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Screen-Free Tips for Traveling with Kids

June 4, 2013 by OneMommy

 

 

Summer vacation is upon us, and if you are like most families, you will probably be taking a trip at some point over the next few months.  Are you looking for a few screen-free ways travel ideas to keep the kids entertained in the car?

traveling with kids: screen free travel tips

 

 

(This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.)

Art Supplies —  When I’m packing for a car trip with kids, the first thing I make sure I bring to help keep the kids busy in the car is art supplies.  I’m talking basic stuff here:  spiral notebook (or a clipboard with computer paper), stickers, and crayons.  When it comes to crayons in the car, I always pack these twist up crayons, that way if they get lost in the hot car, there is less chance of melting issues.  As for stickers, I put some in a baggie and then tons of extras in another bag.  This way I can restock the sticker supply as needed when we stop for bathroom breaks, etc.   Another hint when it comes to stickers:  if your little one has trouble peeling them off on his/her own, peel off the background sticky stuff, leaving just the stickers on the sheet.

Books — We always have books in the car, but when we are traveling I make sure to add a few of their favorites and their LeapFrog TAG books, too.   I also add a couple hidden picture books.  They have these in a wide variety of topics and for all ages.  For younger kids, look for ones that show you a picture of what your are searching for on each page.

Magnets and Cookie Sheet — And, that brings me to the next thing I always take while traveling:  cookie sheets and magnets!   (Word of advice:  make sure the magnets stick to the cookie sheet ahead of time.  One year I grabbed a cookie sheet that wouldn’t work with magnets, and I had one unhappy child!)  To decrease the chance of fighting over magnets, I divvy them out ahead of time in baggies.  I have 2 complete sets of ABC and number magnets.  I also have a new magnetic dress up doll I got for a dollar at the dollar store and some car magnets.  Want to take it a step further?  Make a few simple backgrounds on some paper for them to use.  Better yet, bring some plain paper and they can make their own backgrounds while traveling!

Cookie trays also make great inexpensive drawing boards or play surfaces.  They are perfect to drive small toys cars on while traveling.  (Got to have a few small cars or my son won’t be a happy traveler!)

Water Books — Just about every kid loves to play with water.  And most kids like painting, too.  Why not combine the two in a fairly mess-free activity for car travel?  I originally found a couple Water Wow books at Big Lots for a few dollars each.  They were such a hit that I picked up a few more by Imagine Ink (I think they were $6 each) at the book store.  Definitely worth it!  I just fill the water pens up ahead of time and put them in a ziplock bag, ready to go.  When the kids finish “painting” a book, I take and set them on the floorboards to dry, and they are ready to paint again in no time!  Since it’s just water, the biggest mess you’ll have is the amount of water in the small water pens — if they just squeeze it everywhere instead of painting with it.  (Aquadoodle is also a great way to paint with water in the car!)

Still don’t like the idea of water pens in the car?  There are a variety of other books that allow you to color with special markers that don’t mark on anything except the pages in the book.  (We love this Suprize Ink one.)

 

Doodle Boards — Small Magna Doodle boards and Etch-a-Sketch boards are also a big hit while traveling.

Odds and Ends — Then there are the “odds and ends” I’m bringing on vacation this year.  I have Post-It Notes, ready to be drawn on and then displayed on windows, the ceiling, or the kids themselves.  There are small cans of Play-Doh, which they can mold into a variety of shapes using those cookie sheets as a table.  Pipe cleaners can also be fun for kids to bend and create their own people/animals.  Finally,  tangrams are always fun.  The kids can use these on the cookie sheets to build a variety of houses, cars, animals…whatever they think of!

 

Snacks —  Make sure to have plenty of dry snacks on hand:  dry cereal, goldfish crackers, pretzel sticks, raisins. Snacks like this don’t make a huge mess and are easy to vacuum up later.  And, as long as you are giving out snacks, why not make an activity of it?   Stick a few pipe cleaners and dry cereal in a baggie and they can string their own snack bracelets!

screen free travel with kids

Now you’ve got over 10 screen-free ways to entertain kids while traveling.   

You may also like:

  • How to Survive a Hotel Stay with Kids
  • 15 Homemade Gifts for Kids (perfect for giving kids on vacation)
  • Awesome Camp Crafts 

 

 

Filed Under: Kids Activities Tagged With: parenting, summer, traveling with kids

Comments

  1. Ginny Marie says

    June 4, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    My kids love using pipe cleaners in the car! They make all sorts of things with them! (I’d be nervous about the string, too!)

  2. Tara from The Magnolia Barn says

    June 4, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    This is a great list of ideas! I think it’s wonderful to offer activities that encourage creativity and imagination.

  3. Lauralee says

    June 5, 2013 at 12:27 am

    Magnets work so well in the car! I know this sounds silly, but I gave my three year old a cheap box of tissues, and he pulled them all out and thought it was hilarious. He did it several times. Totally worth the dollar it cost me!

    • OneMommy says

      June 7, 2013 at 5:05 pm

      Doesn’t sound silly to me at all!
      Whatever works when traveling! Mine have pulled tissues out at home; I just stuff them back in and figure they’re just as good! 🙂

  4. Margo says

    June 5, 2013 at 8:10 am

    These are some great ideas!

  5. Melinda@LookWhatMomFound...andDadtoo says

    June 7, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    great idea! we are headed out tonight for the weekend and I’m thinking about what I can bring along. This gave me some ideas

    • OneMommy says

      June 7, 2013 at 5:12 pm

      I hope you have a safe and wonderful trip! 🙂

  6. OneMommy says

    June 7, 2013 at 5:07 pm

    Hope they help!
    Good luck and have a safe trip! 🙂

  7. Sara Phillips says

    June 7, 2013 at 9:26 pm

    Great ideas!

    We use colored pencils in place of crayons because of the hot Texas sun.

    • OneMommy says

      June 9, 2013 at 10:45 pm

      Colored pencils are a great substitute for crayons in hotter areas! 🙂

  8. Stacy Sharpe says

    June 8, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    We are going on a road trip this month and I have been trying to think of what the kids might enjoy doing in the car. Thank you for all of the great ideas! I like the idea of splitting up the supplies into individual bags.

  9. Diane says

    June 8, 2013 at 5:50 pm

    Great Post! Thank you for linking up at Family Fun Friday at HappyandBlessedHome.com.

    Blessings!

    • OneMommy says

      June 9, 2013 at 10:47 pm

      Thank you! 🙂
      Have a great week!

  10. Emma (My Little 3 and Me) says

    June 9, 2013 at 5:56 pm

    I love the use of baking trays and magnets, such a simple and great idea!

    • OneMommy says

      June 10, 2013 at 9:31 pm

      And you can find some cute magnets! Or, even make them yourselves if you print off the computer and glue them to magnet backs.

  11. Crystal & Co says

    June 9, 2013 at 10:26 pm

    I love these traveling entertainment tips.

    I especially love the Post-in Note idea. How simple, fun and affordable.

    And those lap trays are awesome too!

    Thanks so much for linking up last week. My readers loved it. Check out your feature here: http://www.crystalandcomp.com/2013/06/best-mom-advice-6913/

    • OneMommy says

      June 10, 2013 at 9:38 pm

      Kids just love sticking up their artwork — this is an easy way they can do it in the car!

      Thanks for featuring me! 🙂

  12. Karen Bell says

    June 10, 2013 at 4:51 am

    Some great ideas.
    Popping over from pin it party.

  13. The Fairy and The Frog says

    June 10, 2013 at 8:35 am

    Lots of great ideas – I especially love the bracelets. Thanks for joining in the Monday Parenting Pin it Party.

    • OneMommy says

      June 10, 2013 at 9:34 pm

      Thanks! I’m putting it all to the test this week! 🙂
      Thanks for hosting!

  14. Audrey says

    June 10, 2013 at 9:47 am

    I’m visiting from the Montessori Monday Linkup. Thanks for the tips! We’re taking a road trip with our 3 kids in a couple of weeks. I’m definitely going to use the cookie sheet and magnets idea!

    • OneMommy says

      June 10, 2013 at 9:34 pm

      We are about to put all the ideas to the test this week…. 🙂

      I hope you have a wonderful trip!
      Thanks for stopping by!

  15. Tina says

    June 10, 2013 at 11:03 am

    Thanks for sharing these! I hadn’t thought of how very useful a cookie sheet could be on a long trip! I’ll definitely be employing that strategy soon!

  16. Honeybee says

    June 12, 2013 at 2:49 am

    I always travel with my kids almost every weekend. I love the idea about keeping books in the car. I think I need to keep several book in the car so that I don’t have to find and bring one every time we go travel.

    • OneMommy says

      June 14, 2013 at 3:46 pm

      We have some that stay in the car at all times. I try to change them every month or so. 🙂

  17. Jessica says

    June 13, 2013 at 10:00 am

    Great idea for the little one! Right now, we’re entertaining him with Power Rangers or anything with fishes, turtles, etc. on youtube while we’re driving. When he gets older, we will definitely use these and store in the car. Thanks so much for sharing with us @ My Favorite Posts SHOW OFF Weekend Blog Party!

    Jessica

  18. Carrie says

    June 14, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Great tips and ideas! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

  19. Claudette says

    June 15, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    Wonderful ideas! Will be putting these to work soon – we also love to travel with our felt boards 🙂

    • OneMommy says

      June 17, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      Yes, felt boards are awesome in the car! 🙂

  20. Amy Delmanto says

    June 16, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    Congratulations! Your post was featured at the Mommy Monday Link Party. Please stop by to grab your “I’ve Been Featured” button and link up again!

    • OneMommy says

      June 17, 2013 at 2:00 pm

      Thank you so much! 🙂 Definitely stopping in again this week!

  21. Lindsey says

    June 23, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    Brilliant! I need ideas for our upcoming 11 hour drive to visit the grandparents. Did you find the magnetic dress up dolls at the Dollar Tree, and was it recently? My girls would love, love them!

    • OneMommy says

      June 23, 2013 at 10:02 pm

      I found the magnetic dress up dolls at the Dollar General, for a dollar. They seem to have them every time I go, or something similar. 🙂

      Have a great trip!

  22. Lindsey says

    June 23, 2013 at 10:18 pm

    Thank you!! 🙂

  23. Jennifer Fischer says

    January 4, 2014 at 2:36 pm

    This is very similar to how I travel with the kids. I don’t have a tablet or a portable DVD player, so keeping them entertained with activities and books is key!

    • OneMommy says

      January 5, 2014 at 4:30 pm

      Mine always look forward to the surprises I have in store when I pack for a vacation! 🙂

  24. Angela says

    May 22, 2014 at 10:23 pm

    Great ideas. We’re actually heading out of town tomorrow four our first trip of the summer. I avoid stickers now though because there are still stickers stuck to my one window that I need to scrape off sometime. Safe travels this summer.

    • OneMommy says

      May 23, 2014 at 3:56 pm

      LOL — Yes! Stickers tend to do that! We had a strict rule that they could only go on paper…but I do have a few that somehow wound up on the windows… 🙂

      Have a great summer!

  25. Emma @ P is for Preschooler says

    June 21, 2014 at 9:31 am

    These are great! I’m definitely going to look for some magnet books and I’m “stealing” that Cheerios on pipe cleaners idea too. Even if my daughter doesn’t make the bracelet, the snack alone will keep her happy for a bit. 🙂

    • OneMommy says

      June 21, 2014 at 11:49 am

      The Cheerios and pipe cleaner idea remains a hit here for that reason — craft and snack all in one! 🙂

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