Planning a Family Road Trip? These Fun Games, Toys and Activities Keep Kids Entertained
There will be no backseat bickering during this family road trip.
Summer vacations are different this year. More families are choosing staycations as a safer way for their families to get a change of scenery. Sometimes these staycations can mean hours on the road. As a parent with 9-years’ worth of road trips under my belt from the time my daughter was 6-months old, I’ve learned quite a bit about road tripping with kids. You have to keep kids entertained.
I’ve curated a list of fun educational activities and toys to keep kids entertained during family road trips.
Related: Five East Coast Road Trips to Take with Your Family
Sneak in educational fun with Magformers!
Magformers are the perfect activity to keep kids entertained during family road trips. Kids can use magnetic geometric shapes to create whatever their imaginations allow. This can be anything from a house, tower, and Magformers’ “magic ball.” The possibilities are endless. The great thing about it is that it is perfect for brain development, critical thinking, and STEM education. Kids are keeping busy, having fun, and learning, all while on the road. And, if that doesn’t make you happy, you’ll love that these toys are easy to store, preventing your backseat from becoming messy and cluttered.
Age: 3+
Cost: $24.99
Related: 6 Toddler Road Trip Tips That Will Make You Love Your Next Vacation
Have an aspiring travel vlogger? Ignite their creativity with Vtech’s KidiZoom Creator Cam
With this all-in-one HD, video camera kit children can document their travel experiences and create fun videos. With easy on-screen editing, kids can edit their videos right in the backseat. After all, is done, the family can host a viewing party of their child’s amateur family road trip documentary.
The KidiZoom Creator Cam comes with a green screen, a tabletop tripod that converts into a selfie stick, 20+ animated backgrounds, and easy on-camera video editing.
Age: 5+
Cost: $59.99
If your child loves to write – a travel journal is a great backseat road trip activity
No screens are required for a travel journal. Journaling not only makes a great way to document your trip and have something to look back on, but it also encourages creativity. To ensure kids are quiet and busy, opt for a travel journal that includes fun activities.
Age: 5+
Have a night owl? Let them enjoy stargazing with My Discovery Telescope
This is a 12x magnification power telescope that can be used for both terrestrial (land) observations as well as astronomical (night sky) observations. For overnight drives, kids can use this telescope to look for constellations and planets. It can also be used during the day for bird watching. Start a fun family road trip game by guessing what you can find while driving.
Age: 6+
Cost: $19.95
Have a car enthusiast in the making? They’ll Love Solar-powered Rovers
Solar-powered Rovers are the perfect backseat STEM activity for children who love cars and love to build. With the Solar-powered Rovers kit, children can build five (5) motorized models, build three (3) types of solar cars, a solar fan, and a solar robot model. Once they’re done building their models they can conduct fun science experiments learning about gear ratios, solar cells, and more. During a daytime stop for a break, kids can even race their cars using the sun’s energy!
Age: 8+
Cost: $19.95
Related: Crafts For Kids (and Adults) You Can Do In The Car
Let Kids Navigate from the Backseat with the National Geographic Kids Ultimate U.S. Road Atlas
This will keep kids involved and engaged during your family road trip with easy-to-read, simple road maps of each state to help you navigate your trip while learning how to read maps and learn about a specific area. The book includes fun things to keep kids engaged for hours, such as boredom busters, fun facts, wacky roadside attractions, and games.
Age: 8+
Cost: $5.99 – $15.00
Other things that can keep kids’ little minds occupied and not asking, “are we there yet?” include:
- Their favorite book
- Coloring books
- Puzzles
And when you’ve absolutely had it with questions from the back seat, download their favorite shows or movies to a tablet, hand them the headphones and relax with some Yacht Rock. You’re almost there!
Disclosure: Magformers, Solar-powered Rovers, and My Discovery Telescope were provided to Kim of Beauty and the Bump NYC for review consideration. All opinions are my own and links may provide affiliate commission.
Categorized:Car Culture
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