A few materials and a spirit of fun are keys to making long trips in the car with children pleasant. Short attention spans and limited mobility don't have to spell disaster. Try these interactive activities to make the most out of the moments spent while traveling.
Audio Books
Where would parents be without the advent of audio books? They can supply hours of enjoyment. They get the listeners lost in another world. It makes the time seem to go by much faster and gives good conversation material, too. An excellent audio book to add to any collection is Inkspell by Cornella Funke and read by Brenden Frasier [Listening Library (Audio), 2005]. It's a fantastic story and narrated with such amazing skill that it makes listeners feel like they've escaped into the story.
Alphabet Game
This is a game with unlimited variations. The basic premise is that the people in the car say a word that begins with a letter in the alphabet, beginning with the letter "A." When it gets to the next person, they move on to the next letter. For example, the first person could say "abracadabra," the next person could say "burger," the third person could say "crackers," and so on. The game can be suited to any age. Try variations on the theme to switch it up. Below are some fun spins on the alphabet game. Try only saying words in these categories:
- Verbs only
- Animals
- Topics regarding the trip destination (the zoo for example)
- Topics from an audio book that was played in the car
- Famous characters
- Foods
- Books
- Things that are green
Handiwork and Needlework
Keeping hands busy is another way to stay occupied on road trips. There are lots of choices for easy, no mess activities that kids can work on independently. Younger children can work on lacing cards or beading with large foam blocks. Older kids like activities such as sewing, cross stitching, macramé, making friendship bracelets, and latch hooking. With caution, preteens and teenagers can even whittle in the car. Keeping a grocery store bag underneath their work can make the car stay free of wood chips.
Trivia Questions
Asking and answering trivia questions is entertaining for both parents and kids. There are many sources of questions. Many board games that families have at home contain stacks of questions that they can bring along in the car. Many places online, like Trivia Champ, have trivia questions that can be printed out. Brain Quest cards are another convenient option. They are available in various subjects and categorized by grade level, as well, making it easy for each family member to have a set that's appropriate for them. Playing trivia games can make long road trips seem much shorter.
Long trips in the car can be viewed as excellent opportunities to get closer to kids and witness their unique mental abilities. From audio tapes, to handiwork, to oral games, bunches of options make the "dreaded car trip" a thing of the past.
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