Traveling with children can be challenging, especially when they are forced to sit in a car for hours on end. These road trip activities for kids will help break up the monotony, and keep your child’s mind on other things than complaining. Save yourself the headache, and give some of these road trip activities a try!
Having a good selection of road trip activities for kids can mean the difference between a fun vacation, and a VACATION FROM HELL. Be prepared with lots of activities, healthy snacks, music the entire family can enjoy, and headphones for the portable DVD player. Trust me. I’ve traveled with kids, and those earplugs are a lifesaver!
First of all, make a big deal out of the road trip activities. Start talking about the “surprises” you have in store for the trip about a week prior to traveling. (Unless, of course, your kids will drive you bonkers with questions. In that case, just leave the “surprise” for the trip) Place a few road trip activities in a brown paper bag and label each back with the child’s name. Enclose a hi-liter, an ink pen, a small pack of gum, an activity book of some type, and your first collection of road trip activities. In a second bag, add another grouping of road trip activities, a new colored hi-liter, a small pack of crayons, a sticker book (or something similar), and a few small surprises. Pack a few of these activity bags for when you pass into new states, or use them as a reward for good behavior. You’ll be glad you’ll have them. Believe me!
Road trip activity # 1
Find a clear picture of a map, and make a photocopy for each child. Give your children instructions to watch for license plates on passing cars, and have the use their hi-liter to color in the states that pass by. Set a goal, for example, whoever colors in ten different states first is the winner. OR, whoever has the most states colored in when you reach a specific location gets a prize, etc. The goal is really just to keep their little minds occupied, allowing you a little peace and quiet during the trip.
Road trip activity # 2
Create a “BINGO” card using objects instead of numbers. You can find stickers of objects you want the children to look for, or clip out images from a magazine or book. The objects should be of things the children will see on the road. For example, a bird, a stop sign, a construction vehicle, etc. Have the children “hi-lite” in the space when they see an object. Whoever fills in their “BINGO” card first receives a small prize.
Road trip activity # 3
NO TALKING. This is actually a game that kids end up laughing over, and it will afford you a little peace and quiet in the meantime. Set a period of time where there is no talking allowed. Instead, children must pass a piece of paper back and forth to carry a conversation. Our family usually ends up writing silly things like, “You smell funny”, or “I think you have a booger”. Yes, we are very childish, but IT WORKS! The best part of the no talking game? There is…no talking. Yeah!
Road trip activity # 4
The ABC game has saved many a family trips for our family. How it works is, you select a topic such as “the circus”, or “the farm:, or “at school”, or “on a picnic”, and so on. Then, one person starts out by saying, “I’m going to the circus (or whatever topic you choose), and I’m bringing……” the first person starts with the letter “A”. The second person will have to remember what the first person said AND add something with the letter “B”, and so on…..all the way through the end of the alphabet. Younger children can just add something with the new letter, and forgo remembering the other items.
Road trip activity # 5
Make the most of your breaks outside of the car. When you stop to use the bathroom, or gas up the car, or get lunch, get the kids active. Have them race to the bathroom, or see who can jump the highest, or the furthest distance. Have the children walk as move as much as possible. This will help wear off some of the energy that has built up inside the car.
Road trip activity # 6
If your children are old enough to read and write, create a few word jumbles for them to solve. Give them five or six word jumbles each, relating to travel, and see who can solve the puzzles first An example of words to use could be, velrat (travel), ssatet (states), nfu (fun), etc.
Road trip activity # 7
Give each child an empty journal and allow them to document their road trip. They can write stories, add stickers, draw pictures, and use their imaginative minds to create a memory book they can enjoy for years to come. For something extra special, give each child a disposable camera and allow them to take photos that can be added to the journal later on.
Other items that will keep your child occupied, and are safe to bring in the car, include:
– Crayola Wonder Art
– Mad Libs
– Magna Doodle
– Board games designed for travel
– Word searches, crosswords, Sudoku, and other word games
– Small dolls or action figures
– Printable coloring pages
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