Surviving Unplugged Family Car Rides with Kids – Making a Family Car Ride Fun with Electronics-free Options

The promise of warmer weather brings car trips to Grandma’s house, the beach, and Walt Disney World.  Long car rides with excited children can often lead to tired parents that often hear that not so magical question “Are we there yet?” 15 minutes into a multi-hour car ride.  I remember the 11 hour trips to my grandparent’s house in Ohio at least twice a year.  Somehow my parents were able to keep that magical question at bay for the trip without the use of electronics.  So, when my family starts the 11 hour journey to Walt Disney World each year I reflect on what my parents did and try to use their example for my children.  Here are some tips on surviving those long rides without plugging your child into the electronics:

1) For the Reader – take a visit to the library to pick out a couple new books.  Maybe books on where you are going (Disney books are fun for children to look through and get excited about their trip), comic books, the latest in their book series, etc.  Books on CD or downloading kindle kids books for them through an app can be a fun change for them too!

2) For the Gamer/Competitor – look up some fun car games you can play together.  My family likes to compete so our favorite games are ones where we try to find things before the others in the car.  For example, who can find all of the letters in the alphabet first?  Or, can you find the most State plates?  Maybe, who can find the funniest sign/unusual animals/strange restaurant, etc.  Prizes are usually small treats from the discount stores.

3) For the Artist – new art supplies, and maybe new ones they have never used.  I love the Color Wonder products because they are no mess and cannot mark on the car.  A nice lap desk with pockets on the side work well too for an artist that would like to keep the supplies organized and nearby (a cookie sheet tray works well too).  You may want to make a list of suggestions for art too (my kids are always asking for ideas on what to create).  Maybe ask them to draw what they are looking forward to the most on their vacation, or what they think they will see, or what they think they will do on vacation.

4) For the Mover – plan your stops along the way.  Look for interesting places to stop on your route.  For example, if you are heading to Disney you might want to stop by South of the Boarder – with all of those fun signs it helps build the excitement of the stop.  You could also plan small active games for stops at the rest areas – maybe Red Light, Green Light, or Simon Says.

 

My family likes a combination of all of these!  I plan out how many hours it should take us round trip and purchase that many small items for each of my children.   So, if we are doing 11 hours to Walt Disney World, then I purchase 22 small items for each of my children.  I get creative and shop over a couple of months – picking items up after holidays in the clearance bin or at a Dollar Store, trying to keep all of the items at $1 or less.  They are usually things like crafts, coloring things, small toys, and snacks.  Then I wrap them up and put them in a bag or bin for that child.  They get to keep the bin/bag with them in the car and each hour open one present.

There are rules though – they cannot ask “How much longer” or anything related to that phrase, and they need to be kind to each other.  My son sets an alarm so he knows how much longer until the next unwrapping event.  The bonus?  I only put half of the gifts in the bag (the other half stay in the trunk for the return trip), so my children know how much longer until we arrive at our destination!

Remember, what works for one family may not work for another.  So, take some time to think about your children and what might work for them.  I know what worked for me as a child does not work for both of my children, so we modify some of the things above to what works best for us.  Remember to relax and have fun because it is all about the memories you create while you are on vacation and not “How much longer”.

 Jill Dalton, Magical Vacation Planner at Storybook World Travel an Earmarked Agency

jill@storybookworldtravel.com

(757)561-9044

Growing up on the East Coast Jill has enjoyed many adventures to Walt Disney World! She considers the Animal Kingdom Lodge her second home, and loves their Zebra Domes. Jill took her first family cruise on the Disney Wonder out of Galveston, TX in 2013. Her family had so much fun that they have cruised many itineraries around the world with Disney Cruise Lines, including the Mediterranean! Jill also loves participating in the runDisney events and ran in the Coast to Coast challenges during 2016. She has planned family, adult, homeschool, and multi-generational vacations. Jill looks forward to helping you prepare for your next magical adventure!

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