Children often spend a lot of time in the car, whether on long drives to vacation destinations, visiting family, or heading to their after-school activities.
To keep them from getting bored on long drives, here are our 7 ideas for activities to keep kids entertained in the car.
7 Activity Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained in the Car
Do your kids get bored during car rides? Do they spend their time glued to a screen, and would you like them to be occupied with something else? Here are a few ideas for activities you can do with them in the car, tailored to their ages.
1. Go on a scavenger hunt
There’s nothing like a little game to get kids’ brains working! The idea is simple: just make a list of things to look for along the way, then go on a scavenger hunt. The list can include:
- a cow;
- a red car;
- a fire truck;
- a STOP sign;
- a wind turbine;
- etc.
The first person to find all the items and check off all the boxes on the list wins!
2. Keep the kids entertained in the car with the alphabet game
The alphabet game is a perfect activity to play in the car with children who can read—or even among adults.
The goal of the game is to find all 26 letters of the alphabet in the correct order in the words visible outside the vehicle: on traffic signs, license plates, store signs, car logos, etc. The first person to find all the letters wins the game.
3. Read a book / listen to stories
Whether your child can read yet or not, a good book will keep them occupied for quite a while. However, many people tend to feel nauseous when they keep their eyes fixed on a book in a moving vehicle. Why? The reason is simple: the brain, which is focused on a stationary object, believes you are at a standstill. This is not the case for the inner ear, which perceives all the vehicle’s movements: turns, decelerations, etc. This conflicting information then causes sensory confusion.
If this sounds like your child, an audiobook could be just what you need! Many children’s books are now available in audio format on various platforms. If you plan ahead, you can also record yourself reading their favorite book and play it for them in the car.
4. Listen to music / sing
To set the mood, find a playlist that’s appropriate for your kids’ ages, or tune in to the radio for the little ones. Feel free to sing at the top of your lungs 😉
You can also turn this activity into a music quiz: play the songs one after another, and the first person to guess the title wins!
5. Play compact board games
Some board games come in pocket-sized versions that are perfect for train, car, or plane trips thanks to their magnetic pieces. Examples include *Hippos Gloutons*, checkers, and Battleship. Card games are also very convenient to play in the car.
These games are a great wayto keep the kids entertained in the car for a while.
6. Make origami
Depending on your children’s ages,origami is a great activity to do in the car. After all, it requires very little supplies (just paper) and won’t turn the back of your car into a battlefield.
7. Give the kids coloring books to keep them occupied in the car
A simple yet effective activity: coloring, which boosts and stimulates children’s creativity. Just make sure they have something to color on—otherwise, it’s a disaster!
Kidcab, the specialist in children's transportation
Did you knowthat a chaperone spends an average of 1.5 hours each day taking children to their after-school activities? Unfortunately, not all parents can afford to spend that much time driving back and forth, and transportation options for young children are often limited depending on the region.
Since extracurricular activities play an important role in their development, we created Kidcab to safely supervise children and teens ages 3 to 18.
We offer:
- a service available on weekdays, weekends, and even during school breaks;
- drivers who are trained and specialized in transporting children;
- specific measures to ensure children's safety on their way to and from school.
If you spend a lot (too much) time in the car with your kids every day, take the stress off yourself and safely entrust their transportation to Kidcab! Request a quote now by clicking on this page, or call us at +33 1 76 40
