10 Screen-free Entertainments For A Car Trip With A Toddler

Travelling with a toddler by car may become a real challenge. They don’t want to stay for a long time in their baby car seats, need either to eat or to drink, want to choose music themselves or to discuss the meaning of the road signs endlessly. Parents need to be well prepared to make the car trip as enjoyable as possible.

How to choose toys and activities for such a purpose?

• They must be safe for toddlers.
• They must be safe for your car ( washable markers or dough that leaves no greasy stains)
• Your kid should like them

With the last you never know unless you try. That’s why it’s better to take both new toys and activities to be a surprise, and those well-tried that your child already knows and likes.

The attention span of toddlers is limited, so it’s important to have a wide choice of activities.

Here are some activities we have tried ourselves and can advise you.

1. Reusable coloring book with a water brush.

When the water dries out from the page, the picture fades and is ready again to be coloured. Water brush is extremely convenient to use. You just add water inside the brush and it does not spill out.

2. Stickers to decorate the car ( make sure beforehand that you can remove them)

Kids love to decorate everything around them: furniture, walls, a car… You are welcome to choose stickers set on our website and print them on sticker paper

3. Magnetic board play set.

It’s essential for parents not to spend hours cleaning the car after the trip and searching for missing details of the games. That’s why magnetic play sets are a wonderful solution. Make sure the parts of the set are big enough and the set is suitable for your kid’s age.

Download and print our Funny animals or Emotions sets on magnetic paper. Cut out the details and use them in your car trip.

4. Books.

They can give you up to 30 minutes of quiet activity. Flap books, soft felt play books, textile books and books with movable elements — there is a wide choice to amuse your child.

5. Finger puppets.

This game may involve a grown-up to make a puppet play or to tell some story. But if your child will like it you will be surprised to see him inventing his own stories and enthusiastically playing himself.

6. Wooden busy boards or busy cubes.

These toys can keep your child busy for some 20 minutes. They develop fine motor skills and won’t create a mess in your car.

7. Busy bag

You can make a busy bag for your child yourself. Take a paper bag and fill it with different safe discovery items that may interest your child. It will be great if they will have different textures and will be pleasant to touch like pop up and tactile sensory toys.

__8. Magnetic puzzle games __

Such games foster concentration and strategic thinking, develop counting and colour recognition.More over they won’t make a mess and the child plays them independently.

__9. Play doh __

It can be a bit more messy, but it still can be a good option if your child adores stencil sculpting. Remember, this activity needs your supervision.

10. Audiobooks

Some children like to listen to music and audiobooks, and for others it acts like a sleeping pill. That may be a very desirable effect for grown-ups. Try to make a compilation of calming music and stories before the trip in order not to wake up your kid by some unexpected advertisement or loud sounds.

Wish you enjoyable traveling with your toddler!