Planning a road trip with your child? Road trips are a great way to enjoy family bonding, but kids can become bored easily and quickly on a long journey. Be sure you pack a bag full of car activities in order to keep your child entertained and engaged while on the road. Below are a few suggestions for kids car activities that your child can enjoy alone, or with you.
Car Activities for Kids
Pack a Snack. Be sure you have a snack or two packed for the trip. Be sure the snack is easy to eat, and not too messy. Crackers, a juice box, some sliced carrots, or a small box of raisins are just a few suggestions.
Hand Toys are a Must. Items from your craft closet can make for great car activities. Throw a pack of colored pipe cleaners in your bag, along with a small notebook and colored pencils so that your child can draw, play hangman, play tic-tac-toe, and take notes on the trip.
Consider Small Toys. Small magnetic board games are fun car activities for kids, as are hand-held computer games. Bring extra batteries and the car charger, if you have one. Also consider packing puzzle books and a few highlighters.
A Map. Give your child a copy of the road map and a highlighter so she can chart the route and note how far you've traveled so far.
A Treat. Road trips are supposed to be fun. Throw a treat into your car activities bag. Choose a treat that's not too sticky and won't melt, such as sweet tarts.
Play Eye Spy. A road trip wouldn't be any fun if you didn't play eye spy. Take turns saying, "I spy with my little eye something that's the color _____." Riders take turns guessing what you spy. Offer treats or stickers to the winner.
Play Road Trip Bingo. Create a bingo sheet using items you'd find on any car trip, such as: a stop sign; a blue truck; a rest stop; a car with a Florida license plate, etc. Give everyone (minus the driver) a copy of the bingo sheet and a highlighter. Offer the winner a treat, or the option to pick the lunch stop.
Think about Classic Toys. Some classic toys from the past make for fun car activities. Think about packing an Etch-a-Sketch, Silly Putty, or other hand-held games from the past for your child.
A Magazine and a Book. Don't forget to bring a copy of your child's favorite magazine and a book along. (As long as reading in the car doesn't make him car sick!) It's also fun to bring a book or information about your destination with you, so that your child can learn about where he's going.
Books on Disc. You can always bring a Book on Tape or Disc along, so that the entire family can listen together to a story you all enjoy. Let your child pick a selection or two.
