Road trip activities for toddlers for a tantrum-free trip.
Traveling with a toddler can be a challenging experience, and those long road trips can feel particularly daunting.
Keeping your little one entertained and happy for hours on end can seem like a Herculean task.
I used to literally dread sitting in the car with my toddler for even short trips to the grocery store. But then I realized that if I have the right activities planned out, road trips (yess, even long ones!) aren’t so terrible after all!
In this post I’ll share 10 fun and easy road trip activities that are perfect for the car.
This post is about road trip activities for toddlers
From coloring books and sticker books to travel games, I’ve got you covered. So buckle up and get ready to make your next road trip with your little one a success.
10 Genius Road Trip Activities To Keep Your Toddler Busy For Hours
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1. Coloring Books and Crayons
Coloring books and crayons are a classic activity for toddlers and can keep them occupied for a long time.
Providing your little one with a variety of age appropriate coloring books and crayons can give them the chance to express their creativity while on the road.
You can choose coloring books with their favorite characters or themes to make it more exciting. And don’t forget about the different types of crayons available, such as twistable ones or the triangle ones that don’t roll off surfaces easily.
If you’re worried about the mess that coloring can create in the car, consider investing in a travel tray for kids to help contain the crayons and paper (and snacks and everything else too!)
You can also use ziplock bags to organize the books and crayons, making it easy to find what your toddler wants to color.
2. Reusable Sticker Play
Reusable sticker play books are a great alternative to coloring books for car rides. Not only are they mess-free, but they also allow your toddler to express their creativity in a different way. The variety of stickers available can also keep your little one engaged for a longer period of time.
This Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Play Set is a parent favorite. It allows your child to use their imagination, recreate scenes and is great for developing fine motor skills, hand eye coordination, narrative thinking, and independent play.
Sticker books and stickers can easily be stored in a ziplock bag or pocket folder, making them a convenient activity to bring along in the car. Plus, the small size of stickers means that they won’t take up much space in your luggage.
3. Magnetic Play
My little one got a magnetic play set as a gift from a friend on her birthday and she totally loooves. It is perfect for the car because it’s mess free, light weight and everything is contained in the box.
Magnetic play boards have a ton of cognitive benefits. Kids can create their own scenes, use their imagination and it’s a superb way to inculcate and foster independent play.
“Magnet play stimulates active curiosity and visual memory, and it’s also a great introduction to science. Plus, this activity builds fine motor skills as your toddler grasps and moves the magnets around” ~ whattoexpect.com
4. Interactive Books
If you’re looking for road trip activities for toddlers, look no further than interactive books.
These books come in a variety of themes and are designed to keep little ones engaged with flaps to lift or textures to touch. They are perfect for a long car ride and can also help with your child’s cognitive development.
Not only are interactive books fun and educational, but they are also easy to pack for a road trip. They can be stored in a backpack or tote bag and won’t take up too much space in your luggage. Your toddler will love exploring the different pages and discovering what secrets each book holds.
Interactive Felt Busy Book – Carry on Travel Quiet Activity Book
LeapFrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book
5. Busy Books
Busy books do just as the same suggests. They keep your child busy. And they do a fantastic job at it!
“Busy books for toddlers can have multiple uses: they can help a child practice fine motor skills; identify shapes, colors, or letters; and encourage problem solving”~ bookriot.com
The Sweet n Sour Busy Book has been designed to not just keep your toddler highly engaged and busy but to also learn critical skills while having tons of fun.
Toddlers get to match, sort and trace away as they develop their gross motor skills, fine motor skills and critical thinking skills.
Check out the Sweet n Sour Busy Book for yourself and see why it’s a parent favorite!
10 Car Activities To Keep Your Toddler Busy For Hours
6. Window Clings
Looking for more road trip activities for toddlers? Consider bringing along some window clings! These reusable decorations can stick to car windows and be easily peeled off, providing endless hours of fun and entertainment for your toddler.
Window clings come in a variety of shapes, colors, and designs, so your child can choose the ones they like best (these under the ocean window clings are bestsellers!)
They can be used to build scenes or tell stories, practice counting and color recognition, or simply as a fun tactile experience. Your child will love the sensation of peeling them off and sticking them back on again, creating their own patterns and designs.
Best of all, window clings are mess-free and won’t leave any residue or damage on the car windows. Plus, they’re easy to store and pack for your next road trip adventure.
7. Snacks and Drinks
Keeping your little one’s belly full and thirst quenched is essential to a successful road trip. But with so many snacks and drinks out there, it can be hard to choose.
Opt for easy-to-pack treats like fruit cups, chewy granola bars or Annies crackers & pretzels These snacks are not only compact and convenient, but also fun to eat and hence become into an “activity” for littles.
Don’t forget to also pack plenty of water and juice boxes to ensure your child stays hydrated. And for a special treat, consider bringing along a fun flavored drink like apple or grape juice.
8. Travel Games
Now that you have all the essentials ready, it’s time to add some exciting travel games to the mix. Travel games are a great way to keep your toddler engaged and entertained during the long trip. Here are some fun travel games that will make your journey a breeze.
Firstly, the classic ‘I Spy’ game never gets old. It’s simple yet effective, and your toddler will enjoy looking out for things that match your clues. For instance, you can start by saying, “I spy with my little eye, something green.” Your toddler should then look around and guess what it is that you’re referring to.
Another fun travel game is the ‘Guess the Animal’ game. This game involves making animal sounds and asking your child to guess what animal is making that sound. It’s a fun way to teach your toddler the names of different animals and their sounds.
Lastly, you can play the ‘Alphabet Game.’ This game involves finding all the letters of the alphabet in order, starting from A and ending with Z. You can look for letters on license plates, billboards, and road signs.
9. Activity Trays
Another way to keep your toddler engaged during a road trip is to use activity trays and busy bags.
Activity trays are easy to make and can provide hours of entertainment.
To make a DIY activity tray, find a shallow plastic container with a lid, and add some Velcro strips to the bottom. Then, attach some Velcro-backed toys and activities, such as puzzles, magnetic letters and numbers, and coloring pages to the lid. This will keep all the activities within reach and prevent them from falling off the tray.
Activity trays are a great way to keep your toddler’s attention for an extended period. You can customize them based on your child’s interests and age, and they are easy to store when not in use.
10. Busy Bags
Busy bags are similar to busy books and include activities that your child can engage in while having fun and also learning tons.
I have 5 absolutely awesome busy bag activity printouts that you can get for free. Put in your email address below and we’ll deliver the goodies straight to your inbox. You’re welcome 🙂
5 Busy Bag Activities for Toddlers Every Parent Needs
This post was about road trip activities for toddlers
Travel tip: remember to take frequent breaks, let your child stretch their legs, and keep the mood light with snacks and games.
As you hit the road with your toddler, keep in mind that a little bit of preparation can go a long way. With these tips, you can ensure that you and your toddler will arrive at your destination happy and stress-free. As the famous quote goes, “The journey is the reward.” Enjoy the ride and make it a memorable experience for your little one.
I hope these ideas helped give you some inspiration for car activities you can do with your toddler.
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