The warm weather is here and that means the season of holidays, getaways, and road trips is upon us.
Whether you’re staying in the UK or heading further afield, chances are you’ll be preparing for a long drive and facing the challenge of how to keep the kids entertained during the journey.
Here are 6 tops tips to help make travelling with little backseat passengers a breeze.
1. Word games
Classic word games are a great way to pass the time and get kids involved. Try:
- I-Spy – One person picks something they can see and gives a clue (e.g. “I spy with my little eye… something blue”), and others guess what it is.
- 20 Questions – Think of an object, and others can ask up to 20 yes/no questions to figure out what it is.
- The number plate game – Use letters from passing number plates to create words or funny phrases.
Turning these into small challenges or competitions can make them more exciting and keep kids engaged.
2. Road trip bingo
Make bingo cards ahead of time with things kids might spot on the journey, such as:
- Red cars
- Sheep
- Lorries
- Airplanes
As they tick items off, they stay focused and entertained while the journey feels quicker.
3. Backseat drivers
Another great way to involve your kids in the journey and get them chatting away is to give them a map and let them find out where you are. It also has the added benefit of teaching them some basic map reading skills on the side!
Feeling really brave? Get them to navigate for you as well – but maybe keep the sat nav running, just in case!
4. Start the music
Let kids take turns choosing music or playlists. To keep things balanced:
- Prepare playlists in advance so you know what to expect
- Set limits on repeating songs
- Stay in control of the volume
Even kids in the back seat can join in if your car supports Bluetooth or has shared controls.
If they’re in the back, they could still get involved with the music if you have a stereo with Bluetooth or even just a long USB cable.
5. Electronic entertainment
Well, we’ve made it this far without mentioning them, but there’s no arguing with the fact that they work! If you’ve got a tablet or another device that you can put some apps on for the kids to play with, it’ll keep them entertained for hours. Add films and music (as well as some e-books) and most journeys should go nice and quick for them.
A good investment is the Halfords Universal tablet Headrest Mount as it is adjustable to fit different tablet sizes and fits securely on the back of the headrest.
6. Exciting detours
If your staycation destination is miles and miles away, then it can be a good idea to factor in some kid-friendly stop-offs to help break the journey up and give your kids something to look forward to.
Our blog on 10 family attractions to visit in the UK has some great ideas if you’re looking for inspiration, it includes days-out at:
- Zoos
- Museums
- Popular attractions
Or if you’ve brought your bikes along, why not tire your little one out with a bike ride and a picnic? Take a look at some of the top UK family cycling routes or check out our picnic essentials and kids’ bikes to make sure you’re kitted out before you leave.
What to do to help travel sick kids
If your kids get car sick, it can be much more difficult to keep them entertained. While different solutions work for different kids, we recommend an audiobook and a pillow to help distract them from how they’re feeling and (hopefully) send them to sleep.
If the weather is warm, then investing in a sunshade will help keep the heat off them, ensuring they have a cool and comfortable journey.
Halfords Motoring Club
By joining the Halfords Motoring Club today, you’ll get access to a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe, and keep you saving.
Free Halfords Motoring Club Membership includes:
- Money off your MOT.
- A free 10-point car health check.
- A welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service, including our range of windscreen wipers.
Or upgrade to our Premium membership (£5.49 monthly/£54 yearly) to unlock:
- An included MOT.
- 5% off all motoring services and products online and across our stores, garages, and Halfords Mobile Expert.
- 2 x 10-point car safety checks, worth £15 each.
- Even more exclusive member bargains and benefits.
We hope these tips help to keep your kids entertained during long journeys (and help to take the stress out of the process for you!) If you need any holiday essentials for when you reach your destination, like camping supplies, tents, roof boxes and bike racks, then you head on over to Halfords.com.
If you want a super summer getaway, you want Halfords.
