Getting out and about with your kids is one of the biggest joys of family life, but road trips with children can also be stressful. How to keep kids entertained on long car rides depends on your children’s ages and personalities, but the whole family can enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Here’s how.
Road trip survival starts at home
Plan ahead. Know how long your journey will take and divide it into stages, with planned breaks. Within each stage, allocate segments for screen time, quiet time, solo activity time and family activity time.
You do not have to stick to this schedule — you probably won’t — but having one will help you stay in control. Children thrive on routine and expectations, so telling them what is expected of them during each stage of the journey is in itself calming and reassuring.
Once you have your schedule, gather the toys and activities your kids will need and pack a bag for each child.
Before you leave
On the morning of your road trip, assemble healthy drinks and snacks for everyone. Tortilla wraps are a great idea for a convenient breakfast on the road. Fill them with a delicious scrambled egg and cheese mixture for a healthy snack that is self-contained and easy to hold. Whether it’s eaten at home or in the car, starting with a well-balanced meal can improve your child’s energy level and mood, making for a better road trip experience.
Once you are all packed up — if time permits — head to one of Toledo’s 65 playgrounds for a quick run around before settling into the car. This will help to burn off excess energy and hopefully get you off to a good start.
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Engaging road trip activities for kids
Once you are on the go, choose from various backseat car activities to keep your children entertained on the long journey. Here are some popular ideas:
- Audiobooks: Stories can keep kids engaged for long periods.
- Sing-alongs: Create a playlist of kid-friendly songs and have a family sing-along.
- Travel games: Classics that need no equipment include I-Spy or 20 questions.
- Activity books: Pack coloring books, sticker books and puzzle books.
- Small toys: Bring self-contained things without small pieces that can go missing.
- Storytelling: Take turns telling stories, with each person adding a sentence.
- Window markers: Washable window markers can engage children of all ages.
- Screen time: Screen time is your friend on road trips with kids, so don’t be afraid to use it. For designated periods, let your children enjoy tablets or devices quietly.
- Scavenger hunts: Create a list of things to spot along the way — such as a red car, a cow, a bridge and so on — and have your children check each item off.
12 tips for surviving road trips with kids
Your own attitude matters, so try not to show irritation or impatience. Top tips include:
- Stay calm, especially if others get cranky or things go off schedule.
- Don’t be tied to the clock. Your trip will take as long as it takes.
- Don’t give out all the activities at once. Offer one thing at a time.
- Hold on to some surprises or special treats for when the going gets tough.
- Make sure kids stretch their legs and do some physical activity each time you stop.
- At the first sign of squabbles, intervene and calmly redirect your children’s attention.
- Fidget toys can help reduce stress and pent-up energy.
- Rotate between quieter and louder activities.
- Acknowledge milestones and let kids tick off every 50 miles or so.
- Encourage older children to track your progress on a map.
- If behavior deteriorates, pull over when it’s safe and calmly restate your expectations.
- Accept that children will be tired, bored and restless at times. That’s natural. Acknowledge their feelings and redirect them.
Keeping kids entertained on long car rides
Some advanced planning goes a long way toward a stress-free road trip for the whole family. Children are children, and perfect behavior is unrealistic. However, fun activities, healthy snacks and a positive attitude can help make every road trip with kids more fun.
