Keeping children entertained while on the way to your actual travel destination can be challenging. Whether driving or flying to your favorite vacation spot, children need things to do to keep them entertained. Most parents rely on having their kids watch a movie on the DVD player (portable or built into the car), play with the DS, or listen to music on the iPod in an effort to reduce stress and make their trip enjoyable. One problem with these options is that the family is disengaged from each other. Another disadvantage is that often times it becomes difficult for children to stop using these devices during rest stops and eating times. This may result in parent-child battles during vacation time. Parents need to keep in mind that all kids just want to have fun and not be bored during travel. It is our job as parents to introduce other alternative options to make this happen. The easiest way to come up with these things is to think back to your own childhood and remember what you and your family used to do for entertainment during a long car trip or flight when media options were not as readily available. Below is a list of some simple, yet fun things you can do with your children that facilitates family bonding and interaction during a family trip.
• Play board games that come in travel sizes and/or card games such as UNO
• Read comics from the newspaper or a book
• Draw or color (Doodle Pads are another alternative)
• Bring back the fun of the license plate game during car travel
• Younger kids may enjoy interactive games such as “Knock-Knock Who’s There?” or “I Spy with My Little Eye”
• Taken from the classic Charades game, parents can play the “I’m thinking” game, where clues are provided in an effort for the other person to guess what is on the other’s person’s mind. In an airplane this game can also take the form of “Hangman” on paper
• More ideas for car games can be found in the book titled, Are We There Yet? Great Car Games to Keep Families Sane! By Jo Pink
• More road trip travel games can be found on MomsMinivan.com
Summer is about enjoying time with your family during trips and vacations. Hopefully utilizing some of these tips during travel will increase chances of success and a more pleasurable trip.
Maria Kanakos Psy.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Posted 6-13-11