How to Survive Life As an On-the-Go Mom with a DIY Car Survival Kit

Lately it seems like we spend more time in our minivan than we do at home. Between the back and forth drives to school, swimming lessons, play dates and birthday parties, we are pretty much always on-the-go. Plus, now that it’s finally getting warm outside again, things are crazier then ever! I wouldn’t trade our busy lifestyle, and the time we spend together for anything, but if there is one thing that I learned very early on as a mom, it’s that being prepared (for any situation), really saves my sanity and helps to keep my kids smiling and happy. If you’re a parent, and you’ve ever been caught in public somewhere when you didn’t have something that you really needed in that moment, you know just how stressful these types of predicaments can be. That’s why awhile back, I made it a point to create a survival kit to keep in our car that included some basic items like snacks, activities to keep my kids entertained, and spare clothes, so that we would always be prepared for any situation that might be thrown our way.

The snacks were a no-brainer… There is nothing worse then having one of your kids tell that they are “starving” while your chauffeuring them all over town and have nothing to offer them. My kids love Goldfish® crackers, and I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t too. I always keep Goldfish® snack size bags and their grab & go containers in our car kit, along with small bottled waters and other snacks that we all enjoy. I can assure you, this has saved me more times than I can count.

With kids, a change of clothes for each of them is basically a necessity. It never fails that one of them spills something or has an accident while you’re out and about and have zero time to stop home for a change of clothes. I also like to keep our kit stocked with activities, such as books (our favorite are Where’s Waldo), games for the car, and even a few DVDs, for when all else fails and I need to keep my kids entertained. A first aid kit is another must, just in case, plus I always like to keeps wipes and hand sanitizer on hand, because lets be honest, kids are messy. Some additional items that I include, and that have come in handy for us in that past, are a picnic blanket, and some sunscreen… Just in case the urge arises to hit up the park.

Seeing as this whole post is about making your life easier and less stressful, I’m sharing a video that will show you exactly how I pack our car survival kit.

You can find more amazing videos that feature fun ideas from Goldfish® here, and for great activities, recipes, and family fun including Goldfish® click here!

What are your must-haves for an on-the-go lifestyle with kids?