Road Trips and toddlers aren’t usually words that go hand in hand. Anyone who has tried to keep a toddler occupied for any length of time knows just how much energy they have. It doesn’t matter if it’s been two hours since their last meal or ten minutes.
Toddlers are always ready to run around and play, even after being cooped up in a car seat or stroller.
However, when it comes to holidays and summer vacations, one of the best ways to keep your kids occupied is by hitting the road.
Here are some tips for keeping toddlers well-occupied on long road trips.
Bring along different toys for different stages.
One of the latest trends in car toys is clip-on ones. These can be moved from one area to another with ease. For example, if your toddler begins to get restless and needs a little time to burn off some energy, you could easily attach this toy onto the backseat headrests or other areas where they can bounce around and be more contained.
Portable DVD players can be the best friends of parents who are looking to keep their kids entertained on a road trip. They may argue about not wanting to watch TV right before bed time, but if they’re tired from all day in the car, a portable DVD player could keep them quiet. These are lightweight and usually have headphones so they’re not too loud for the driver to hear.
Music can be another great way of keeping kids occupied on long road trips. Nowadays, there are CD players that can sync up with an MP3 player or even a smartphone. This means you can hook up your device and play all of their favorite songs.
Bring along some quiet toys as well for when they need a break from being so active. Younger toddlers tend to not have any attention spans, so this might be the best kinds of toys that you can bring along on road trips due to how quickly they lose interest. Another option is bringing along a play mat.
If you have a car with built-in DVD players, be sure to put those in as well as its safer than using a handheld device while driving and keeps them entertained for longer periods of time.
Another idea: Try purchasing an activity bag that has simple and easy activities or games on it. Then when your toddler starts to get bored, you can turn to the activity bag and do something fun as a family. You can find them at most dollar stores or even grocery stores like Walmart.
Bubbles are always great for keeping toddlers occupied if they’re going out for a walk or sitting on the beach. If you don’t want to bring along a bubble machine, you can bring along a bottle of bubbles and let them blow the bubbles themselves. As long as they’re entertained with this game, it’ll be worth not getting any more frustrated from boredom.
Whatever you do, make sure to take breaks and be prepared with lots of snacks and water. Most importantly, make sure to bring along your sense of humor – road trips with toddlers can often get frustrating for parents. But they usually say it’s worth it in the end!