Are you about to embark on a road trip with your kids? If so, you’re in for a fun (but challenging) time! Kids can be difficult to keep entertained on long car trips, but with a bit of planning and preparation, you can make the journey much smoother. In this blog post, we will share 10 tips for surviving long car trips with kids!

1. Pack snacks! Hunger can be a major distraction and cause of the grumpies, so make sure you pack plenty of healthy snacks to keep your kids fuelled up and happy during the drive. Make sure they have water too but watch how much they’re drinking or you might be in for a lot of toilet stops.
2. Bring entertainment. Electronics are great for keeping kids occupied on long car trips, but make sure to also bring some other activities such as books, magazines, puzzles, or even travel games.
3. Stop often. Getting out of the car and stretching your legs is important for everyone’s well-being. Plan to stop once every two hours for a break.
4. Incorporate educational activities into your stops. Visiting local historical sites, monuments, or national parks can be a great way to learn about the area you’re in, while providing a much-needed break from the car.
5. When planning your trip, take into account any potential stormy weather and plan accordingly. Bring along extra clothing, blankets, and other items that may come in handy when you need to hunker down in the car during a rainstorm.
6. Consider breaking up the trip into smaller segments. Long days in the car can be exhausting, so consider breaking your journey into multiple legs and staying at hotels or campgrounds along the way.
7. Make driver comfort a priority. Make sure the driver is comfortable with plenty of pillows, an ergonomic seat cushion, and snacks that won’t make them too drowsy to drive safely.
8. Take advantage of your car’s technology. If your car is equipped with Bluetooth or built-in Wi-Fi, you can use this to stream music and movies, which can help keep the entire family entertained during the journey.
9. Audio books and podcasts are perfect for when your kids have their eyes glued to a screen to make sure you’re enjoying the trip too.
10. Have a back-up plan in case of emergencies. Make sure to have emergency numbers programmed into your phone in case of bad weather, breakdowns, or other unexpected events.

Car games to keep the kids entertained

• I Spy: A classic car game, one player picks an object they can see and says “I spy with my little eye something… (colour)” The other players then have to guess what the object is.
• The Rainbow Game: This is similar to I Spy but instead of taking turns choosing colours, you simply find objects for each colour of the rainbow in order.
• Name That Tune: One person hums or sings a song and the others try to guess what it is.
• Alphabet Game: The first person calls out an object they can see starting with the letter A, then B, and so on. This can get tricky, as players have to think of something quickly!
• License Plate Game: Players try to spot as many license plates from different states as they can during their road trip.
• Twenty Questions: One person thinks of an object or person and the other players ask up to twenty yes or no questions to try and guess what it is.
• Road Trip Bingo: Create a bingo card with items you may see along the road such as cows, stop signs, or other cars. The first person to get five in a row wins!
• Would You Rather…?: Ask questions about two scenarios and let each person decide which one they would prefer. This can help pass the time as well as help everybody bond and get to know more about each other.

Following these tips and car games can make long car trips with kids much more enjoyable. Like Bluey’s Mum says; it’s not about making great time, it’s about making great times.