Road trips
Keep toddlers busy road trips: 7 creative activity ideas
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Gearing up for a family road trip in New Zealand can be a daunting task. Forget the packing, forget the travel route and forget the stops along the way. The first thing on your mind is ideas to keep toddlers busy on road trips! All it takes is a little preparation and a dose of patience and your next journey will go off without a hitch.
As adults, we simply need to stop every couple of hours to get out and stretch our legs. Kids on the other hand need to burn some energy. They don’t want to walk around a rest stop – they want to play. And after sitting in a car for a couple of hours, this is exactly what they need. When it comes to keeping them entertained, we’re here to help. It’s time to get creative and check out some of our favourite ways to keep toddlers busy on road trips.
Best ideas to keep toddlers busy on road trips
1. Play DJ
It’s time to hand over the radio and let your kids choose the music. Encourage your toddler to yell out their favourite songs. It may be as simple as popping on a Wiggles CD (sorry, these are the sacrifices we make as parents!), or having a sing-along in the car. Is there anything better than a family rendition of Old MacDonald? Not in your toddler’s eyes!
Not sure what to listen to? Check out these family-friendly podcasts for your road trip!
2. Grab a lap tray
Lap trays are the perfect way to keep toddlers busy. Fill it up with some of their favourite things. Think about matchbox cars, colouring in, story books, aquadoodles, scratch art, playdough, LEGO. Anything you can think of. Naturally, things are going to fall off as you drive. It can help to tie a couple of pencils to the lap tray to stop this from happening. Less effort for you, more fun for them.
3. Plan a Scavenger hunt
If you head over to Pinterest, you’ll find plenty of free printables you can use. Hand one to each kid and tell them to keep a lookout on your drive. If they spot one of the items, they can colour it in. The goal is to spot all of them before the end of the trip.
Toddlers might need a little help and encouragement with this one, so make sure you keep a print out for yourself so you can keep a watchful eye.
4. Stock up on audio books
Kids love stories. Head to your library and stock up on some free audio books for your trip. You can pop in the CD and listen to them as a family. There are so many great books to choose from, and it could be the perfect way to encourage your toddler to have a nap during the day.
5. Go overboard with snacks
Food isn’t just about filling little bellies, it keeps them occupied as well. Go for snacks that are both healthy, and will take them a while to eat. Some great ideas include sultanas, grapes and dry cereal. Yum!
If you’re looking for a few treat options, stock up on tiny teddies, mini yogurt balls and crackers. All these foods have one thing in common – kids eat them one by one, which takes time and concentration. Perfect for keeping them occupied that little bit longer.
Grab those sticker books
What is it with kids and stickers? They just love them! Let them have free reign with a sticker book and pop those stickers anywhere and everywhere. They might stick them on siblings, on themselves, or the back of a car seat.
The concentration that goes into peeling each one off and finding a place to stick it is a great way to keep them busy. Go with age appropriate stickers they can do on their own. For toddlers, the puffy stickers work the best, plus they’re the easiest to clean up at the end.
7. Have a list of games
While the goal is for our toddler’s to be busy on their own, you will need to step in every now and then to keep them entertained. It helps to be prepared with a list of games for those moments they’re getting restless. Here are some great options to have up your sleeve:
I Spy: a classic that can be altered for all ages. For toddlers, simply get them to find an object that’s a certain colour.
Guessing games: you can get creative with this one. Start making animal noises and get your kids to guess which one you are. See if they can have a turn.
Story telling: kids love being in stories! Make up a story that involves everyone in the car. You can have some fun with this one.
Put our ideas to keep toddlers busy on road trips into action!
As long as you’re prepared, toddlers and road trips are a great mix! It’s the perfect way to go at your own pace and experience a family holiday everyone can enjoy. Plus, there are some great ideas to keep toddlers busy on road trips. It’s the perfect way to go at your own pace and experience a family holiday everyone can enjoy.
Have a newborn on board? Check out our camping with a baby checklist to make sure you have everything needed for a smooth trip!
It's time to pick up your van in the North Island or South Island and hit the road - there are so many incredible places waiting to be explored, and your toddler has plenty to keep them entertained along the way!
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