Keeping your toddler entertained in the car can be a difficult job. Their attention spans are still quite short, and you need to keep them happy and occupied so you can focus on arriving safely.

Here are five great ways you can keep your toddler entertained on a road trip of any length. These can be a lifesaver if your toddler is the type to get bored and try to wiggle out of their car seat, and you’ll even catch yourself having fun, too.

1. I spy

This simple game can keep kids occupied for a long time because it’s constantly changing. You can start by choosing something everyone in the car can see – ideally something that won’t disappear soon (like a car speeding past).

You say, “I spy with my little eye, something that…” and then give a clue that helps describe it, such as its colour or the letter it starts with. The other people in your car will take turns asking questions about it, such as “Is it big?” or “Is it inside our car?”. When they think they know what it is, they can make a specific guess, and once someone successfully figures it out, it’s their turn to choose the object. Repeat until you reach your destination.

2. Family sing-along

Who doesn’t like listening to music in the car? Music and car trips go hand in hand for a reason. Play music that your kids know the words to, or just start reciting nursery rhymes. This can make the time pass incredibly quickly, and if they’re busy singing along, they’re less likely to ask you “Are we there yet?” for the 5,000th time.

3. Finger puppets

I find that you can get a lot of mileage out of finger puppets on road trips. You don’t even have to buy them; you could gather some scrap felts and a glue gun and devote a rainy afternoon to making them together. 

Your toddler can make up little stories with the puppets in the car, and perhaps you can suggest themes to guide their stories, like one related to your destination. This is a great way to promote imagination and creative thinking. Try to use the puppets only in the car so they don’t lose their novelty.

4. Treasure hunt

It’s not that hard to turn your car trip into a treasure hunt, and it won’t cost you any money, either. In this simple game, your toddler has to find everything on a treasure hunt list.

You can make a simple list beforehand with some freehand drawings of things you’re likely to encounter on your route, like a fuel station, a tree, a boat, a pink house, or a person walking their dog. They can check off the items with a crayon or just call them out as they see them

5. The colour game

Each of you chooses a colour, and then you’ll count how many cars you pass of that colour. This works best if you’ll be taking a route where you’ll pass lots of other cars. You might do it for a set time, such as five minutes, if your kids are very young, or do it for the whole trip – it’s up to you! You can even skew the odds in your child’s favour by choosing an uncommon car colour for yourself if you’d like.

Keeping your toddler entertained in the car is easy when you have a repertoire of fun ways to pass the time that the whole family will enjoy. Happy driving!

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