‘It’s Oh So Quiet’ — Tips for Travelling With Kids

I’ve taken many long journeys with the children and am always looking for different ways to entertain and keep the boredom away, this post from Tesco gives you some great ideas and I’ll be looking to try some out on our next adventure!

Long journeys with kids can be torture: they’re bored, they’re uncomfortable, they’re fighting, they’re whining: it’s exhausting! Luckily with a little preparation you can keep them entertained (and the noise down!) for the duration of the journey.

Whether it’s battling computer-generated baddies and a few accessories, from PS Vita games to travel games for the whole family this list of list of suggestions will hopefully prevent your little angels from becoming little horrors on the next long journey you take!

Handheld games consoles

These are an absolute godsend: these portable devices will be engrossing and will keep the kids quiet for hours. There’s the nifty touchscreen PlayStation Vita and the various generations of the Nintendo DS. It would be a good idea to buy your kids matching ones, so they don’t fight over ‘the best one’. They can then hook them together and compete!

Games and puzzles

Mind games will keep the kids entertained, and can involve the adults too. Memory games like ‘I went to the shop and I bought…[item beginning with A, then B, etc.]’ or the name game where the next celebrity name chosen must begin with the first letter of the surname of the previously chosen celebrity, and so on! You can find hundreds of games online like these, which require no equipment except your brains and a long car journey. I Spy games can be a hit, along with other spotting games outside the car window.

Accessories to ring

A personal CD player can really keep a child occupied (bring spare batteries), or if everyone’s feeling in fine fettle, then a sing-a-long CD for the whole car to join in. Audiobooks are also an alternative if your kids like the same stories. Don’t forget wet wipes, snacks and water, although avoid the really sugary snacks — you don’t want hyperactive sugar rushes!

Take regular breaks

You get tired when you’re driving and need a break; sometimes the kids need a break too. Don’t be afraid to spend a little time at a rest stop: maybe your kids would like to run around on some grass for a while, and to get some fresh air. You never know — they might tire themselves out and fall asleep for the remainder of the journey!

Reward good behaviour

If nothing else works, perhaps a little bribery: give each child a pile of coins (for instance £2 in 20 pence pieces) and if they misbehave you can take one coin away. At the end of the journey they can spend what’s left on anything they like!

Travelling is difficult whether you’re young or old; hopefully you can find some activities to make the time pass quicker and more bearable for everyone, so your reach your journey sooner and more pleasantly!

Image by ToriaURU, used under Creative Commons licence.