Backpack surprises for my dd - ideas?

Madlibs.

J

Madlibs are a must!!

I know this sounds really old fashioned, but everyone I have taken a batch of these for on a long car trip has ended up playing with them for ages. Pipe cleaners! Make a starter bundle with 3 different colors and you can easily teach someone to braid if they don't know how yet. I brought these for my son at 6 on a trip from California to Canada. He learned to braid and then made everyone in the car a braided bracelet, eyeglasses, a lasso, and then started working on making the alphabet with them. Of course, I was in the car next to him, so maybe it was only fun if someone is next to you making requests, I don't know.

Does she get carsick? If not, maybe a book to read during the drive? Or a group game that can be played while still in their seats like "I Spy" or write up a list of things they are likely to see on the road, put in a couple of copies, and let her play it with her seat mates. Hangman? A box of colored pencils and an advanced coloring book?

When we drove with my son, I made up little packets by rolling up everything in individual small paper bags. They were closed with a twist tie - red ones for snack items, white for games. He would close his eyes and pick something out of the bag every hour. Any chance of adding an extra bag filled with games and snacks done this way? The majority of the things I put in could be thrown away as we came upon rest areas. Some he wanted rolled up to play with again.

A cootie catcher...remember those things you would put on your fingers...pick a color then a number and so on.
Candy she can share with her bus friends. Madlibs are hysterical...gel pens, journal
and a good book with a sweet note and a photo of you all tucked in it.