How to Make Road Trips All Fun and Games
With road trips becoming even more popular because of pandemic restrictions, this summer will be a great time to hit the road with your family. Today Lizzie Murphy joins Lisa to share her best strategies for keeping kids occupied during road trips. She shares smart ways to keep things organized plus lots of great game ideas that do not require preparation or materials. Are you ready to head off on a road trip adventure?
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What’s to Love About Road Trips?
Not rely on other’s schedules
No lines or crowds (avoid the airport)
Move on your own time
More control of environment with anxious kids
Stop whenever it’s best for your family
Tips to Make Your RoaD Trip Amazing
Organize! Make the front of the car the control center with snacks, games, and a place for trash. Organize the kids’ spaces. You could use over-the-seat organizers like these.
Time management. Divide the trip into 30 minute sections and have activities planned for each time frame. Audiobooks, card games, naps, reading, sticker books, magazines, screen time, bathroom breaks are all great ways to fill the time. Plan a bathroom stop at the end of screen time to make the turning off of the devices easier.
When to drive. If it works with your schedule, consider during right after dinner and into the evening so the kids will hopefully be calmer and fall asleep for a good portion of the drive
Avoid too many sugary snacks if they wind your kids up.
Make a checklist or visual timeline showing how much time is left on the trip.
Road Trip Game Ideas
What am I? One person chooses what they want to be (an animal, cartoon character, famous person, etc.) Others ask yes or no questions to narrow down the options until they guess the mystery person.
Guess What’s in My Handbag. Have the kids name a list of things they think they will find in your handbag. Then take things out one by one and see how many things they guessed correctly.
Word Association Game. Pick a topic. Go around in a circle to each person and name something that goes with that topic. If you hesitate or can’t think of anything, then you are out. Topic ideas: colors, animals, TV shows, countries.
Car Bingo. Make your own bingo boards or purchase some like these.
I Spy. A classic road trip game. Have one person name something they can see and then the others ask yes or no questions to narrow down to what the item is. Consider choosing items inside the car so that everyone can see them and not drive past something that someone saw out the window.
Legos. You can add little magnets to legos and get a metal lunchbox and let the kids play.
Tin Foil Challenge. Give everyone a piece of tin foil and see what they can create. Try jewelry, animals, or shapes.
Check out Lizzie’s post for even more fun car trip game ideas HERE.
Thanks to Lizzie for coming on the podcast and sharing such great ideas with us. If you want to connect with Lizzie, check out these links: