I definitely don't take it for granted that my boys are good road trippers. We've done a few long trips in their lifetime and I'm so thankful every time that they seem to get through it pretty well. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely moments when I want to leave them on the side of the road after they've thrown a tantrum over losing a Lego in the cracks of their chairs or because they can't eat that third bag of Skittles within the hour. Overall, it's not the long hours of driving that get to them, it's the entertainment. So I've learned that good entertainment is key.
We recently drove to Colorado for spring break (and brought the dog!). Looking back on this trip as well as our past adventures, there are a few things I've realized are essential to making our road trips a success. These are the things that make the trip go a little smoother and keep the boys entertained just a little bit longer.
Get the Gear
iPads are a must for us. We have 2 old iPads that we no longer use, so the boys can use them when we're traveling. We use Netflix's "Downloads" section to pick out a few movies and tv shows to watch offline. These rentals are free with a subscription and can be viewed without internet access for up to 7 days. We're always on the hunt for new apps as well. Some of my favorites are:
I bought these velcro iPad holders that mount to the headrests in our car. I'm obsessed with how cheap and awesome these are! They're only $9 (much cheaper than most others) and they work great. The driver and passenger have to deal with having these wrapped around their head rest, but honestly, I've never even noticed them. Just make sure you wrap the velcro towards the top or bottom of the headrest so your hair doesn't get stuck in it.
We use these Little Gadget headphones for around $17. What I love most about the headphones is that they have a jack in both ears so your kids can connect to each other and watch from the same iPad. They're also durable, they fold up into themselves to save space, and they have a volume limit so your kids don't blast the music too loud.
Plan a trip to your local library before you leave. I let the boys pick our 5 or 6 books to take on the road with them. Hide-and-seek books (Where’s Waldo-style) are great for long trips. They also have kid’s audio books which is a great way for the whole family to enjoy a story together.
Consumable workbooks and sticker books are great additions to your car library. Magnet books include titles from funny face building to meal design books and everything in between. Grade-level practice books are also great for a little added learning time in the car. Melissa and Doug make reusable workbooks that use water-filled pens to draw.
A trip to the dollar store, or the dollar bins at Target, can help you find a few new toys for the trip. We keep these up front with us, and dole them out when we see necessary. Those times when the kids need redirection.
Two words: Snack Necklaces
I love these because it keeps them busy when I'm trying to pack the car the night before we leave. They're also great because the boys feel like they're contributing to the trip preparation. Whatever floats your boat, kid!
I like to buy Cheerios, Fruit Loops, mini pretzels, and gummy Life Savers. There's probably a million other snacky treats that have holes in them, but these are my favs. If you let them add a dull needle to the string you could add things like marshmallows and fruit, but I'm not trying to give my kids access to a needle. I just can hear the complaints already.
The key to snack necklaces is using the right string. These puppies get HEAVY when they're loaded with snacks so it's important to get something strong. The first time I had the boys make these, we used yarn. Big mistake. They worked so hard to fill their necklaces and then as soon as we lifted them off the table, the yarn broke and all of their snacks when rolling off the table. Instead, I suggest using a plastic lacing cord like this Rexlace brand. It’s just like the kind we used to make bracelets with when we were kids.
Organization:
My goal before we hit the road is to make sure the boys can be as autonomous as possible during the drive. I'm usually the driver in our family (thankfully my husband prefers that too) and nothing is more frustrating than listening to non-stop requests. And we all know that the first person they ask for help from is mom. Luckily Jason is good about fixing their problems so I can keep my eyes on the road.
Lap Trays-I find it helpful to give the boys a lap try to eat on and play in during our trip. These are especially helpful if Legos are brought in the car because they stay in the tray rather than on the floor. I've tried a few lap trays over the years but this year I found that the old roasting pan worked best. I bought these at the grocery story in a pack of 4 (with lids) for only six bucks. They're made out of aluminum and are a little flimsy but they have a tall rim around them which was great for keeping all the toys in place. By the end of the trip I collect all the trash from the car in them and toss the trays. You might be able to get another use out of them, but my kids destroy them after a long trip.
Entertainment Organization- Before we pull out of the driveway, I make sure everything is in arms reach and pre-programmed. We make sure the kids know the login codes for their iPads (or disable them) and know how to plug in any attachments. I usually wait to start any iPad time until we’re a few hours into the trip. My intention is to get them to play with the basket of toys and books we packed. Once they get bored (AKA: start fighting) with those items, we pop in the iPads for a little adult quiet time. I’ve also found that when we start with the iPads, it’s harder to get them to play with anything else in the car.
Drinks and Snacks- Our cupholders are always packed with spill-proof water bottles. I love these kids Nalgene bottles. They’re the only brand I’ve found that truly doesn’t leak. I pack a small cooler filled with fruits, veggies, cheese sticks, yogurt cups (not the yogurt tubes- that’s just a disaster waiting to happen), and pre-made PBJs. There’s also a grocery bag filled with dry snacks such as popcorn, Goldfish, pretzels, and dried fruit. When we fill up with gas I let them pick out one treat from the gas station.
Games:
My parents got the boys these road trip Bingo cards. They were awesome! The box comes with four packs of different bingo cards. We could each have a card going and be on the look out for different things. The bingo cards have pictures of things to look for like a school, stop sign, and a cow. Even my three year old could play the game since it had picture clues instead of words.
Here are a few other fun road trip games: