The main thing to keep in mind with toddlers is to plan a stop every 2-3 hours to let them get out and stretch their legs.
Sometimes those car seats can be pretty hard to sit in for several hours in a row, so give them a little break as needed.
Here's a list of ideas to keep them busy and happy on the road. With a little preparation, they can be a lot of fun and educational too.
Travel Tickets
Sometimes those car seats can be pretty hard to sit in for several hours in a row, so give them a little break as needed.
Here's a list of ideas to keep them busy and happy on the road. With a little preparation, they can be a lot of fun and educational too.
Travel Tickets
Use some colored construction paper to cut out some "tickets" for your trip. Give your child a pre-counted bag full of tickets. Every half hour (or every 30 miles) they can turn in one ticket to you. When their tickets are gone, the trip has ended! This really helps young children get an idea of how much time is left on the journey.
Sing Along or Story Tapes
Having a selection of children’s songs or stories playing in the car is a good way of keeping your children quiet so you can concentrate on the driving
Felt Boards
These are fun, and you can even make your own. Use a large piece of felt for the back ground mounted on a sheet of cardboard, and cut out characters and shapes from different colored pieces of felt. Tell stories like the 3 pigs or Little Red Riding Hood using characters you've made. Let your child manipulate the pieces.
Pipe Cleaners
Sing Along or Story Tapes
Having a selection of children’s songs or stories playing in the car is a good way of keeping your children quiet so you can concentrate on the driving
Felt Boards
These are fun, and you can even make your own. Use a large piece of felt for the back ground mounted on a sheet of cardboard, and cut out characters and shapes from different colored pieces of felt. Tell stories like the 3 pigs or Little Red Riding Hood using characters you've made. Let your child manipulate the pieces.
Pipe Cleaners
Pack a new bag of multi colored pipe cleaners and let their creativity run wild. They can make letters, flowers, animals, chains, jewelry, twist ties in their hair, practice braiding, and by the end, just balls of many colors.
Surprise packages
Surprise packages
Prepare ahead with paper bags of items to be given out every 25, 50 or 75 miles -- marked on a map with the location, it takes a little bit of preparation to do this but it REALLY helps young children. In each bag put a wrapped item -- usually a small toy. Then in some of the surprise packages you can add juice or a snack, stickers and a piece of paper, or something pertaining to the trip that you can talk about.
Count the Cars
Each player chooses a colour and then must count the cars of that colour they see. The first person to see thirty cars win!
Bubbles
Keep some bubbles in the non-spill container in the car, and blow some bubbles for baby when someone else is doing the driving. This calms a baby right down, and the big kids think its pretty fun too.
(For Smaller Babies)Play Classical Music
Count the Cars
Each player chooses a colour and then must count the cars of that colour they see. The first person to see thirty cars win!
Bubbles
Keep some bubbles in the non-spill container in the car, and blow some bubbles for baby when someone else is doing the driving. This calms a baby right down, and the big kids think its pretty fun too.
(For Smaller Babies)Play Classical Music
Recent studies have indicated that classical music may help boost baby’s intelligence. That remains to be seen, but babies and grownups can both enjoy a little Beethoven or Mozart now and then. You can even find classical music like.
Peek-a-Boo
Peek-a-Boo
An all time classic baby game that's perfect for the car. Hide behind a book or your head rest and pop out while squealing "Peek-a-boo!" and watch baby's delight. Then cover baby's eyes for a moment and let her pop out to see you!
Name the clouds
What do they look like? Find as many different shapes as you can.
The Rainbow Game
Call out a color and they have to find something that color. Make the older kids find five things while the 2 year old looks for one. Pink and Purple are the hardest!
When you're all out of other ideas and they're trapped in those car seat’s, let them watch some of their favorite videos. It's a little expensive, but it might be worth it for your peace of mind if you can afford it. You can get TV or DVD combinations that will plug right into your car lighter.
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