Life & Family | Toys

They won’t ask, “Are we there yet?”

And so begins the annual rite of passage—the summer road trip. Help kids keep busy while on the go with engaging word games, a coloring kit that’s practically magical or whimsical playthings that make strolling a breeze.

A plain old pad and pencil is so ho-hum. The TRIPtivities activity book ($10, klutz.com) offers 120 pages of puzzles, brainteasers, mazes and word games that are bound to satisfy your most trying traveling companion. There’s even plenty of doodle pages for the daydreamer who’s ready to give his iPod a rest.

Coloring in the car can be a bit difficult, even for the most dedicated artist. The Crayola Color Wonder Stow & Go Studio ($10, crayola.com) offers a sturdy drawing surface with oversized clips that keep masterpieces in place. The included Color Wonder markers help colors magically appear on special black paper, ensuring that the car ride is nothing short of spectacular.

Thanks to the Musical Nature Stroll ($23, tinylove.com), the only sounds you’ll hear coming from your little one will be giggling and cooing. A stroller bar of colorful toys in the likenesses of a lion, parrot and other fun friends will delight and amuse babies out and about. This playful menagerie can be positioned within your child’s reach, giving plenty of opportunity to explore her world from the comfort of her stroller.