The holidays are a time to get together with family and celebrate. It’s also the season to be stuck in a car with the kids on your way to this special time. Road tripping with kids can be a challenge. Depending on how long you plan on being trapped in a car with them and the age of your child, your three-hour drive can feel like an eternity. If you are planning on flying instead of driving, these ideas to entertain the kids will work in that scenario as well. Here are just a few products that will save your sanity and pass the time on your way to grandmother’s house this year.
Travel Scavenger Hunt for Kids
This game is super cute and would work for your entire family. Adults and children all love passing the time in the car with this easy to pack activity. The best part about this game is that you can use the cards to make up your own game. Maybe you just name the pictures with your toddler. Maybe you play a guessing game with your 8-year-old… the sky’s the limit.
GoPicnic Ready-To-Eat Meals Kid-Friendly Variety Pack, 6 Count
At some point on any trip, you’re gonna get hungry. If you are like me, you better be eating on this trip or the rest of your crew will have to deal with a hangry version of you! So, pack up some of these GoPicnic snacks. They are great to travel with on the plane because there are no liquids and they don’t require refrigeration at all. There is a large variety of snacks to choose from and plenty that kids would love like these. There are some more sophisticated varieties for adults, so grab a selection for everyone.
High Road TrashStash Leakproof Hanging Car Trash Bag
I cannot stress enough the importance of this item. You are going to have trash if you are traveling long distances in the car. If you don’t have somewhere to put said garbage that is leak proof, you WILL regret it. Just do yourself a favor and grab one of these leakproof trash bags now. In the first 100 miles, you’ll thank me.
Magnetic Fun – Cars Planes and Trains
This compact playset would keep toddlers and smaller children entertained with over 50 magnetic pieces. Moving the pieces for play will also be strengthening their fine motor skills. You can create scenarios, talk about the different modes of transportation, or just sort them by color or size. The possibilities are endless.
Anker PowerCore 20100 – Ultra High Capacity Power Bank
If you are going to be stuck in a car or plane for a long time, you are definitely going to have something with you that requires power. The battery on an iPad with a toddler watching three hours of Yo Gabba Gabba is going to run down fast. Grab one of these awesome power banks that will charge anything you need, whether you are in the car or not.
World of Disney Eye Found It Card Game
If you have Disney fans traveling with you, grab yourself a set of these hidden picture cards. These can be used to entertain kids as young as two and as old as ten. With your little ones, you are going to have fun trying to find the characters on each card. With the older kids, you can use the cards to play made up games like “What movie is this character from?” “Who else was in that movie?” “Sing a song from this movie.” So much fun for true Disney lovers.
Rugged Universal Backseat Car Organizer | Includes iPad Holder & Drink Holder
Most kids will grow tired of holding a tablet after a while. If they are watching a movie, the neck strain of sitting that iPad on their lap and staring down can ruin days of a trip. Snag yourself one of these backseat organizers. It will not only hold a tablet for easy watching but will also keep all their stuff contained. There is a cup holder as well, so it would really be an extra set of hands.
Kidz Gear Wired Headphones For Kids
We use our phones or iPad quite often in public, like restaurants, to entertain a toddler with a short attention span. We realized recently that some restaurants are loud and he couldn’t hear the sound. Also, turning it up just annoys everyone sitting around you. So, grab some of these kid headphones. They have a Kidz Control Volume, so it won’t be turned too loud either. Trust me, these will probably come in handy in the car as well because how many times can you listen to “Let It Go” without losing your mind.
AquaDoodle – Travel Doodle
This no mess activity pad is perfect for kids of all ages. You simply “write” with a water filled pen. When it dries, it disappears and you start again. You can use this for just drawing fun or to play quick games of tic-tac-toe. One of our favorite drawing games with younger kids is “guess what this is?” It’s great fun for kids and parents who can’t draw very well like me. They always think my horse is a dog. There are replacement pens as well, so this is a toy that will stand the test of time.
Ideal Magnetic Go Snakes n’ Ladders
You’ve probably heard of Chutes and Ladders. Well, the one thing that makes it more fun is snakes! This game is perfect for road tripping because it is completely magnetic. It is recommended for ages 5+ but I am sure a clever four year old would enjoy it as well. Its small size makes this a very convenient
Niuniu Daddy Travel neck pillow
Sleeping in the car or plane is not easy for kids or adults. It can be even more uncomfortable for a child that is trapped into position in their car seat. One of these adorable travel neck pillows for kids will make them more comfortable on a long drive. This pillow is a traditional U-shape but can also be converted into this adorable soft owl that could also work as a pillow or just a friend.
