We're taking a 7+ hour car trip with the kids (4 /12 and 2) tomorrow. Any ideas on keeping them occupied and entertained? We don't have a DVD player in the car.
Thanks.
Thanks.
long car trips with kids
- Thread starter Obsessed
- Start date
No idea, but good luck.
We have a DVD player, but the nostalgia has worn off for my daughter (3 1/2). My son (13 mos) just currently got moved from rear facing to front facing so he is a little more tolerant of trips now. The longest trip we've done is ~75 minutes. The key for us is leaving when he is tired and well fed. Plenty of snacks and drinks are must. Breaks are also going to be needed.
We have a DVD player, but the nostalgia has worn off for my daughter (3 1/2). My son (13 mos) just currently got moved from rear facing to front facing so he is a little more tolerant of trips now. The longest trip we've done is ~75 minutes. The key for us is leaving when he is tired and well fed. Plenty of snacks and drinks are must. Breaks are also going to be needed.
Sleep Turbo. It helps you get there faster.
When I was a lot younger my grandparents lived 8 hours away, the general modus operandi was to get me and my sister asleep, my parents would pack up the car, then pack us into the car mostly asleep at 3am and drive the 8 hours from Montreal to Boston.
Just make sure to really tire them out before you leave, but afaik it never backfired and we were always both passed out within 30 minutes or so. I think dad would nap after work while mom got everything ready to go for the drive, then wake up again later.
When I was a lot younger my grandparents lived 8 hours away, the general modus operandi was to get me and my sister asleep, my parents would pack up the car, then pack us into the car mostly asleep at 3am and drive the 8 hours from Montreal to Boston.
Just make sure to really tire them out before you leave, but afaik it never backfired and we were always both passed out within 30 minutes or so. I think dad would nap after work while mom got everything ready to go for the drive, then wake up again later.
Might be worth investing in a portable DVD player. 
I would think frequent stops. Just short ones except for one longer stop for a meal.
If on one of the major interstates, buy them some junk at one of those gift shops.
We used to play games in the car -- like count the cows. Maybe one of those gift shops will have a book with games in it.
For the two year old, try a frozen bagel tied to a string. Good for amusement, hunger, teething.
+1 My folks used that trick as well. We also had books, Matchbox cars (or Hot Wheels), dolls for my sister, etc. for quiet time. When that wore off, we then did 50 states auto tags, songs, guessing games, etc.
Stop every couple of hours, play games involving looking for things outside the car.
If you're not certain about their predisposition to motion sickness I'd strongly recommend against books or inside the car diversions.
Any favorite music you can play on the stereo (that won't drive you nuts)?
- Chris
If you're not certain about their predisposition to motion sickness I'd strongly recommend against books or inside the car diversions.
Any favorite music you can play on the stereo (that won't drive you nuts)?
- Chris
"Are we there yet?"
Bring your strop with you. You'll know when to use it.
Ahh I'm glad I'm not a breeder 
I grew up doing long car trips. What we did mostly was read, and often played games that we made up.
If you have a laptop that shows dvds, that's a good sub for a dedicated dvd player. Just invest in a cord so you can plug your laptop in, and you're set for the trip.
My girls occupy themselves by dividing their time between sleeping and fighting.
My girls occupy themselves by dividing their time between sleeping and fighting.
what he said. I drove 8 hours from AL to VA a couple years ago and I made sure the kids were tired out and left the house at their bed time. Sucked for me to drive overnight but they slept the entire trip
Commander Quan
Commander Yellow Pantyhose
Benadryl
Bottle of whisky. If it doesn't work on the kids, you'll want it yourself by the end of the journey.
On a multi-day trip we actually did "make him come back there."
- Thread starter
- #18
Thanks for all the responses. I should also mention that most of the trip will be on I-80 straight through Pennsylvania, and ask if anyone knows any potentially interesting stops along the way.
We did a few five weeks cross country trips when I was kid and we didn't have DVDs
Let see if I remember anything we did:
Auto License Plate Numbers (the more out of state the better)
Bring real map! Not GPS, have them map out the trip. This is useful for rest areas.
Start a story that use things that you only see on the road.
Read a book.
Car Bingo: http://www.momsminivan.com/printables.html
and other games here:
Also check out: http://www.momsminivan.com/
You don't need all the latest tech stuff to keep them occupied.
Let see if I remember anything we did:
Auto License Plate Numbers (the more out of state the better)
Bring real map! Not GPS, have them map out the trip. This is useful for rest areas.
Start a story that use things that you only see on the road.
Read a book.
Car Bingo: http://www.momsminivan.com/printables.html
and other games here:
Also check out: http://www.momsminivan.com/
You don't need all the latest tech stuff to keep them occupied.
valium
See above post about whisky
See above post about whisky
Similar threads
