We leave for our annual road trip to Colorado in less than two weeks. I love packing and getting ready for trips almost as much as I love taking the trips. There’s something about making lists and checking things off that is very satisfying.
Part of the planning is putting together a 17 hour entertainment plan (times 2) for our son. An essential part of this has been a traveling work surface. Up until last summer we used a lap desk, but it didn’t work very well, so I was looking for alternatives.
A friend of mine got me hooked on using trays to contain kids’ projects at home (working on a LEGO project but don’t want little sister or the dog to get it? Keep it on a tray, keep the house tidy, and your sister from choking.
I thought it’d probably be great in the car, as well. I bought a cheapie, making sure it was a deep tray with taller edges. I packed it along with the planned activities and hoped for the best. It was awesome! It’s now a travel staple for us.
We used it successfully, both there and back, last year. P used it to build LEGO creations, draw (flipped it over), eat his meals a little easier, battle his Beyblades, and more. But while we were visiting my brother he had an idea. He suggested adding something to prevent slipping and sliding. (P’s LEGO creations did tend to slide across the tray when we turned). When we returned home, I used shelf liner and brown felt and it worked like a charm. You can make your own lined travel tray for just a couple of dollars.
Supplies
- Tray- We bought ours for under $2.00 at Wal-Mart
- Felt
- Shelf liner
- Hot glue gun or craft glue
- Scissors
Make it!
- Trace around the bottom of the tray onto your felt and then the shelf liner.
- Cut out
- Glue them together
- Trim to fit
Voila! It’s not gorgeous, but it is very practical. What are your travel secrets?
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Lining the tray is a great idea!
Ahhh what a great ideal
Love this idea. Now just need a way for N to keep one on his lap!
Good luck!
Oh wow what a great idea! I love that the tray has high sides to stop things falling off, and the added anti-slip bottom is genius. I’m going to be on a lookout now for two of these trays for my two. #supermommyclub
Thanks! I’m willing to bet Walmart still has them or something comparable.
Great idea! That would really keep things on the tray.
Cool, i ll definitely be trying this out #supermommyclub
Let me know how it works out!
If you velcro a small pillow to the back (with or without straps to go over the arms of/or around the back of the car seat) it will be more stable, plus you have a pillow. And, if you paint the whole thing in magnetic chalkboard paint, you’ve just added two more cool possibilities.