August 22, 2016 at 1:54 PM
Long car journeys can feel like you’re trapped inside a metal box for what feels like eternity. Here are some ways to help keep those kids quiet and pass the time:
PLAY SOME GAMES
Playing games can be a great way to make those car journeys far more enjoyable. Some basic games for kids don’t even require anything to play at all. Games like ‘pub cricket’ and ‘I spy’ have very basic rules and can be played by both children and adults. These games really make the most of the fact that you will be on the road for a long time with changing scenery.
BRING OUT THE TOYS
Many of your favourite popular board games can be bought in miniature form, often with magnetic pieces to keep the whole set together whilst playing. Computer games for kids can now be played on the go with hand held games consoles. Some of these console games can even be linked together to play together, entertaining the kids for hours on end.
WATCH A FILM
Watching a movie or a TV series can be a brilliant way to make the time fly by and keep kids quiet and distracted. Many modern cars are fitted with DVD players and screens in the headrest but this is less common with older 2nd hand cars. These can now easily be purchased separately to be fit onto the headrests at affordable prices. Tablets are also an excellent way of watching films and TV on the go, with the potential of storing hundreds of episodes of your children's favourite TV shows.
STOP FOR FREQUENT BREAKS
A good idea to prevent kids (and adults too in fact) from getting cranky and restless on long car journeys is to make sure to take frequent breaks throughout the trip. It is recommended to stop for around 10-15 minutes every couple of hours. This allows everyone to stretch their legs, perhaps grab a bite to eat or use toilet facilities if available. This also makes long car journeys safer as it gives the driver a chance to rest their eyes and puts less strain on the vehicle. This is especially true with older 2nd hand cars that are more susceptible to wear and tear and may well be out of warranty, making repairs expensive.
SING ALONG TOGETHER
Whilst this won’t exactly keep the kids quiet, having a sing-along together can be a great way to keep everybody’s spirits up. You don’t need anything to sing together, but many of your children’s favourite songs from films are available in the form of sing along CDs. Whilst an issue common with older 2nd hand cars is a lack of a CD player, these are now very affordable and can be easily retrofitted into your car.
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