Long car journeys can be tiring for both parents and kids. However, with the right ideas, you can keep your children from getting bored and restless on a long car journey. With this in mind, we have compiled 10 of our favourite ways to keep the kids entertained on the road!
Before you start the drive, you should always make sure your insurance is up to date, especially when travelling with children. NRMA car insurance provides comprehensive cover that will protect your vehicle and your entire family in the event of an accident.
Play car games
There are a number of car games that can keep the kids entertained on long car journeys. Some favourites include I Spy, 20 Questions, and the Alphabet Game (pointing out something that starts with each letter of the alphabet). You could also try playing road trip bingo, which could be even more engaging if you spend a few minutes preparing a bingo board beforehand. You could include things like police cars, airplanes, cyclists and roundabouts. The car counting game (whoever counts ten of a certain type of vehicle or colour wins) or the license plate game (counting to a certain number of letters, numbers or states) could also be good alternatives.
Listen to music or audiobooks
Listening to music or audiobooks is a great way to keep the kids entertained on long car journeys. It might be a good idea to ask them what they would like to listen to beforehand so that you know it’s something they’ll be willing to pay attention to.
Watch a movie
Watching movies is another great way to keep the kids entertained on long car journeys. However, it can be difficult for children under 12 to stay focussed during longer films so consider watching shorter animated or family friendly movies instead. It may also be difficult to set this up in the car, particularly if you have multiple kids in the back. You could try setting a tablet up on a car mount so that all the backseat passengers can see it.
Take regular breaks and provide snacks
Making sure you take plenty of breaks throughout your journey will help prevent boredom and restlessness in the kids. You should also prepare some snacks for the journey to keep their energy levels up. Having good quality, well-balanced food can really help keep your children entertained on long car journeys. Some great ideas include fruit and vegetables (make sure you bring plenty of dips!), sandwiches, cheese sticks or even a picnic!
Play educational games
Educational toys like jigsaws are a great way to keep the kids entertained on long car journeys, as they can also help teach them new skills. You may also want to bring along their colouring books or workbooks to use as well. Colouring in is a great activity for both younger and older children. You can buy special travel-sized colouring books and crayons, or simply use some paper and pens.
Play games on a tablet
Tablets can be great for keeping the kids entertained on long car journeys. There are a number of games and apps available that are perfect for this type of situation, such as the Disney Now app; which includes a wide variety of videos, games, trivia and puzzles. Simple game apps like Angry Birds, Candy Crush and Temple Run can also keep your kids engaged for some time.
Get out and explore
If you’re travelling through rural areas, get the kids to spot different animals or plants by taking regular stops. This is also a great way to keep them active and healthy! It may be a good idea to plan out your pit stops in advance so that you can stop at interesting places. If the drive is going to take the whole day, you could also arrange to have a picnic halfway through so that you can all get some fresh air.
Bring along some toys
If you have any old toys that your children don’t play with anymore, bring them along on your car journey. This can be a great way to keep the kids entertained without spending any extra money. You could keep these in a bag at the front to pull out and surprise your kids with when they start getting restless.
Keeping kids entertained on a long car journey can be challenging, but with some preparation and a variety of activity options you should be able to keep them from wreaking too much havoc. We hope that these tips help you keep your kids entertained on long car journeys.