Going on a long car journey with children can be challenging, with kids often getting bored, restless and irritable sat in the car for hours on end. Thankfully, there are plenty of fun games and simple crafts you can do to keep them engaged and entertained during the drive. With a bit of imagination and preparation, you can turn the car into a place of adventure and creativity.
Engaging Games
Play simple verbal games – Classic games like I Spy, Licence Plate Bingo, car counting games, and singing songs together are easy ways to have interactive fun in the car. Make up silly rhymes, tell stories, or say tongue twisters. Laughing together passes the time.
Bring portable toys like magnetic fishing rods or magnetic mazes that can attach to the car interior and keep kids busy. Small toys like etch-a-sketches or folding travel puzzles work too. Avoid anything too messy or fiddly.
Do scavenger hunts – Make lists of things for kids to look out for during the drive like red cars, bridges, sheep in fields. The person with the most points wins.
Innovative Crafts
Pack pipe cleaners, pom poms, googly eyes and mini collage materials like stickers, glitter shapes or scraps of paper. Let the kids make little creatures like snakes, spiders or mini finger puppets.
Bring a magnetic board and cut-out magnetic pieces like trees, houses, animals, roads. Kids can create different scenes and stories as you drive.
Fold pieces of card into a mini booklet. On each page have the kids colour in different designs. They can cross pages off as similar things are spotted.
Origami teaches focus. Provide square paper and step-by-step instructions for simple origami models like boats, planes, flowers or animals.
With a bundle of energy and a dash of creativity, car journeys can become quality time, not just travel time. Next time you’re driving with the kids, try out some games or crafts and bring the fun along for the ride. The miles will fly by!
Additional Tips:
– Pack healthy snacks and drinks to keep kids fuelled during the long drive. Stop regularly for breaks, to stretch legs and get fresh air.
– Take audio books, kids music, or radio to provide entertainment between games. Let each child pick a favourite.
– Bring individual travel packs with crayons, notepads, small books or stickers to keep kids
occupied. Pound shops have inexpensive options.
– Invest in a couple of new small toys or surprises just for the trip to maintain excitement.
Wrap them like presents to open later in the drive.
Car trips with kids are easier when your car can accommodate them and their games. Consider upgrading to a larger estate if you regularly tackle long journeys to visit family and friends. In Devon, look at automatic cars for sale in Plymouth. In Manchester, do the same. Local dealers can offer a better service.
With a little prep and creativity, you can make long family road trips entertaining. The journey then becomes part of the adventure rather than something to endure.
