Long car rides, even short ones sometimes, can be a nightmare for parents with young children. Children don’t often like to sit still for very long. And, with their shorter attention spans, it can feel like keeping them entertained is impossible.

Traveling is a necessary part of life, and sometimes long trips are simply unavoidable. With proper planning, you can have a variety of things for your children to do that can help keep them entertained.

If you do a lot of driving, you should definitele check out auto insurance quotes to make sure you have the best coverage for your needs, as it’s very important to plan ahead and be more prepared.

Bring Along Art Supplies 

Art supplies are a fun and easy way to keep children occupied during your travels. Crayons, markers, coloring books, and sketch paper are all relatively inexpensive, and they allow children to be as creative as they’d like, letting their imaginations run wild.

You can also purchase travel art sets, which are very convenient to have because everything is neatly stored in one place. You can even make your own travel art kit that you keep in the car for very little money.

If you fear your children making a mess in the backseat with their crayons or markers, you can always use scratch paper art instead, which allows them to scratch designs into a piece of paper.

Utilize Rest Stops 

It’s common to want to get to your destination as soon as possible without making a bunch of stops along the way. You may have to compromise, though, and utilize rest stops if your kids become upset and they’re not calming down.

It can be very difficult for them to sit still for such a long time, and having the chance to get out, stretch their legs, and have a potty break can make a huge difference in their moods and behavior.

Pack Fun Toys 

Pack a bag with your child’s favorite toys. You can also mix things up and throw in some toys they have not played with for a while. If your child is old enough, you can encourage them to pack their favorite toys, so there will hopefully be no meltdowns if you accidentally forgot to pack something.

Tablets and Handheld Gaming Devices Can Help 

Tablets and handheld gaming devices can keep children entertained for hours. It’s understandable if you don’t want your child to use a tablet for a long period of time, but tablets can be extremely helpful if you do choose to use them. It’s important for your children to pack headphones, especially if they’re playing games or watching movies because the noise can become distracting. Anything that pulls your attention from the road can put everyone at risk, so stay focused. If your child has a tablet, you can download some shows or movies for them to watch without needing to be hooked up to wi-fi.

You can also download some fun new apps for them to try out during the trip. 

Play Car Games 

Depending on how old your children are, car games can be great fun for the whole family. There are many games you can play, or even try inventing your own.

Common car games like Guess the song, I Spy Alphabet, Deep questions, Going on a Picnic, Would You Rather, License plate game, and Story Car games are something that can get the whole family talking and having fun together.

When you plan to drive long distances, especially with children, you always want to be prepared for anything that can happen. Let someone know where you’re going, make sure you have plenty of gas, and pay extra attention to the weather forecast before you leave.

Hope you have learned something from today’s blog post. Till next time and thank you for stoping by!

A happy homemaker is a happy pinay mommy!