It’s insulated to help keep drinks and other snacks cold, and kids seated on either side of it can help themselves when they want. Identical sides are thoughtfully provided to prevent sibling squabbles, and the top has flip-up sides to keep crayons, food or toys from sliding off.

Obviously, a car trip is probably not the time to allow cute little Corbin to bring his favorite 100-piece puzzle or building kit with multiple parts. Instead choose from magnetic play sets that range from dolls to dinosaurs.

Laptops for the younger set are another good idea – SW Express Preschool Laptop ($27.95, pictured) introduces kids to computers, and best of all, keeps him or her busy for miles, especially if you wait to give it to them right before you hit the road. Lights and sounds accompany matching games and more. It’s recommended for ages 18 month and older.

Mid to older elementary-age kids may enjoy the mental challenges of Gridworks, a spiral-bound collection of logical deduction games with magnetic pieces.

Got a teen who is traveling with the family, perhaps under protest? You may be able to snag their interest by handing over a video camera for them to chronicle the trip. You want something fairly easy to use that isn’t so expensive (so you won’t get too upset when they accidentally drop it over the hotel balcony). DXG-711  is small enough to stick in a pocket, but with 7 megapixels and a 2.5-inch high resolution LCD display and 3x optical zoom, it’s just the thing for recording family memories. Your tech-minded teen probably won’t even have to read the  the operating manual. It retails for just under $100.

Another electronic lifesaver for the modern family is the Griffin TuneJuice 2 Battery Backup for iPod.  This is for the family member who can’t function without tunes, but isn’t always going to have access to an electrical outlet for their charger.

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