Are We There Yet? How to Make Road Trips with Kids Fun

Photo By: Bebe Beaux

“I’m hungry?” “I have to go potty.” “Angela flipped off the trucker again!”

Sound familiar? If you have kids, particularly those of the younger variety, and have ever attempted the miraculous feat of taking them on a lengthy road trip, I’m sure it does. If you were to ask the average parent living in Fresno about the moment they most felt alive, they’d probably tell you that it was NOT the 14 hour road trip up the I-5 corridor with their hungry, cramped, bored stiff kids in the backseat. Nothing against traveling, nor kids. We love to travel. We love our kids. So, why is it so hard to love traveling with our kids?

Why Is It Hard To Travel With Kids?

Well, for those of us who have been blessed with those miniature humanoids, otherwise known as children, the answer is pretty obvious. First, children love to be active- they would much rather be jumping on top of a car than sitting inside of it. Second, like the little Buddhas they are, children live in the moment. When you put these two qualities together it does not make for beings who like sitting quietly in the same, cramped place for hours at a time. Sure, they may sit in the back seat for a while and take in the scenery. They may even doze off into dreamland. But, if you’re on a real road trip, that won’t last. You need a back-up plan. You need a front-down plan. You just need a plan man! The worst thing you can do is to enter into a long-distance driving relationship with your little ones without one.

Top 5 Road Trip Activities

The good news is that, regardless of whether it’s weekend, business, or holiday travel, there are things you can do make traveling with your kids a joy. Here’s a list of the 5 best activities to incorporate into your very own road trip action plan:

Photo By: Bebe Beaux

1. License Plate Bingo- A classic among road trip games, all you need to do for this activity is get some paper and pens and write five lines containing five random letters and numbers. Give each child one piece of paper and a pen and have circle any letters and numbers that match those on the license plates of passing cars. The first person to circle five in a row (down, diagonally, or across) shouts “Bingo!” and wins that round. You can even download and print bingo cards online. You can play as teams or individually.
2. Portable DVD player- Bring a portable DVD player, an assortment of movies, a bag of pre-made popcorn or other snack (try to keep it healthy), and convert your car into a traveling movie theater. Our Sony DVP-FX810 portable DVD player has saved our sanity on numerous occasions. Thanks Sony.
3. Goody Basket- Get a little basket or bag for each of your children, then fill it with little activities that they can do individually or together (Mad Libs, crossword puzzles, comics, a new book). Also, include some healthy snacks (a granola bar, trail mix, veggie sticks, fruit), a healthy drink (water, fruit drink, sparkling water), and one fun snack (small candy bar, gum, etc). Stash your goody basket under or behind the car seat and watch your kids eyes light up when they find it.
4. Portable Game Systems- Road trips are where portable game systems like Nintendo DS or Sony PSP really shine. Beyond the usual assortment of sports and action games, there are also several fun and educational games on the market. Kids learning while having fun? Who would have thunk it?
5. Scavenger Hunt- Create a word list (or picture list if your child can’t read) of items that they’re likely to see while on the road and print one out for each child. Your children can check off each item they spot. First person to spot all the items gets a little surprise (second, third, fourth place prizes are also nice to have on hand).

So before you head on on your traveling adventures, plan some road trip activities and ideas for your kids…..Are we there yet?

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