Hi friends and happy road trip season!
We recently took a road trip to South Haven, Michigan as a family of four.
This four-hour drive quickly turned into five hours with the endless Summer construction, but I was proud we were able to keep our 4-year-old happy and occupied without any screens on the way up.
We don't do long drives often, so I wasn't quite sure how well our toddler would handle being stuck in a car seat longer than normal. We made two stops along the way where my son was able to get out and stretch and get a snack.
Two weeks later we went to Chicago successfully without screens.
Here are a few things that helped us stay screen-free!
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Gigglescape Magnet Art Activity
This was a gift from my sister-in-law to my son. He didn't touch it much at home because it didn't hold his attention long... but it did in the car! He did several of the interchangeable boards. I now keep it in the car instead of his room!
2. Melissa & Doug Water Wow
We have several of these books! You just add water to the special pen and your kid can 'color' to reveal the scenery. It's not a lot of water, it's ink-free and a great little toy to keep in the car.
Find some options, here!
3. Another mess-free coloring option... Crayola Color Wonder.
Sometimes a new coloring method is all you need to keep them distracted for a few minutes. I love these mess-free color wonder pages! It makes them feel like they have more freedom with art... without destroying the car.
4. Montessori inspired busy book
This book takes some preparation with stickers and velcro - but once it's ready it's a great distraction tool with learning properties. My son was gifted this at 1.5 years old and still rotates it into his playtime now at four years old.
5. Tonies box! Don't forget the headphones.
We've had our tonies box for awhile but my son thinks the headphones that attach are super cool. Our favorite tonies are Lightning Mcqueen, Safari Tracker from Paw Patrol, Minnie Mouse and Blaze the Monster Machine.
6. New snacks or treats you don't have often
I try to avoid packaged snacks when I can at home, but in the car for a long drive, that rule goes out of the window. We packed Paw Patrol graham crackers, Pringles, uncrustables, and more. I did try to hold back on the liquids to avoid excessive bathroom breaks!
7. Good old-fashioned "I spy with my little eye"
Bumper to bumper traffic... perfect opportunity for some classic road trip games.
Hope this might spark some inspiration for your next trip.
Thanks for reading!