“Are we nearly there yet?” comes the dreaded cry from the backseat just 20 minutes into the four hour long journey. We’ve all been there. And whilst technology means ipads can be great distractions for long journeys, as can hand held games consoles, if like me you have little ones that gets motion sickness in the car when on a device, you need some more tricks up your sleeve. And believe me, i-spy gets boring pretty quickly on a long road trip.
Road Trip Boredom Busters:
The alphabet game, or the licence plate game, or the how many red cars game, are great to try and distract kids if you end up unexpectedly delayed on your journey. However when you are going on a long journey a little planning can really help keep kids entertained on the road. Check out these games and activities for long car journeys.
Travel Games
There are lots of classic games out there in travel versions, anything from Guess Who? to scrabble. And of course there are a million different versions of Top Trumps out there for whatever your kid is into. It’s a case of getting something you know is age appropriate for your kids and will engage them. Even better if it can be used on planes and rainy days too.
I love this toddler activity book that uses good old fuzzy felt.
Link to product (affiliate)
Activity Books
Activity books are brilliant to bring along anywhere you need to keep kids amused and they can be picked up inexpensively too. Whether you have young kids or older children, there is something for everyone.
(affiliate links)
Stickers
This photo creator from Smyths is great for on the go and provides lots of entertainment. The instant pocket printer comes with stickers and pens, and when you connect it to the app there are hundreds of designs to choose from so they can get really creative.
Audibooks
Audiobooks are a great idea for kids of all ages. You could even but them a voucher so they can choose their own books to listen to on the journey.
For Older kids
Older kids need some entertaining too. If you want to drag them away from their phones, try playing the 50 states game. Or everyone take turns to choose a song and create a family playlist. Make travelling more fun with a game like Tension which my kids love. You are given a category and have to name the 10 things on the card from that category. So it might be “10 things you push” or “10 types of party”. It always ends in lots of laughter and keeps my kids from fighting!
Essentials to Make Your Family car journeys Easier
These are great finds that you never knew you needed but really do make your life that little bit easier.
Car Seat Organiser
These have been making our family travel easier for at least 10 years now. Great for storing colouring books and stickers and snacks.
Link to product (affiliate)
Car Tray
Perfect for kids who love drawing and sticker books. Easy to use on their laps and stops them from dropping things.
Link to product (affiliate)
Travel Pillow
You are winning at life if your kid sleeps on a long road trip. Keep that nap going for as long as possible by making them comfy with a travel pillow.
Link to product (affiliate)
Tablet Holder
An essential item for any parent, unless you have a car posh enough to have tablets in the back headrest. I don’t!
Link to product (affiliate)
Motion Sickness Bands
Essential items to always have on hand in the car.
Link to product (affiliate)
Travel Sickness Bags
As are these sickness bags in case the motion bands don’t work. You only have to deal with the aftermath of vomit in your car once before you always have these close to hand on car journeys!
Link to product (affiliate)
Conclusion
I hope these family road trip games and activities keep everyone entertained and make your journey smoother. Whether it’s games, creative activities, or must-have travel essentials, there’s something here to ensure a stress-free experience. If you’re planning a longer trip, consider investing in a 12 volt refrigerator to keep snacks and drinks cool on the go. Don’t forget to share your own boredom-busting ideas in the comments!
You might also like…
Leave a Reply