‘Are we there yet?’
‘For the hundredth time, NO.’
This is me during any of the road trips we’ve taken with the kids. Sometimes just the thought of a road trip makes me anxious.
My kids don’t like these long road trips. They get fidgety sitting in the car after like an hour. The word battles begin. The whining gets annoying. And if we are lucky, we get there without having to calm down a tantrum.
But I totally understand. It’s not easy sitting for such long hours. Even I get tired. And my kids are still learning to understand how the world works. They aren’t able to control their emotions and feelings for long.
But still I get frustrated. So here I am compiling a list of road trip activities for kids for the next travel (and it could be soon!)
9+ Road Trip Activities for Kids
Here are some road trip activities for kids:
Car Seat Organizer
Let’s start with the basics. We need a place to keep all the activity materials. This car seat organizer by Keeping it Simple is pretty comprehensive. You can put in paper, pens, snacks, and even some small toys and knickknacks.
Or if you aren’t the DIY kind, this car seat organizer will pretty much hold half your kid’s toys and then some.
Trivia Questions
Time for you to ask the questions!
Road trips are a great way to open communications with your kids. And a good time to sneak in some learning with these 60+ Trivia Questions. You can also make your own questions based on your child’s learning stage and current curriculum. Create a mix with questions from all subjects.
Extend this activity with these conversation starter questions.
Travel Bingo
Bingo is always fun. You can play it together as a family, or even hand over this printable to your child to complete on his own. What I like about this printable is that it has both pictures and letters for each object. This makes it good for both preschoolers and older kids.
Pro Tip: Don’t turn any of these activities into a competition for your own sanity.
Travel Scavenger Hunt
My kids have always enjoyed scavenger hunts. We have done both outdoor and indoor scavenger hunts. So, this travel scavenger hunt is the next thing on our list. It is ideal for preschoolers with its A-Z flashcards. I suggest you don’t give them all the alphabets. Sort through them and take out the ones you are most likely to see along the way.
Or you might want to print this one. Also, try this I-spy Restaurant Printable.
For older kids, you can try this tween travel scavenger hunt.
Travel Printables
If you have already tried and crossed off Bingo and Scavenger Hunt, you could try this very interesting Summer Travel Game.
This Square and Dot Printable might also be worth a try.
Lego Altoid Tins
Perfect for little Lego enthusiasts. Amanda from Crafts by Amanda has created this fun mini Lego playset for road trips. You can create your own set, depending on the Legos you have with you. Just keep the Lego blocks to a minimum. You don’t want to make stops through your road trip looking for fallen or missing pieces.
Football Busy Book
Whoever came up with the idea of a busy book was a genius, I think. It’s such an easy way to improve your child’s motor skills and teach them life skills. This football busy book, for instance, lets your child practice lacing his shoes in a fun way.
Or you could also invest in a busy book. I kind of like this one by Beiens.
Road Trip Binders
These Road Trip Binders are also a great way to keep all your road trip activities for kids organized. You can add items according to your child’s preference. Put the Bingo and Scavenger hunt cards in the binder. Also, add this Do Dot Printables Book in the binding for young learners.
Sing Songs
When your kids get tired of all the printables, and the other stuff, start singing songs. Let them to join in. Bookmark these road trip songs for inspiration later on.
Road Trip Tips for Kids:
If you are planning a road trip with kids, these tips might come in handy:
- Pack healthy snacks. Kids get hungry when they are bored. This means more snacking. I would advise packing healthy snacks so they won’t be tempted to just munch because it’s junk. And don’t forget water bottles. Pack extras. But ration the water bottles. Keep it with you.
- Take along the screen, but keep it as the last option. Once your kids have gone through all the activities, it might be time to take out the screen.
- Have Fun! The kids will fight and they will complain even when you have planned the best road trip. Take it in a go and relax. Read a book. Listen to music. Tune for kids out for a while.
- Bring along a surprise. Don’t pack everything in your child’s car seat organizer. Leave something special in your bag. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Even a Dollar Tree surprise will work.
- Pack a first aid kit. Be prepared. Put paper bags in it too in case of any accidents.
- Wear comfortable clothes. Dress in the most comfortable wear. This goes for you and your kids. Dress in layers so you can put on or take off a few items when required.
- Plan Your Breaks. You will be taking breaks. Your kids, and also you, need to go to the bathroom. You might want to walk about your legs a little bit. Before leaving, check maps and plan where you can take breaks. And every time you take one, make sure your child uses the bathroom. Even if he says he doesn’t need to go, encourage him to at least try.
I hope these road trip activities for kids will help you enjoy your next excursion. If you notice your child struggling and these strategies aren’t helping, I would love to help you determine your child’s individual needs. Please reach out to set up a free consultation. We are here to support you as you help your child blossom!
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