Fussbusters on the Go : Strategies and Games for Stress-Free Outings, Errands, and Vacations with Your Preschooler

by Baicker-McKee, Carol

• ISBN13: 9781561452637
• ISBN10: 1561452637
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Peachtree Pub Ltd

Summary

Whether parents are running errands with toddlers in tow or packing up the family for a long vacation, traveling with children can be a challenging experience. Boredom, delayed flights, long car rides, longer waits, and sibling squabbles can easily interrupt any adventure. Here is a one-of-a-kind survival guide for parents filled with practical strategies, activities and ideas for making family outings successful, safe, and fun! The first part of the book looks at the special circumstances and unique challenges of everyday outings, including managing trips to the grocery store and visits to the dressing room; keeping children entertained in restaurants and waiting rooms; and negotiating public transportation. The second part focuses on longer trips and vacations and covers topics such as: successful trip planning, entertaining activities to occupy restless kids; managing car, plane, train, bus or boat travel; and keeping kids clean, well fed and well rested on the road. Sidebars throughout highlight important information and offer helpful suggestions and safety tips. As a mother and child development specialist, author Carol Baicker-McKee understands well the special rewards and difficulties of traveling with children. Using the ideas in this resourceful guide, parents can end grocery store tantrums and car ride meltdowns, and transform any trip with young children into an enjoyable and memorable outing.

Author Biography

With an advanced degree in child psychology and years of professional involvement in child and youth services, Carol Baicker-McKee is a three-time veteran of the delivery room

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
Un-Erring Those Errands	1	(25)
Make Like a Boy Scout and Venture Out Prepared	3	(2)
Grocery Store Games: Shop `N' Play	5	(2)
Shopping Stickum: Stay Together Strategies	7	(2)
Shopping on the Incentive Plan: Enticements and Rewards	9	(2)
Shopper, May I? and Other Foot Un-Dragging Remedies	11	(2)
Speed Shopping Strategies: Whipping Through without Whining	13	(1)
``Look with Your Eyes, Not with Your Hands'' and Other Entries in the Parents' Essential Shopping Phrasebook	14	(2)
It's Done with Mirrors: The Magic Trick of Distracting Kids in the Dressing Room	16	(2)
Can't You Hold It Until We Get Home? Visiting the Potty Wherever You Go	18	(3)
High Anxiety: Elevator/Escalator Issues	21	(1)
The Toy Store Tango: Tips for Those Difficult Shopping Experiences	22	(2)
The Ins and Outs of In and Out: Surviving a Series of Short Errands	24	(2)
Wait Gain	26	(30)
Just Seeing Half the Picture and Other Paper and Pencil Play	27	(2)
Blindfolded Auto Racing: More Paper and Pencil Games	29	(1)
Name That Clink! and Other Guessing Games	30	(2)
Penny Pile: Coined Games	32	(2)
Straw Votes: Things to Do with Stuff on the Table	34	(2)
Memorabilia: Recall for Fun	36	(2)
Penny School and Other Moving Waiting Games	38	(1)
Charades, Jr.: Figure-It-Out-While-You-Move Games	39	(2)
Mirror, Mirror in the Chair: Quiet Imitation Games	41	(1)
Bouncers and Ticklers Too	42	(2)
Reading Rooms: Marian Librarian to Go	44	(2)
Zoomers: Choreographed Movement	46	(2)
Whispering 101: Volume Control and Lipper Zippers	48	(2)
Butt Glue Sticks: Sit Still Strategies	50	(1)
Sign Language: How Your Child Can Tell You Important Things Like ``I'm About to Pee My Pants!'' without Making a Public Announcement	51	(2)
Church Mice and Putty-in-Your-Hand: Emergency Props	53	(3)
Surviving Doctors' Offices, Hairdressers, and Other Places Your Child Hates	56	(26)
Dry Runs: Dress Rehearsals and Instant Replays	58	(2)
Groomer-Soothers: Gentle Touches for Rough Times	60	(2)
Finger Creepers: Touchy-Feely Distractions	62	(1)
Puppet Pals: Friends-in-Need	63	(2)
Doctor, Doctor, I Declare! You Can See My Underwear	65	(2)
Sleepy Puppy and Other Pain Management Strategies	67	(2)
Pricker Presents: Lights at the End of the Tunnel and Other Coping Mechanisms	69	(2)
Sara's a Sandwich: Buck-Up Games	71	(2)
Open Why? Dentistry without Pain in the Buttinski	73	(2)
Introducing the Hair Fairy and Other Trim Tactics	75	(2)
No-Toy Joy: Finding Amusements at Great-Aunt Ethel's and Other No-Fun Places	77	(2)
Warning: I'm Packing! An Emergency Comfort Kit	79	(3)
Going on Outings without Going out of Your Mind	82	(28)
Stopping at the Expectation Station: Program Previews	84	(2)
Oh, the Places You'll Go! Best Bets with Young Kids	86	(3)
Red Shirting: Avoiding Those Embarrassing ``Will the Parents of ''Announcements	89	(3)
The Buddy System: Friends Make It Fun	92	(1)
We're Going Bear Hunting! Answers to ``Why Did We Come Here?''	93	(2)
First Watch: Audience Dress Rehearsals and Other Viewing Readiness Tips	95	(2)
Fan-Tastic! Short Spectator Strategies	97	(3)
Hello, Uncle Beasley! Rituals and Traditions for Regular Stops	100	(1)
Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Snacks! Eating, Eating Everywhere	101	(3)
Slide Rules and More Guidelines to Go	104	(2)
Unerowding and Other Re-Comforts	106	(2)
Gestapo Tactics for Gift Shops: Keeping Your Sanity or at Least Your Credit Cards in Your Wallet	108	(2)
Don't You Hate It When the Kids in the Car Go Whine, Whine, Whine?	110	(29)
No Cows in the Front Seat and Other Important Rules of the Road	111	(2)
Safety Seat Savvy: Boosts for Booster Use	113	(2)
Wiggles for Squirm Worms: Ideas for When You're Driving Miss Energizer Bunny	115	(2)
Tales It Us: Stories to Go	117	(2)
Red Light Magic Spells and Love Bug Hugs: Driving Traditions	119	(2)
``This Is the Song That Never Ends'' and More Drive-By Singing	121	(2)
Car Talk: It's More Than Chitchat with Click and Clack	123	(2)
Truth or Goof? and Who Said That?	125	(2)
Finger Fun: Staying out of the Devil's Workshop	127	(1)
Stirring and Stirring My Brew: Quickie Car Sillies	128	(2)
Pre-Boarding: Waiting Safely and Contentedly	130	(2)
Step Right Up! All Aboard and End of the Line Strategies	132	(3)
The Kids on the Bus Go With Luck, Not Out of Their Minds from Boredom	135	(1)
Houston, We Have Some Problems! and Maybe Some Solutions!	136	(3)
Getting There Can Be at Least 10 Percent of the Fun	139	(35)
Anticipation/Preparation: Planning for Peace and Prosperity	141	(2)
Packing for Pleasure: What to Remember Besides Underwear and Toothbrushes	143	(3)
Totes of Note: What to Carry On or Carry In	146	(2)
Journey-Wear: Outstanding Outfits and Puppy Tags	148	(3)
Ready to Roll: Good-Byes, Good Pees-and Good Luck!	151	(2)
Frustration Station Master: Surviving Airports and Other Departure Points	153	(3)
Food to Go: Keeping Tummies Happy with Fewer Stains, Cavities, or Ants	156	(2)
Sit-Able: Tips for Tushes and Tempers	158	(3)
Barf Baggage: Riding Out Motion Sickness	161	(3)
How to Say ``No, We're Not There Yet!'' without Clenching Your Teeth: Smile-Posts and Advent Clocks	164	(1)
My Silly Aunt Sally and Other Thinking Games	165	(2)
And May the Blue Cars Win! Looking Games	167	(2)
Glow Worms and Raindrop Races: Activities for Special Situations	169	(2)
Plane Speaking: Ears, Fears, Sneers, and Pee-ers	171	(3)
When You're Sentenced to Life on the Road	174	(31)
Home-Instead-ing: Creating Home-for-Now Comfort Wherever You Go	176	(1)
Flex Time: Schedule Adjustments and the Traveling Blues	177	(3)
Mark That Room! New Way Finders	180	(1)
Happy-Tizers: Meals Out Can Be In-Sort Of	181	(3)
Traveling Hygiene: Getting Clean with No More Tears (Than Usual)	184	(2)
``I've Peed in Pennsylvania!'' Flushing Away Traveling Potty Issues	186	(4)
``But I Can't Poop in Poughkeepsie!'' Flushing Away Plumbing Clogs and Leaks	190	(2)
Accommodating Roommates and Other Sleeping Arrangement Solutions	192	(3)
Snuggy Buggy Rubbies and Humpty Dumpty Habit-Breakers: Settle Down Strategies to Go	195	(2)
Travels with Ted-Ted: Taking Care of Loveys and Other Valuables	197	(2)
Looking for the Wiggle Room: Where and How to Play When You're Away	199	(2)
Danger Ranger, Jr.: Safety Tips for Home-Away-from-Home Dangers	201	(4)
Because You Didn't Go All That Way Just to Listen to Incessant Whining, Did You?	205	(34)
Wee-Minders: The Rules of Pleasure	207	(1)
Look Out! Don't Fall in the Tourist Traps! Beware the Evil Have-Tos	208	(2)
``I Said 'Smile and Look Happy,' Dang Nabbit!'' Surviving Photo Ops	210	(3)
Sooth-enirs: Comforting Memories to Take Away	213	(2)
It's All Relative: Getting Along When Getting Together	215	(3)
Cheap and Easy Smile-Finder List: Top Ten Ideas for Almost Anywhere	218	(3)
Hey! There's Nothing Here But Sand and Water! Sanding Down Rough Beach Issues	221	(2)
No-Scream Sunscreen: Almost	223	(3)
Happy Trails: Walking with Less Whining	226	(1)
The Prep Step: What to Do Before You Head to the Amusement Park	227	(3)
Looking for Wheeeee! The Psychology and Physics of Fun	230	(3)
Whistle While You Wait: Line Games	233	(3)
We Are Not Amused: Dealing with Problems	236	(3)
Minor Disaster Management	239	(24)
Separation Anxieties: Sticking Together Strategies and Emergency Responses	240	(4)
Cooler Heads Prevailing: Temperature Control Tactics	244	(4)
Tooth Fairy Finders and Other Tips for Special Occasion Problems	248	(2)
Pomp and Special Circumstances: Helping Your Child Manage Ceremonial Obligations	250	(3)
A Pox on Your Vacation: When Illness Strikes	253	(2)
Have the Sense to Get Out in the Rain! Weathering Bad Weather	255	(2)
Feel Betters: TLC after Sunburns, Bites, Stings, and Bleedies	257	(2)
Scared Tactics: How to Un-Frighten and Re-Encourage	259	(2)
Home Remedies for Homesickness: What to Do When Your Kid Feels Blue	261	(2)
The Best Disappointments in Life Aren't Free: Coping When Things Don't Turn Out as Expected	263