It’s no secret that kids can get easily bored in the car, whether you’re on a road trip or just going down the road. With the average family spending 87 minutes a day in their vehicles, you need a way to keep your little ones entertained so everyone’s happy when you’re behind the wheel.
Here, we’ve collected five simple ways you can help to keep your kids entertained so you’ll have to answer “Are we there yet?” just once.
1. Turn on a movie or show the length of the trip
Entertainment can be tricky when the thing you’re using to keep your kids distracted ends up being more fun than the final destination. To avoid cutting a movie off right at the good part to visit grandma, set up a movie or show that’s the same length as your trip. Cartoon shows, for instance, can last anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes while full-length movies can last between an hour to 120 minutes. Just be sure your tablet or car infotainment center has cast routing technology for faster loading times so you don’t have to worry about lag while you’re on the road.
2. Game your heart out
Many kids play video games on their tech while in the car. In May 2020 alone, over 200 million copies of Minecraft were sold, and Nintendo sold 14.3 million copies of Animal Crossing: New Horizons between March and September. To keep your child’s tablet, Nintendo switch, or other tech from dying in the middle of a road trip, make sure to keep a backup battery on hand that you can plug the tablet so it can charge while you’re on the go.
3. Amp up your I-Spy game
I-Spy can be a little bit tricky when you’re on the road. A great alternative is to see who can spy the greatest number of a chosen object or color. See who can spy the greatest number of yellow cars or the greatest number of cows if you’re driving somewhere rural. You can make the game as short or as long as you like, too, to keep things fresh.
4. Create a Spotify playlist
If your kids bicker over who gets to choose the music in the car, consider having them make a playlist of some of their favorite tunes. You can put the playlist on shuffle once you hit the road, too. This way, everyone gets to hear some of their own music.
5. Set up a travel tray
Travel trays for older kids can be a great way to keep them entertained. The tray creates a flat surface that lets them color in coloring books or scribble in activity books while you’re driving. Pockets along the side also help to keep crayons and washable markers from scattering across the seat. What’s more, a travel tray can also double as a food tray to help keep snack crumbs from getting everywhere in the backseat.
It can seem challenging to keep your kids entertained while you’re on the road. After all, no wiggle worm likes to sit still for long. But by following the tips above, you can help to make sure everyone is content for the ride.
