Road trips shouldn’t be an excuse for more screen time – no matter what your kids say. You have the power to opt for no or minimal screens and still make this an unforgettable journey! There are two key components to a successful, screen-free road trip: preplanning and organization.
Things to Remember:
What to Bring
Free Printables. Look online for free dot-to-dots, mazes, coloring pages, look-and-finds, license plate games, sudokus, drawing prompts, etc. Don’t forget a map to track your route, and a few educational math and writing worksheets. Print, staple into a package, or insert sheets into a binder. Voilà! You have a homemade activity book.
Activity Books. If you don’t want to make your own or are short on time, buy one.
Travel Journal. Print or purchase a travel journal. Kids can start recording their adventure as soon as you leave home.
Books. Don’t stop at physical books; consider audio books, too. An e-reader or other reading device can keep clutter at a minimum.
Fidget and Sensory Toys. Pack an assortment. For example, include Rubik’s cubes, fidget spinners, push pop bubble toys, squishy toys, and similar items.
Favorites. Let your kiddos grab one or two cherished toys – but consider imposing size limits.
Stickers. Gather all your old stickers, some blank sheets of paper, and instruct kids to make sticker masterpieces. Alternatively, companies such as Melissa & Doug sell charming sticker booklets. Window clings that can be repositioned into new scenes on car windows also keep little imaginations occupied.
Arts & Crafts. Pipe cleaners and wax craft sticks can be bent into all manner of shapes. Sewing cards keep little fingers busy, as do coloring books and sketchpads. Notebooks are good for those who write stories or journal, as are blank comic books for emerging cartoonists. On top of these, everyone likes to tinker with dry-erase boards (don’t forget dry-erase markers, too), Etch A Sketch toys, doodle boards, or writing tablets.
Flashcards. Flashcards come in virtually any subject: STEM, vocabulary, geography, animals… take your pick!
Magnets. As long as you trust no one will swallow a magnet, magnetic toys are perfect for the car. There’s dress-up playsets, puzzles, and tiles that stick together nicely. Or, bring along a metal cookie sheet and alphabet magnets for letter and spelling practice.
Interactive & Group Activities
Dollar Store Treasures. Select goodies from different aisles – think crafts, stationary supplies, books, toys, small treats, and seasonal sections. Wrap trinkets into parcels and hand them out at intervals, or stick items in separate paper bags labeled with what time they can be opened. For example, you could buy one item per child for each hour of your trip.
Puppet Play. Pick up a few affordable hand and finger puppets from IKEA. Expect some silliness to follow!
Tell Jokes. Sign out G-rated joke books from the library, and play comedian.
Podcasts. There are some exceptional podcasts for kids nowadays that cover topics like science, while others focus on storytelling and relaxation. Everyone can listen to these.
Play Games. Try simple games like Would You Rather, Two Truths and a Lie, Rock-Paper-Scissors, 20 Questions, Color Hunt, and I Spy. You can also invest in games specifically for road trips, such as Road Trip Bingo, Trivia card sets, Mad Libs, Road Rally Travel Scavenger Hunt, and any version of Skillmatics Guess in 10 games.
Storytelling. Reminisce with memories of the past, or tell a story together. As you go around the car, each person adds a sentence to concoct a crazy tale, or complete a sheet of Mad Libs.
Sing-A-Longs. Make a playlist of everyone’s favorite songs and sing the hours away.
Conversations. This is the ideal time to have legendary conversations. It can be as simple as asking what three items would you bring along if you were stranded on a deserted island. If you need help, pick up conversation starter card sets like TableTopics, Do You Really Know Your Family, or Skillmatics Train of Thought.
Comfort & Food
Pack Customized Snack Kits. Fill a tempting snack kit for each child with treats and healthy options. Try making fun snacks beforehand – for instance, make snack necklaces. Use different flavors of Cheerios, Fruit Loops, and Life Saver Gummies. Kids can string their own necklace to be eaten on your trip.
Make Things Cozy. Encourage naps by setting up a comfy place to rest. Collect precious stuffies for snuggling, fuzzy blankets, and neck or regular pillows. After all, fun road trips are tiring!
Born in the prairies, Stephanie is a mother, cancer-survivor, cat lover, and avid traveler. Stephanie is also the creator of the family travel blog Next Family Getaway, nextfamilygetaway.com, where she shares trip ideas and travel advice for those traveling with kids.
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