What can I do to make car trips fun for toddlers and preschoolers?
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. Here are some fun activities you could do to make the trip more enjoyable
- Surprise packages – prepare ahead with paper bags of items to be given out every 50 or 100km’s - 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 and stickers.
- Animal Sounds – make animal sounds and let your children take turns naming the animals. If your children are able to do so, let them take turns making the animal sounds and have you guess the animal.
- Drawing boards or Felt Pads – these are a fun activity for children to do on their lap in the car.
- Play Classical Music or an Audio Book - when it's time to calm the kids down, a little classical music helps young children.... so does a Dr. Suess tape, or a story tape.
- Play ‘I Spy with my Little Eye something beginning with ….’
- Have a puppet show - do the show in the car, in the hotel, or anywhere, kids love puppets! Break up the monotony by having your puppet "tell" the kids what's coming up next on the trip. If they won't listen to you, maybe they'll listen to a silly puppet. Then give them a chance to each have their own puppet to "talk" to each other.
- Tell Jokes – take turns telling silly jokes
We recommend:
Stickers (various styles)
Dora the Explorer Colourfelts Playboard
Tractor Tom Fuzzy Felt Set
Cooshee Booster - Lime
Ravensburger Jigsaw Puzzle: Pony Friendship (3x 49 pc)
Baby Einstein ''Jane Monkey'' Puppet
Kiwi Puppet
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