Be amazed at what kids do in the way of scrap booking with photos.

If you cant afford an ipad you can get these awesome 7 inch pads off ebay for under a 100 bucks and not the end of the world if they drop them. If you know someone techy they can just load them up with kids movies and then you dont need dvd's as they are on the usb stick or memory card! 5yo would prob like a ds they are cheap these days. Bikes are the things that keep our kids amused the most though but 5 is pretty young for bike I guess, I cant remember!

Take as little as possible.

Cameras are good, bino's need to be auto focus types, Bikes if you can fit them.

The kids will find their own fun, with the normal schooling stuff there will be enough to entertain them even on wet days.

Cheers Kev

Please ... read the question (as teachers always say)
Rebecca is asking about toys for an 18 MONTH old child - bit young for bikes, kites, cameras, ipads eh?

Rebecca you seem to be on the right track - maybe take plenty of paper and crayons, coloured pencils etc, a decent ball or 2, maybe a small inflatable wading pool for hot conditions. Encourage them to collect things that interest them - stones, gumnuts, feathers, leaves - there is an endless variety of shapes, colours and textures to get their imaginative juices flowing. Sometimes you just need to set the example.

Have a wonderful trip.

Cheers,

Val

Hi Rebecca,
Don't forget about stuff you will already have like a saucepan and wooden spoon, plastic dishes (the five year old would probably love a tea party), if it's hot a dish with water and other stuff to play in it like a plastic cup, spoon etc. Playdough is something else that can entertain kids and doesn't take up too much room.
Try and find time to do a scrapbook of your trip with the 5 year old as you go - it is something they can keep and it will help them remember the trip.
On days that you travel, prepare lunch for the kids in the morning and give it to them to eat while you are travelling. Then when you stop for your lunch, the kids can run around and stretch their legs (and play in a park if you have stopped at one) instead of having to sit and eat theirs too.
Have fun!
Leanne

Thanks everyone! I think I am on the right track then. All great ideas...I agree kids make their own fun most of the time with whatever they can find!

Maybe not exactly a toy but we found that frequent stops and games like "I spy" for the older ones helps a lot.

Failing that a soundproof partition between front and back seats.......


Yes I am kidding about the partition (;-))

Cheers
Pop

I guess once you choose the toys for your kids, you should also consider their ages. In that way, it will be easier for to look for the right one.

Cheers!

Sam