approx. 6 min read
As a mother of two children, I know exactly how challenging long car rides can be. Whether it's a vacation trip or a visit to relatives – sitting in the car for hours can quickly become boring for children. As soon as we get into the car, the demand for a smartphone comes from the back. Does that sound familiar? When I hand it over to them, I have a 50/50 chance of peace. Either the two primary school children play peacefully together or watch funny videos, or a huge argument breaks out over games, shows, and annoying siblings.
We have discovered alternative activities for ourselves that do not distract me and that the children enjoy. I am convinced that my children prefer doing something together to playing on their phones. The phone is the last stop before boredom, which children are enormously afraid of.
Make a plan in your head before the trip. How long will the drive be? Will it be hot? Do you have delicious snacks as a reward / distraction in between? Enough water with you? Favorite audiobooks downloaded? The playlist with feel-good songs prepared? Dot dot dot.
Audiobooks and Podcasts
Audiobooks and children's podcasts are a real lifesaver on long car rides for us. My two children love immersing themselves in exciting stories, and there is a wide selection of audiobooks for different age groups. Whether adventures, fairy tales, or educational podcasts – the stories are not only entertaining, but also promote imagination. An additional advantage: audiobooks not only distract the children, but also create a calm atmosphere in the car.
Tip: Save several episodes on a tablet or smartphone before the trip, so that entertainment is available even in areas without good reception.
Travel games for on the go
Classic travel games like "I spy with my little eye" or "Guess the license plate" are part of our standard program. These games are not only easy and require no materials, they are also a lot of fun for the children. Especially guessing license plates has shown my children where the cars on the road come from, and it never gets boring to decipher the different letters. The alphabet game is also great. Search from A to Z, one letter at a time, the license plates of the other cars. You can develop an enormous competitive spirit here, and nothing is more frustrating than when a rare letter passes you by when it is not yet your turn. Rainbow car is also very popular with us. We look out for cars in all the colors of the rainbow. Pink, orange, and purple are always a challenge. With “purple,” my children regularly have hallucinations. Suddenly, all the cars are supposedly purple. A very simple game, but it becomes a very funny experience.
Another hit: Car bingo. I prepare bingo cards before every long trip with things we might see on the road, such as a red traffic light, a truck, or a bridge. As soon as the children have found everything on their card, there is a small reward. The prepared snacks could come into play here.
Coloring books and drawing materials
Even if it is a bit shaky in the car sometimes, coloring books and travel journals work surprisingly well. Magnetic writing boards or erasable pens are especially practical for us, as nothing gets smudged and everything is reusable. Both children can keep themselves busy for hours with their own stories or little drawings. For the very little ones, there are special coloring pads in which they can paint "without chaos."
Snack time: Small breaks with delicious bites
A well-planned snack box can work wonders. I pack a small box for each child with healthy snacks like fruit, nuts (watch out for allergies), and crackers. The children love choosing themselves from their box, and it always brings a welcome change during the trip. The snacks also give them energy and prevent them from getting hungry and therefore cranky.
Tip: Wrap a few snacks as a "surprise" – this makes unwrapping it a mini-event!
Music and singing along
Music may not be missing on any long trip! We have our own family playlist with the children's favorite songs, but also songs that we as parents like to listen to. So there is something for everyone. I wouldn't tolerate several hours of children's songs.
Often the car ride turns into a little concert, where we all sing together and enjoy the time in the car. It becomes especially funny when we come up with little "karaoke competitions," where everyone can sing their favorite songs.
My children are interested in my music from back then. So it is also regularly a hit when I play 90s / 2000s music, sing along loudly and - as far as driving allows - dance along. Sometimes we also adapt to where we are going. On the way to the ski vacation we practice Après Ski hits, if we are driving to a certain country or city, we listen to music from bands from the region.
Tip: Children's songs with movements are also great. During every chorus, the children can imitate movements with their arms or hands – this brings energy to the little travelers!
Inventing stories
One of my favorite ideas for long car rides is to invent stories together. Each of us adds a sentence to the story one after another, and so often the wildest adventures are created. This not only promotes the children's creativity, but also makes us parents laugh when the stories get crazier and crazier.
Tip: Topic suggestions like "In space" or "In the jungle" help to stimulate the imagination and make the storytelling exciting. We also like the version where everyone gives a word that must appear in the story or you start a sentence that the next one has to finish.
Regular breaks with movement
Long car rides are often a test of patience for children. That is why regular breaks, where the little ones can move around, are all the more important. Whether a short walk, a few jumping jacks, or a mini-run – the main thing is that the children can let out their energy and run around before getting back into the car. I make sure to choose rest stops that offer enough space and where you can move around well. Fresh air works wonders for the mood.
Long car rides with children do not have to be a stress factor – with the right activities, the trip can even become an enjoyable part of the family adventure. Whether audiobooks, travel games, coloring books, or little snacks: The variety of options ensures that no boredom arises and everyone arrives relaxed at the destination. Above all, however, it is the little shared activities like listening to music or inventing stories that connect us as a family even during the trip. With a little preparation and creativity, long car rides can also be fun for the children – and without whining!
