When FTF's editor was asked to appear on CNN's Newsite before a recent holiday weekend to show parents how to create a "Car Trip Survival Kit," the FTF staff brain-stormed to come up with the goods.

So, without breaking the bank or loading down parents with a lot of excess gear, FTF presents a Car Trip Survival Kit any parent can assemble, probably from gear you already own.

For Parents To Carry and Administer:

Moist towelettes or wipes
Paper towels
Zip-loc bags: trash, dirty diapers and car sickness attacks
Masking tape: stakes out territory for siblings
Roll of "discipline" quarters: start your trip with a full roll for each child; take one away for infractions or add one for good behavior
Flashlight: to reward kids who want to read after dark
Spare batteries for all

For Infants & Toddlers

Cooler to hold toys and drinks/snacks
Baby safety mirror: clip on visor so driver or passenger can view baby without turning around
Pop-up top on sippy cup for juice/milk
Bottle warmer with cigarette lighter power adaptor
Pull-down, lock in place shade to keep sun away and divert vision of motion sick kids
Plush toys
Padded toy bar to clip onto rear or front-facing car seat
Sports bottle caps to convert bottled water into no-spill containers

For Preschoolers to Have in Backseat

Sesame Street Sing Along Travel Songs or familiar tapes
Sing-along tape with book of lyrics for whole family
Plush toy and picture book for sibling to read aloud
Auto Bingo or "I Spy" out-the-window games on highway
Klutz Press Guides Glove Compartment Games for ideas
FeltKids playsets, such as Busy Day at the Zoo, with self-stick felt pieces to place on cardboard scene, or crayons and pad of paper

For School Age Children to Have in Backseat

Selection of absorbing books with large type
Favorite comics, manuals, "Waldo" type books
Books on tape such as "Lost on a Mountain in Maine"
CD player or I-Pod with headset (Y-jack for siblings)
Magnetic chess and checkers gameboard
Deck of cards
Etch-A-Sketch Book from Klutz Press

For Tweens and Teens to Carry on Own

Most of the above plus:
CDs or iPod collection to play on car stereo
Selection of books
Nintendo DS or PSP and video games
Portable DVD player. While batteries run out, you can buy an inexpensive adaptor to run it off the car's cigarette lighter. Be sure to secure the player safely with Velcro to the back of the front seat or another convenient spot.

None of these suggested amusements take the place of using car trips and plane rides to get to know your captive kids a little better, and to discuss what's on their minds. That may well be the strongest family memory you take away from your vacation.

On the Road Fun

Funpax USA (Dorling Kindersley, $4.95, ages 6-9)
"Batteries Fly Out" is the anagram for which US landmark whose clue is "This lady can be seen from New York Harbor?" With a healthy sense of humor, neat stickers, a puzzle book, wall map, and fun-fact-filled illustrated guide to the 50 states, all neatly tucked into a file folder, the classic but goodie Funpax series (Car Journey, $4.95, is an activity pack for ages 6-12; Travel Games, $5.95, is a crafts and games pack for ages 6-11 among others) is a must- have for the educatable young traveler.