With the holidays coming up, we are preparing for our annual trip to visit my husband’s family in Kansas City. I’m usually a bit nervous about keeping my young kids entertained during the road trip and trying to keep everyone happy (myself included) during the journey. I am by no means an expert parent, but we have never used a screen with my 3.5 year old in the car.
This is how we make it work:
Be prepared
We usually have two different types of snacks, a bottle of water or sippy cup, books and toys in the front seat. I also usually always have a lollipop on me, which is used to keep his hands and mouth occupied or can stop a crying fit almost immediately.
Don’t assume your child must be entertained from the beginning
My son in particular, can usually just sit in the car, chatter away and be silly, but compliant, in his carseat for about an hour. He usually has a small toy or puppy to cuddle with in case he takes a snooze (which never seems to happen). Save your tricks, treats and distractions until they’re absolutely necessary!
Make the journey an adventure in itself
We really talk up the “road trip” and make it exciting. When we’re driving on I-70, finding all of the water towers is exciting, picking out a color or type of car for him to find, etc.
Music works wonders
Even though they can be annoying and repetitive, we use an Amazon playlist of 150+ kiddy songs that he loves to listen to and sing along to. This can buy you valuable chunks of time! We even take turns with “my music” and “your music.” Or with older kids, take turns playing “favorite songs”.
Take an active break
Most of us have this down – but planning for a full 30-40 minute break to eat and use the bathroom is the best idea. Pick a place where you can take a walk around a strip mall or rest stop so the kids can burn off a little energy.
If all else fails, set a timer
I swear I could write a whole post about how setting a timer for my son has changed our daily interactions as parents to a toddler. Basically, if you choose to allow screen time on a tablet or phone, set a timer on your phone for 20 or 30 minutes and let your child know that when the timer rings, time is up.
For some reason, this works 98% of the time! Our son will just flip off the TV and pick a new activity! We avoid many power struggles and negative interactions in our household with this practice. Especially if you’re headed out on a longer road trip, and screen time is inevitable, this is a great way to manage it.
If any these work for you, be sure to tag @stlmomsblog during your trip – we’d love to see the way your littles are staying entertained in the car!
