Long car journeys can seem like driving to the other side of the world if your kids are bored and irritable. Entertainment is a must to keep little monsters out of mischief!
Here are some tips to keep them occupied:
Hints & Tips
Keeping kids entertained on long trips
Exploring the alphabet
A car game taking a long time is ideal for gruelling car journeys. Choose a theme - 'At the park we saw a...' or 'I played with a toy called...'. Children can pick a word that begins with an alphabet letter which is repeated by the next person, who adds their own object beginning with the letter.
Take a break
Stop every two or three hours into your trip. If possible, park up at a service station or stop to allow the children to run off some steam.
Bingo in the backseat
Get a bingo sheet for everyone with pictures of things you might see on your car journey. The first one to spot them all wins.
Make-a-map game
Test the kids' drawing skills. Print a trip map and take some crayons. Ask the children to draw their own directions, adding in scenery along the way.
Training the brain
Improving your children's memory and concentration is a good way to stave off boredom. Ask one of the children to hold a game sheet for 30 seconds, and get the others to memorise everything on it. Now, turn the sheet over. Can they remember what's there?
Old favourites
Games and puzzles are brilliant for car journeys. 'I spy with my little eye' is a well known one. Also useful are activity pads with games such as 'join the dots' and puzzles. Also take plenty of audio and picture books too.
Lastly - bring bedding
After all that activity, the kids will want to crash out at some point in the journey. That's why it's a wise move to bring plenty of pillows and blankets. Don't forget the extra nappies in case of the odd accident too!
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