This is a sponsored guest post.
Children are naturally curious, and they should be because it’s how they learn about the things around them. While it’s good to encourage them to explore and interact to things that are new to them, the drawbacks may include that they don’t know how to consciously keep still, especially when they have nothing to do. It can be especially challenging if it involves sitting for a long time, especially when traveling like going on a road trip.
Fortunately, there are ways to keep them in their seats. You just have to introduce things or do activities that will keep them entertained. If you’re stumped on what to offer to them in exchange for peace and quiet for a duration of the car trip, here are some smart ways to keep the kids entertained.
Stream Videos on Tablet
Nowadays, tablets are getting cheaper, and they are often good quality; that is why so many people have access to this type of gadget. Most parents turn to this handy little tool to distract the young ones whenever they have to do some errands or household chores or do a bit of work at home. You can still definitely offer this type of distraction during a, particularly long road trip.
The downside is that tablets have limited battery life, and they will run out of juice after an hour or two. So pack a portable battery pack to recharge your tablet.
To make sure that your kids aren’t uncomfortable when they are staring at the screen, mount the tablet at the back of the front-seat headrest to keep their head up. There are headrest mount accessories out there that you should definitely check out.
Map Challenge
It’s a good idea to instill in children that fun can exist outside of electronic gadgets. There’s nothing more nostalgic than old-school car games. This game involves a printed map and some observational skills.
The children are given a copy of a map, and the task is to find out where you guys currently are. The clues can be in the form of route markers, city signs, and more.
You can be as creative as you want by putting in some rules too. Apart from being fun, it can also help hone their navigational and problem-solving skills.
Listen to Podcasts
If eyestrain gets too much from overuse by looking at screens for too long, it may be time to use the other senses. Podcasts are a great way to pass time, and they can be educational too. There are thousands of free podcasts on the internet, and if your children have particular interests, there’s a chance that a radio show dedicated to it may exist.
If you’re worried about it being age-appropriate especially if your children are still young, it helps to do your research beforehand. You can actually prepare podcast options your family can choose from. Who knows, maybe you’ll all learn something from it too.
Handheld Games
The power of technology is really amazing because another gadget offers another option for keeping kids still and entertained. You can use this if the tablet is too drained to turn on or if it’s currently charging. The great thing about handheld consoles is that it will keep kids busy with their attention and their hands.
You can buy the kids’ favorite games beforehand and keep the console fully charged the night before. Some new consoles out in the market take hours to drain, so you can have a couple hours of reprieve before the boredom strikes again. Plus, there’s a possibility that it will tire the kids so much they may fall asleep—another bonus for you.
Spot the Animal
If you’re going on a road trip to some distant cabin and you expect a lot of greenery, there will be a lot of animals. Apart from the usual deer and birds, you can make it much harder by including insects.
For older children, you can turn it up a notch even more by challenging them to know about the scientific names or some fun facts about animals. For those not really into talks of fauna, some small incentive like a snack prize can be offered as a reward.
Drawing/Coloring
It helps if your kid has interests in drawing and coloring, but if they haven’t got the interest, drawing and coloring are still good ways to pass time regardless of skill. All you need are some paper, coloring materials, and even pens. If you want to cultivate your child’s creativity, start them young by encouraging them to keep at their artful creations.
You can make it easier for them to keep track of their progress by giving them a blank drawing book of their own. You can also make it more special by purchasing them a personalized children’s book where each page has a space for their creations and a place where they can write to add to their memories.
Only Limited by Imagination
The activities mentioned above are just suggestions, and these are things that have been heard before. While that may be true, you can always put a spin on how you can make it more enjoyable for them and for the whole family. You can invent ways to pass time, and that can be a special thing that only your family has.
What are some ways you keep kids entertained during long car rides? Share your tips and experiences in the comments below.
Photo URL: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-and-child-inside-car-1117647/
