(ARA) - Goodbye neighborhood swimming pools. Hello sandy beaches! According to a ModernMom.com survey of more than 500 moms, more than 87 percent say they'll travel with their children this summer - despite high gas prices.

Make the most of family travels with these fun and smart ideas:

Convenience Products
"Of the moms surveyed, more than 83 percent want portable products to occupy their children during summer travels," says Lolita Carrico, founder of ModernMom.com. "Mothers are looking for supplies that are creative, convenient and portable."

The survey reports that more than three-fourths of moms seek activities their children can use without adult supervision. Parents won't have to look far in their pursuit for creative and convenient entertainment. Products such as Elmer's Go Paint! Mini Travel Pad keep on-the-go kids engaged -- and without any mess. The instant-drying paint is contained in the brush and only works on Go Paint! paper, so it won't stain fabric or skin. Parents also can rest easy, because the paint is safe, nontoxic and washable.

Convenience Foods
Kids will inevitably get hungry during a road trip of any length, and it's good to plan ahead. Parents can save money, because they won't have to buy food at the convenience store or the nearest fast food restaurant.

Choosing brain food will keep their minds and bodies happy. Healthy options are a great way to satisfy children's hunger and ensure they are getting proper nutrition. Try packing individual bags of fruit, such as oranges, grapes, apples and berries. Mix together for a fun fruit salad snack. This goes for vegetables as well. Pack a small plastic container with dipping sauce to entice kids if they are hesitant to eat veggies by themselves.

Grocery stores are full of convenience foods prepackaged for children. Pick out children's favorites and allow them to enjoy one serving each in the car. Choosing something special will help make the trip more memorable and enjoyable. And as always, make sure to pack plenty of liquids including water.

Vacation Activities
So how can parents keep kids entertained on vacation? Elmer's arts and craft expert Michelle Manning suggests the following activities to help parents encourage mess-free, creative free play during summer travels.

* Games: Classic family games make the time pass quickly. Play games like eye spy or give each child a list of items to watch for while driving to the vacation destination.
* Photography: Vacation is the perfect time for children of any age to learn the art of photography. Chronicle unique experiences through photos with a disposable or inexpensive digital camera.
* Personalized postcards: Make one-of-a-kind postcards on summer road trips with glue sticks, markers, paints, buttons, ribbons or stamps.
* Journaling: Create a wonderful vacation memento by writing and designing a journal about summer travels. For a more memorable journal, parents can add in their own entries.
* Storytelling: This is a perfect time to talk to kids about their favorite story from the past year at school and what they are excited about in the upcoming school year. To add in some imagination, make up a story. Choose a setting and several characters and take turns deciding what happens next as the story moves on.

Additional creative projects for a variety of ages can be found at www.elmers.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

###

EDITOR'S NOTE:

ModernMom.com reported that more than 83 percent of moms are looking for entertaining, portable products to occupy their kids during summer travels. Additionally, more than three-fourths of mothers seek activities their children can use without adult supervision. Convenient travel products like Elmer's Go Paint! keep on-the-go kids engaged - and without any mess. The paint is contained in the brush and only works on Go Paint! paper, so it won't stain fabric or skin. More convenience products can be found at www.elmers.com.