Screen-Free Travel Activities for Kids
Traveling with kids can be an adventure, but keeping them entertained without screens can be a challenge. Whether you're heading out on a long road trip, flying to a new destination, or just spending a few hours on a train, having screen-free activities ready can make the journey smoother and more enjoyable for everyone. Not only does it give kids a break from screen time, but it also engages their creativity, curiosity, and focus.
As a family of five, we have been on our fair share of road trips. We have lived out of state and had to travel back “home” for holidays, and we have now also become pretty well-versed in the 15 hour drive to FL from IL.
In this post, I’ve used my past experiences as a mom of three to round up the best screen-free travel activities for kids of all ages, from games and fine motor activities to keep little hands busy, to art supplies, and other miscellaneous travel-friendly must-haves. These ideas will keep your little travelers entertained, engaged, and happy, so you can relax and enjoy the journey too!
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Sunglasses have come in handy in our car for our kids when we just so happen to be driving directly into the sun, or the sun is shining right in through one of their windows. Plus, everyone is happier in some cool shades.
2. Cookie Sheet
These are a must because they are magnetic. My kids have enjoyed building with #13 from the image above on a cookie sheet and they can also be used with #11. When not using them with magnetic toys, a cookie sheet also works great as a desk/hard surface for any coloring activities, and also serves as a great table/tray if eating on the go is going to be a part of your road trip.
3. Clipboards
There is no fancy, earth-shattering purpose of a clipboard, other than what it was truly intended for. My kids love a clipboard for their coloring pages even just around the house, but they are especially handy while coloring in the car.
I love these bags so much! The largest one with the handles is how we store all of our character Tonies. I typically use one the other large size bag for snacks in my purse, and/or other small toys for my littles if we are heading to sporting events for my oldest. For car rides, I love to use these to hold crayons, markers, and other coloring/writing utensils, I’ve also used them to pack small toys/games in.
This was a spontaneous purchase for us for our first long road trip to FL several years ago. I put it in front our oldest child since he would be the most capable to help the other two during the drive. It was a great way for him to have easy access to many of the games, activities, and other essentials that we brought along with us and just was something that made the trip run a little smoother. PS I just have to add - this Amazon photo cracks me up because who on earth has purple interiors car seats?
Last, but certainly not least, never underestimate the power of ALL THE SNACKS. I also find that letting them have a little sucker maybe in the first half of the drive and then again in the second half is a great way to keep kids happy for a longer period of time. Because a sucker is something that lasts awhile, it’s going to keep them happy and occupied until it’s gone. We do try to limit the amount of sugar we give to our kids, especially when trapped inside a vehicle for hours on end, but the little suckers are worth it, in my humble opinion!
I hope you found something in this post that was helpful for you! If you liked some of these travel activity recommendations, you might also enjoy this post about quiet times and how we use quiet toys and activities to help transition from naps to quiet times in our house!
