Nothing puts a damper on a family vacation faster than bored kids. But happily, whether you’re traveling with a teen or a toddler, flying the friendly skies or hitting the open road, there are clever ways to mitigate stressful situations and keep the whole gang comfortable and entertained. With that in mind, here are eight ways to avoid hearing the dreaded “Are we there yet?” chorus from the back seat on your next family getaway.
If You’re Traveling With Babies and Toddlers…
Pack Hand Puppets
Interact with your little one over the headrest with a puppet — you won’t even have to turn around. Try singing songs, playing peek-a-boo or telling a silly story. Just keep in mind, they’ll likely want to hold the puppet, so buy one that’s safe for your baby to play with. And if you need a break and you’re traveling with older kids, ask them to entertain their younger siblings with the puppets while you enjoy a quick break.
Bring New Toys
For a low price, you can buy your child a new stroller or car seat toy to keep them entertained on a plane or in the car. For example, a Parker Activity Puppy available from Toys R Us offers your baby things to teethe on, pull, squeeze and shake — all in one affordable and safe toy. And if you’re flying with other passengers or planning a road trip, it’s also a smart idea to avoid bringing on toys that make sounds. They may not bother you, but they could irritate others and make for an unpleasant experience in transit for everyone.
[See: 8 Amazingly Affordable Family Vacations .]
If You’re Traveling With Preschool and Elementary School Kids…
Play the License Plate Game
There’s a new twist on the tried-and-true travel game. Give your child a placemat of the United States and a dry erase marker; each time he spots a new state license plate on the road, he can cross off the state on his map. Make sure to mark your route on your child’s placemat with a permanent pen and include where you’ll begin and end, along with anywhere you plan to stop. This will help your child gain basic map reading skills and keep his focus off the long drive ahead.
Pack Along a Few Wrapped Surprises
It’s a good idea to buy a few inexpensive toys or trinkets and wrap them in fun gift paper. And after each hour of good behavior, reward your kids with their pick of one wrapped present. For a few dollars and a half hour spent wrapping gifts, you’ll give the kids something to look forward to and an excellent reason to be on their best behavior. Make sure to buy items that will keep the kids entertained while traveling. Coloring books, card games or toy cars are excellent bets. And to promote learning while on the road, consider picking up some great STEM toys for a big reward upon arrival at your destination, and don’t forget to pack toys for your return trip home.
[See: Best Family Beach Vacations in the USA.]
If You’re Traveling With Tweens and Teens …
Bring Disposable Cameras
Today’s tweens and teens are all too familiar with cameras on their phones, but many have never used a film camera. A few affordable disposable cameras will provide your kids with hours of boredom-fighting fun. Encourage them to take pictures of your trip from start to finish, and create a photo album when you return home to document their memories. If you can’t tear your tech-loving teens away from their smartphones, urge them to download the app Nutshell, which turns pictures into short videos that can be shared with family and friends at home.
Ask Your Child to Serve as Your Tour Guide
Recruiting your child to serve as your tour guide is a smart way to get him excited about your trip and give him a stake in your vacation. If you’re planning a road trip, he can research a few interesting facts about your route and destination on 50States.com, a website that provides fun facts about each state. Teens will also enjoy the Roadtrippers app, where they can find fun and quirky stops to visit during your trip. If you’re traveling by car, help your tweens and teens feel empowered by putting them in charge of finding the best route to your destination using a traditional paper map, rather than a smartphone and map out directions yourself as backup.
If You’re Traveling With Kids of All Ages
Invest in Audiobooks
From fairy tales to historical fiction, audiobooks entertain even the most restless of young travelers. Your local library is a great source for picking up books on CD and may also offer downloadable audiobooks through OverDrive, a robust collection featuring more than 2 million digitally distributed videos, ebooks and audiobooks. Get the kids involved by asking them to choose audiobook options, and pick one that ties in to your trip. If you don’t make it to the library before your trip, stop at a Cracker Barrel — the company features an audiobook exchange program that allows you to purchase audiobooks at one location and exchange them at another Cracker Barrel along your route. You can also download audiobooks from your smartphone through the popular Audible app from Amazon.
Download Movies and Shows
Gone are the days requiring a portable DVD player to watch movies and TV during transit. Your cable provider may even offer programming on the go via an app. Some companies provide their customers with access to thousands of popular shows and movies on their mobile devices — and some even allow you to download programs to view offline — so your data plan won’t take a huge hit. Make sure to talk with your child about how much TV time they can have during your trip, and consider using it as a reward for good behavior. After all, while children often get restless during travel, with a little forethought, your kids will enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
[See: America’s Best Family Road Trips.]
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8 Kid-Approved Ways to Stay Entertained in Transit originally appeared on usnews.com
