Creative ways to keep kids entertained on a road trip

The season of road trips and staycations is upon us – and you might be thinking about renting a car. If so, you're in luck – it's what we do best. But we also have some creative ideas for keeping kids entertained in the back.

It's tempting, of course, to rely on screens as a way to keep them engaged and quiet – and they can be invaluable on long journeys. But as you'll know from experience, they only work their magic for so long. At some point the chorus of "are we nearly there yet?" will start up and you may have the overwhelming urge to stop and do a U-turn.

Luckily, there are dozens of ways to keep kids happy, and they don't always involve staring at a screen. Let's take a look…
 

1. Audiobooks and music
 

Storytime can be a challenge if you or the kids get carsick. One solution to this is an audiobook of their favourite story. The Harry Potter books, Roald Dahl, David Walliams, The Gruffalo… all are available on audiobook.

Similarly, a good singalong is easier than ever with the proliferation of karaoke tracks online. You could also let your kids be in the proverbial driving seat (but only the proverbial one) by getting them to prepare a playlist of their favourite tunes.
 

2. Word games
 

Some of these were probably doing the rounds in the days of horse and cart, but they can be a great way to pass the time. A classic is "road trip bingo", where you prepare a list of things to spot from the car window – a yellow car, say, or a field of horses. Other stalwarts include I spy, word association, 20 questions and the picnic game.
 

3. Small bags of toys

What it says on the tin: a little bag of Duplo, say, or Lego; a toy car or two; a bit of Play-Doh. You might want to supplement this with a travel tray so you don't spend that longed-for stop at the service station looking for a toy on the floor.

If you really want to excel as a front seat entertainer, hide an extra bag of toys under your seat, to be whipped out if things are getting hairy.
 

4. Colouring books and sticker books
 

Develop motor skills! Encourage focus! Nurture creativity! Oh, and keep the kids quiet. As with the toy idea above, trust us – you want some kind of tray or desk for them to lean on. Crayons in the footwell? No thanks.

There are some quite fancy and elaborate travel trays on the market with features like pockets and a whiteboard. Or you can make one yourself with a baking tray and some strategically deployed velcro. Either way, you'll want to keep things stuck down wherever possible.
 

5. Travel games

Many classic board games are available in miniature car-friendly form – from Monopoly to Connect Four, from Guess Who? to chess. Many come with magnetic boards to stop the pieces from flying when you go over a speed bump or cattle grid.

6. A digital camera

Keep your kids snap-happy with a digital camera. Depending on their age and ability, you could give them things to look out for and photograph, or let them snap freely. Either way, it's a great opportunity for them to document the passing scenery.

There are a whole host of kid-friendly digital cameras on the market. Unless your kid is a real shutterbug, you probably don't need to worry too much about picture quality. The main things to look out for when buying a kid-friendly camera are usability, robustness and – of course – the price.

7. Maps

If your kids are a little older, you can make them responsible for route planning or directing you to a particular pit stop. Can they find somewhere to stop for a picnic, say, or the next service station? You can of course do this with a phone or tablet, or – if you're trying to ration screen time – with an old-school A-Z and a marker pen.

8. Drawing pads and pens

These are good for drawing (obviously), but also for games of noughts and crosses, hangman, consequences, Pictionary – you name it.

9. Have a break, have a KitKat (KitKat optional)

Breaking up a long journey with scheduled stops is essential for keeping kids entertained. Stop regularly and let them stretch their legs and burn off a little energy. You could take a football, frisbee, or another family favourite to get the blood flowing and reduce the chances of a wobbly. You might find it makes you a little less tetchy too!

There might be some exciting detours en route like a zoo, museum, or theme park. If so, why not plan ahead and make it part of your route?
And about that KitKat – snacks are an absolute must. Make sure you take a rubbish bag for any wrappers or other packaging, though.
 

10. Sponsored silence


Finally, why not pay your children large amounts of money to be quiet? OK, so we're joking with this one, but hey, it's pretty creative…

Long car journeys with kids don't have to be hard. With a bit of thought and planning, they can be enjoyable experiences for all the family and the perfect start to an adventure.

If you're planning a road trip or staycation this summer, you might be looking into renting a car. If that's you, take a look at our fleet of cars for rental. All our vehicles have had a full valet and safety check, so you can hop in and get moving without a care in the world.

We're a family-owned, independent hire firm based in the northeast, specialising in car, van and minibus hire. We also specialise in great customer service! Get in touch if we can be of any help.