It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. You have a long drive ahead that’s going to take several hours before arriving at your destination, and there are young children to somehow keep entertained throughout the duration.
From the “are we there yet?” questions five minutes into the journey, to the toilet break demands and general complaints of boredom, it can be testing!
To help save parents from the brink of insanity, we have pulled together our top tried-and-tested tips on how to keep your little ones entertained in the car.
Comfort is Key
When you’re about to embark on a lengthy car journey with the kids, the first thing you should consider is comfort. Make sure you choose an appropriate vehicle to travel in. If you have two cars, opt for the one with most room so that you can pack everything in the boot neatly, without need for bags and belongings taking up precious space in the back with the kids. Ensure car seats are securely in place and that the children are comfy before setting off. If you’re going to be traveling for hours, it can be a good idea to pack pillows and blankets for the kids – if you’re lucky enough they may even take a nice, long snooze amidst the journey!
Screen Time
We realise that with the pressures of screen time rising more and more for parents, it can be difficult to reach for this as a solution. However this is the perfect guilt-free time to do just that! When they can’t be playing outside in the garden getting or getting fresh air in the park. They are quite literally stuck in their seats for the next several hours. This is the perfect time to pass them their tablets (and headphones!) and let them fill their boots. You’ll be amazed how much peace and quiet you can suddenly get whilst the kids are engrossed in their screen time. What’s more, it doesn’t have to be just games or television they engage with. You can download educational apps which they can play on or even get them to do their homework in a fun and engaging way whilst you travel.
Snacks For The Road
Let’s face it, snacks make any long journey better – for children and adults. But it’s also been proved that boredom is a trigger for psychological hunger. When we’re sat for a long period of time with nothing to do, our brains automatically drift to what it can do in that moment; eat! That’s why it’s important to pack plenty of your children’s favourite snacks for the journey. Feel free to mix it up with a range of healthy snacks and some treats too to keep everyone happy. If you’re traveling on a warm day, use cooler bags to keep your prepared food fresh. You can also use metal ‘chilly’ bottles to keep drinks cold and refreshing throughout your journey.
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