Tips and Tricks to Entertain the kids on the road

Welcome back Guys!

 

Excited much! with only Nine days to go now until we Endeavour on what we hope will be a trip of a lifetime, we are packing bags and boxes and trailer left right and centre.   I am trying to pack strategically.  Hopefully it will all fit somehow. 
I caught the kids Twice today scurrying through the boxes of packed goods looking for anything interesting and fun that they could gets there little hands on.  I took them shopping with me Yesterday and they witnessed me purchasing a few fun little nick knack things that could be lots of fun on our travels.  These Two littlies don't miss a trick!

 

When I hear stories from friends, family and other bloggers about how travelling with Children is nothing shy of a bad dream...I have a bit of a giggle to myself and think "Oh Wow we are lucky, our kids travel just fine".  "I don't really know what you mean".

 

Yes I am gloating a little but our kids do travel very well and they have had lots of practise.

  Our family all reside in Brisbane, 8 hours away from Moura so we hike down many times each year to attend special occasion, shopping, visits etc. 

Also because we are somewhat Isolated in a small mining town we often travel 2 hour drives each way to Rockhampton or Gladstone for shopping trips, appointments, and the 'any excuse for a outing trip'.

We also do plenty of camping trips on Warwick's 5 days off so we spend much of our lives in the car.

 

We don't really do much to entertain the kids on the road except for our car DVD players however this trip is different and so I have been thinking of ways to entertain the kids on and off the road for Two Months and here are the boredom buster ideas I have come up with for our 4 and 5 year old!

 

• Clipboards, Pens, Pencils and stickers for creating their own little master pieces along the way
• We have our in car DVD players with headphones although they usually just watch half a movie and then want it turned off
• Colouring books and scrapbooks
• We went to our local Library and borrowed Books with Audio CDs.  I love to read however I am sure to get car sick if I sat in the back reading the kids stories.
• I have printed the kids their own maps of Australia so they can (colour, draw and follow along)
• We have packets of Pipe cleaners with googly eyes and rolls of sticky tape to make all sorts of silly things in the car.

 

I didn't want to go and spend a fortune so I went through my craft cupboard and scrapbooking nook and found most of these things on hand, Bonus!

 

Verbal Games

 

• Sing songs and play games, (Yes Warwick that means you will have to play too!)
• I spy (Colours, Objects, Sounds Like?)
• Trivia "maybe this will be to keep mum and dad awake and amused between long drives"
• I have printed some bingo cards which include things we might drive past such as windmills, homestead, truck, car, cow, shop etc.
• (This one is for the boys)  Who would win a fight?  I might start off by saying Spidermen would win the fight.  Then I would have to say why he would win the fight, then the next person goes and they would say who they think would win a fight and why!
• Guess the sight word (This one is for you Madelyn)

Divvy up the driver/Social Director tasks

 

While Warwick's job is mostly driving.  My job is snack distribution, storytelling, and toy and art rotation. We plan to occasionally switch duties during the trip. Yes, Warwick you might like to try being a yoyo every now and then! If you have space, the kids love having a grown-up sit with them for a while in the backseat.  Hopefully Not!

 

Food! Glorious Food and Snack Attacks





 



Depending on what age your children are also dictates what’s required to keep the peace when driving long distances. One thing that tends to help keep kids of all ages calmer – is food.

Here are some healthy, and not so healthy, kids snacks for road trips:

• Fresh Fruit, Bananas, apples and strawberries are our favourites
• Sandwich stacks, Options are endless Go Wild!  Vegemite, Ham, Cheese.  Definitely not honey in the car...we have done this before and it made some very stick car seats.
• Muesli Bars
• Biscuits
• Cheese and Crackers
• Dried fruits Apricots and sultanas
• Save the best til last but we can't leave out the lollipop bribes and ice block stops

 The majority of these kid-friendly snacks, sandwiches, and sweets will keep well at room temperature for a few hours, but feel free to pack a cooler or put food in the fridge to ensure safe food handling.

Look forward to hearing your tips and tricks to entertain your little ones on the road and any games that you play in the car!