So here's the thing... we're going to be living in a hotel. For 28 days. With 4 kids. Are you running scared yet?! haha So all you moms out there, tell me what to take... the kids are 8, 6, 4 (although Kennedy will be in the hospital for most of the time), and 1. We're taking the Wii and of course there's always the pool on the roof, but what should we have to keep the kids occupied IN the hotel room? I bought Kass and Kam a bunch of books from the AR list to read, but Kameron gets bored easily haha.
So if your kids were going to be in a hotel for a month, what would you not be able to live without?
And PS. For everyone who commented on my last post, you all ROCK! :)
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27 comments:
Board games are your friends.. Apples to apples is a great game, but for older people..Pirates dice is super fun, and kid friendly. Uno and old maid.. Take the portable DVD player so you can hook it up to the tv in the hotel room..
Ummmm....How about takin' the Grandma with you?? She can keep the kids occupied for hours!!
I couldn't imagine living in a hotel room for a month. I guess bring their favorite videos, simple arts and crafts, games. Last time we were in a hotel we had a whole booklet of school work for Natalie to do which kept her occupied. We were only there for a week though, but perhaps just some busy work like that and coloring pages and stuff. I'd say just try to space the stuff out and don't do too much when you first get there so it doesn't get too old. A lot of hotels usually have some sort of game room or something, does this one? I think the bigger question is how do you pack for four kids and yourself to stay in a hotel room for 28 days so you can actually carry all of your luggage and your kids through the airport by yourself. That's what I've been wondering how you are going to do because I could barely manage with two kids and my husband with me when we were only gone for a week. Good luck with all of that. Perhaps you've got the packing thing down with all your stays in the hospital.
My 6 year old would probably like to have her coloring books and puzzles. They travel easy and keep her busy for hours.
Board games, puzzles (maybe a special one for Kass and Kam to do that you can glue together at the end), coloring supplies, movies, music.
I've lived in a hotel room for a long time too (we were moving to Ohio and the company put us up there until corporate housing was available), but I only had TWO kids, and they were 2, and 2 months then. That was tough enough! Let's just say we watched ALOT of TV. There was an outdoor pool, but it was too cold most days. Basically, no advice for you, I just sympathize with you totally
For Kallie, she would want coloring books and crayons and movies. For Brittany, she would want arts and crafts, the Wii, and some computer games. For Keeghan, I have NO idea, but I do think that the only thing that will keep him happy is his Momma! LOL GOod luck Frank and Grandma!
A Portable DVD Player!! Those are our family's best friends while we are in a hotel and on a trip. Also, some pool toys to play with in the pool. Or, you could also get them a few little toys, coloring supplies, or water supplies and give it to them one by one when they are bored and have nothing else to do. That way they can have something new to play with. Just a suggestion.
Amanda R.
I think lots of benadryl!! LOL!!! I thnk the arts and crafts would be fun. Board games for sure the problem will be getting all that to the hotel. Don't froget sunscreen if the pool is on the top. Last thing you want is a screaming kid from a sunburn.Hope all goes well When does dad get back from Iraq?
Oh I'm not laughing... believe me, as a fellow mother of four, I'M NOT LAUGHING!
I fear I would not be half as calm as you when facing the prospect of 4 kids, one mom, 28 days in hotel... well, that's what you can bring - your sunny attitude! It's gotten you through so far!
And your faith of course! How 'bout if I make sure to pray for you each day you're there??
No advice but I'm wishing you luck!
Coloring books.
Activity books, like homework type things. (Walmart has them.)
Educational Videos/DVD
Crayola Color Wonder are wonderful.
Aquadoodle
I'm not sure what else. But, Dad will be there to entertain part of the time too, won't he? That should help. I know my kids would be so thrilled he was there they wouldn't care about anything else!
Board games and cards are always wonderful, as are puzzles (500 pieces will keep you busy for weeks!). I still love to color (and I'm 22!) and there are lots of great word puzzles and riddles and stuff that you can find online and just print out.
You could have the kids make a scrapbook about their trip - draw pictures, write stories, take pictures, etc. Then they can help put it together.
I am loving the answers to this post -- when we go to Colombia to complete our adoption we will be in a very similar situation. I am taking notes over here... :)
My almost 6-year-old and 3 1/2 year old sons can't live without cars/trucks or legos. Perhaps you could go to the $ store and buy a few cheap toys for each of the kiddos and put them away until you get to the hotel. That way they're new toys and will likely entertain them for a little while. Only give them a couple at a time and when their "newness" wears off, give then another new one. Of course my 1 year old loves boexes, etc, so let Keeeghan play with the packaging! LOL! Maybe you could look into visiting a park or something to let the kids stretch their legs a bit.
Hope these suggestions help; they worked with my 3 when we went on vacation last year for 2 weeks.
I've lived in a hotel room for a month with kids and am fixing to be temporarily homeless again for several weeks. Here are some things we always make sure we have:
portable DVD player and tons of movies, deck of cards, board games, magnadoodle(might be great for Kennedy in the hospital too), the crayola magic color markers and books(that way you don't end up paying for the hotel carpet since they only write on the special paper!), headphones and cd players(for when the big kids need time a part), PSP(for my oldest son), Leapster(for my 6 year old daughter), Leap pad(for my soon to be 3 year old and my 4 year old), laptop and educational computer games, notebooks and pens(my kids like to write and draw). Other ideas I thought of for you: have the kids write post cards and mail them to people(with your big blogroll, you got to know lots of people!), have them make and keep a journal of their month away from home(especially since dad will be there too). Also, maybe you could find a really big puzzel they could work with dad on putting together...something you could frame later? Or does Kameron like model cars or anything like that? For Keeghan, I'd make sure to have a pack n play so he can have his own space! I always take books for me so I can sit in a corner and tune them all out when the madness happens :)
I'm wishing you the best of luck with keeping them contained and not fussing and fighting the whole time! If all else fails, make daddy take them sight seeing and we'll all hope the pool wears them out every day!
Having just packed for 4 kids in a similar situation for an unknown period of time... Granted my kids are 1, 2,4, and 5... We brought a lot of the things above- but for the little ones we brought a v-tech rolling singing ball thingy, some small NEW books to chew on (ones they haven't already slobbered on!), the singing puppy that drives adults nuts by fisher price, and a few other little cars or dolls. We also brought a portable swing and 2 pack 'n plays. For Kristopher we brought stringing beads- maybe jewlery beads to make some earrings/necklaces/bracelets? She could even do giveaways on your blog or raffle them for $ for an outing :) I bet they'd go :) :) LOL And we brought some playdough and toys for it, markers and crafty stuff, a travel aqua doodle. My kids are younger than yours but it sounds like you've gotten a lot of good suggestions already!
Well, maybe some duck tape....just kidding!!!!! I do have something for you, hope it might help with a little of the down time...it's a surprise! Talk to ya soon!
maybe 28 days of crafts. easy things like one day colored pipe cleaners, to bend like letters or numbers, maybe fruitloops and a string to make a necklace they can eat later for a snack. hehe, recipe card with stickers to put on it. just something easy, you could even do each craft twice since you have so many days, so you would only have to come up with 14 days worth of crafts. but just something easy that is different. The hospital will/should maybe have a play room? thats always fun for an hour each day. Good luck.
Whatever they play with most at home, you should bring. Also, coloring books, maybe even some other art supplies to make crafts with them.
Movies, DVD's of their favorite TV shows.
Also, I don't know if this would be possible, but it might be a good idea to buy a few small toys for them and pack them away so when they say their bored with the stuff they brought, you can surprise them with something new.
Good Luck!
-Joy
We have 5 kids (ages 2-12). I surveyed my six year old...she says jump ropes (!), bubble bath, friction powered cars (the Speed Racer cars at Wal-Mart are cheap and go far just by pulling back and letting go...they are light weight and small to travel with...set up obstacles in the room for the cars to go over), a calculator, a few new toys for the bathtub (another play area in a hotel room): something that pours, like a small pitcher, linking toys--Sassy makes a set of cups that nest, stack, link, and have holes for water to go through...they are for little ones, but the older ones like them, too!--or, how about a small fishing set to use in the bath or pool? A small plastic tea/dish set would be safe for all ages. We have a very small tea set in it's own case that always goes with us when we travel. Also, ballpoint pens that have multiple colors in one (with pull-down levers to change colors) help save space. Pack several small notepads for doodles and games like Tic, Tac, Toe or Hangman. Connect Four game! Electronic Connect Four, Deal or No Deal, and Tetris are also great (and small). Small, hand-held mazes that you tilt to move the little ball (find packs of these as party favors).
For comfort, I love Johnson's lavender soothing massage oil (not in the baby section, but instead by the regular lotions)...it's in a little bottle and is great for the whole family. It is lightly scented, rubs in right away, and helps soothe and calm.
Think Target, Wal-Mart and the Dollar Store for items you don't already have.
I forgot waterproof Uno and regular playing cards. They can be used in the pool, and in the room.
Ship a box of toys (and whatever else you don't have room to travel with) directly to the hotel. It would be well worth the cost...especially with the extra bag charges on the airlines now.
Also, make sure to ask the hotel/hospital to explain what they offer for kids/families, and for ideas of things to do in the area. The kids play area at the hospital is a great idea to burn a little time each day...I'd be surprised if there wasn't one. Use any resources you have to do some of the work for you!
I hope it all goes well. I'll be checking back to see how you all are doing!
earplugs for all adults LMAO
laptop/computer
coloring books, things that interest the kids, BUT keep in mind you have to haul all that stuff back with you. unless you plan to ship stuff to yourself
coloring books and crayons, puzzles, age appropriate model cars or planes, paint by numbers kits, beads kits, crossword puzzle mags and word search mags, even sudoku mags (Becca taught me how to play sudoku and I'm hooked)
playdoh. That's all I can think of, I hope at least one of my ideas was original, I didn't read the other comments first.
Mazes keep my oldest occupied like nothing else. Anything crafty too.
And, if you have a laptop, internet kids games are fun - i.e. pbskids.com
I will ramp up my prayers! somehow I missed that you were all going to be in the hotel together for the whole month. Yikes. What an adventure.
Go fish cards, definitely. Also Snap, War, and Uno. And the board games-- Sorry, Monopoly Jr., etc. At least for the 6 & ups. I have no idea what to do with a one year old in one room for that long! Good luck with that! ;)
I just stayed with my 3 year old and 14 month old at the time in a hotel for a week while accompanying my husband on a business trip. I brought hundreds (literally)of stickers and paper/sticker books and this kept them both stationary and occupied so I didn't have to keep running after them! Best of Luck to you! I know it won't be easy but it sounds like you have a strong support group!
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