Traveling with toddlers can be difficult for a number of reasons.
A lack of patience and an inability to move around and play freely in the car can cause boredom and fussiness in toddlers and preschoolers. Managing these behaviours while driving can increase the stress and exhaustion of parents, affecting the overall mood of a trip.
Road trip activities for toddlers are essential for an enjoyable road trip- pack along some delicious snacks and sprinkle in a few kid-friendly stops along the way, and you are set!
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For the car ride itself:
1. Sensory Busy Book
We call this the buckle book, but it really has so much more! Our toddler is practicing his fine motor skills by buckling and unbuckling, tying shoelaces and fastening Velcro, to name a few. I really recommend one of these activity books from Amazon. It's super lightweight and portable, so it can fit easily into a diaper bag to be used in a restaurant or wherever else.
2. Board Books
Have some board books readily available for your toddler- these are great for the car as they’re durable, and if your little passenger is getting overtired or fussy, or has water with him/her, you don't have to worry about board books getting damaged like other books.
3. Drawing Pad
A simple, super affordable drawing tablet like one is great for the car, as your toddler can doodle to his heart's content, without the worry or mess of markers or crayons!
4. Small Toys
I purchased these suction toys from the Dollar Store, but I found a reasonable set of them on Amazon- I love that they are soft and quiet, and can be put together in many different ways! See how long it takes for your toddler to start sticking them to the windows :)
5. Old Phones and Calculators
I found this genius idea from Laura over at the organized mom life (she’s got an amazing blog, check it out!) Toddlers have a tendency to gravitate towards remotes, phones, and well, anything that we usually don't really want in their hot little hands! So they'll be thrilled when they get their own!
Head to your local thrift store and pick up an old phone and calculator! If you save these for road trips, they’ll be extra exciting!
6. Activity Books
Try and have something new- these were purchased from the Dollar Store, and are super easy to pack along in the diaper bag They are also especially useful for restaurants. If your toddler is a little bit older and can get engaged in a more content-rich activity book, this is a great one from Amazon for preschoolers- it is packed with activities to practice letters, numbers, shapes and more.
7. Surprise Boxes
Sara from Run Wild my Child has an amazing idea of putting together surprise boxes before each road trip. She finds items on clearance or at the dollar store or garage sales, and fills a little treasure chest with exciting new things such as stickers, small toys, fidgets, and special treats. They can be saved for good behaviour or given at certain stops, for an extra fun factor!
8. Magnetic Puzzles
You can purchase some from Amazon, such as this set of two Paw Patrol magnetic puzzles, or turn any puzzle into a magnetic one by adhering some magnetic tape to the back of the pieces! You can probably find all materials at your local dollar store. A magnetic cookie sheet is an amazing companion for road trips, as it works as the perfect tray for a bunch of magnetic activities for your toddler in the car - think magnetic letters, shape magnets, animal magnets, to name a few! (Mom tip: I also love using our cookie sheet at home for play-doh activities!)
9. Audiobooks/Podcasts!
There are all kinds of podcasts for toddlers and kids out there now! Find a few to download and play for your next road trip- Spotify has a bunch of options, such as Disney Storytime, Circle Round (stories and folktales adapted for children), and Sesame Street Stories!
10. Road Trip Activities/Games that Don’t Require Anything!
I Spy!
Play I Spy with your toddler as you’re driving- it’s a great opportunity to practice shapes, colours, and all kinds of objects!
Guess the Animal -
Pick an animal to describe and see who can guess it!
Counting Game
Pick an object that can be seen out the window to take turns counting- a great opportunity to model and practice your toddler's number skills!
Sing Songs!
Don't Forget the Snacks!
This snack cup was one of the best purchases we’ve made since having a baby, and our toddler loves packing around his snacks in it! Ours is no longer available on Amazon, but the company who makes this no spill snack cup, Baby Bliss, is founded by a Canadian from Nova Scotia! It’s great because it’s spill-proof, and its food grade silicone material is soft and safe for little ones.
I hope these road trip activities give you a few ideas for your next family road trip! I would love to hear what activities for toddlers you would add to this list! Wishing you safe and happy travels!
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