So, I think our kids are getting used to long road trips considering our lifestyle, but, in the beginning, they weren’t the easiest. We heard the words every parent dreads when setting out on the road, “Are we there yet?” “How much longer” I’m hungry.”
Our travel days were no easy task. If it hadn’t had been for discovering different ways to keep them entertained, I’m sure we would have lost our sanity. That’s why I put together this list of car entertainment for kids. Hopefully, it will help you keep your sanity as well.
24 WAYS TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED ON A ROAD TRIP
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I swear there’s a way to incorporate a game of bingo in any activity, even a road trip. License plate bingo is a perfect way to keep kids entertained. You can create the bingo sheets HERE. You might also want to laminate them and bring a dry erase marker to be able to play the game several times.
You’d think that since I’m from the Metro Detroit area, I’d know a bit more about cars, but I don’t. The kids, however, do and love to point that out to me. So, the game spot the car seemed perfect! Whoever spots all of the cars on the list first, wins. Be sure to type up a list of all the types of cars ahead of time.
A game straight from my childhood, I spy, it’s a great game to keep kids boredom to a minimum, and it’s perfect for all ages. If you’re not familiar with the game, it’s simple. Someone thinks of an object that’s visual to everyone and then say things as “I spy with my little eye something pink (or any color) or “I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter M (or any letter). The rest of the individuals in the car than attempt to guess what object they are thinking.
We love to play audio books while the kids are coloring and strapped in the car. They can’t get away, and they’re minimal distractions, making it the perfect time to play Story of The World.
We have a set of geography flashcards I made a few years back that Mackenzie loves using to give us random quizzes. I went through a bit of work making them, printing them, laminating them, and hole punching them to place them on a binder ring, but you could pick up a set from the dollar store and place them on a binder ring to make things a bit easier.
Depending on rather your child likes to write or not, writing in a journal is a great way to pass time and work on penmanship.
DON'T SAY THESE WORDS
I find this game perfect for kids that tend to argue in the back seat or ask things like ” how much longer.” Before beginning your trip, you chose certain words that aren’t allowed to be said until reaching your destination. If anyone says one of the chosen words, they gain a point. Whoever has the least amount of points in the end wins.
Our kids have completed several books of mad-libs. They are great for learning while on the road.
I'M GOING ON A ROAD TRIP
This game doesn’t require preparation. It’s a memorization game. Someone starts by saying, “I’m going on a road trip, and I’m bringing a pillow (or another item). Another person continues by saying “I’m going on a road trip, and I’m bringing a pillow and notebook (or another item). Each person continues to add items until someone can’t name all of them.
BOOKS
Simple, but they work. We love to use the little libraries located throughout the country to switch out our books as well.
If you’re not against your child being on electronics, you’ll love the Nintendo Switch. We set it up in the car for the kids to play together and limit them to two hours a day. Their favorite game is Mario Cart.
We have one of these for each of the kids. It’s another form of entertainment through electronics, but, nobody has to know, and we’re not judging.
SLUG A BUG
When someone sees a Volkswagen Beetle, they holler out Slug bug and punch the person’s arm next to them. I used to get slugged all of the time by my siblings.
You could choose to leave the punching out of this game.
LEARN ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION
When I know we’re heading to a national park, I like to print out, or download, the pdf form of the Jr. Ranger Activity books to complete them before arriving o the park. This way, we don’t have to worry about completing them while visiting the park.
My favorite game as a kid. It’s a fun game that’s quite and lasts for a while. Bonus, it doesn’t take up much space.
DRAW
Xavier loves to draw! We recently picked him up a drawing pad and pencils that he uses for hours while we’re on a road trip.
COLOR
Who doesn’t like to color? I’d suggest picking up some twist able crayons that don’t need sharpened or triangular anti-roll ones
PLAY CARD GAMES
We love card games, and they can work while on a road trip just as well as they do at home. The kids love Uno and Scramble The States.
TRAVEL BOP-IT WITH HEADPHONES
We love our travel bop-it. Although it is loud, so you might want to purchase a pair of headphones as well.
Many kids are more willing to complete workbooks while their stuck in a car without much to do.
ROAD TRIP SCAVENGER HUNT
Print out a sheet with random pictures of things you will see on your road trip and see who can spot them all first. You can print a pre-made one HERE
Bring a pad of lined paper and play Tic Tac Toe and Hangman.
Games like chess, checkers and tic tac toe come in a size perfect for travel and magnetic.
By UNROOTME
“Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.“
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