Take a road trip with a toddler, they say. It'll be great, they say.
Well, "they" must have never been on a road trip with a toddler. "They" must have never even been on a road trip with kids. Ha!
When you plan a family vacation, however, you don't dream about the flight or car ride there. At least I don't. You dream about the memories you will make with your kids when you arrive.
So, I'll just put it out there. Taking a road trip with a toddler isn't dreamy.
But it can deliver you to an awesome family vacation destination. Which is so worth it.
And dare I say, your road trip with a toddler may lend to some pretty fun memories as well.
Especially if you plan your family road trip ahead of time.
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Speaking of planning your road trip with a toddler.
Try to drive while your toddler is sleeping (at least, that is my recommendation). Have stops planned (check out the best way to do this). Have road trip snacks and drinks.
But how do you actually keep your toddler entertained on your road trip while they are awake? Without losing your mind?
The key: options!
Check out my top 9 favorite things to do on a road trip with a toddler.
1. Kids Pack a Backpack of Toys for Road Trip
I call this the "backpack of toys," because that is exactly what it is.
It's my favorite road trip activity for toddlers (and older kids, too) because it really does keep toddlers happy and entertained on family road trips.
Also because it doesn't involve me doing the jig.
Essentially, it is lots of small toys for your toddler to rotate though. Check it out.
How to Create a Backpack of Toys?
Ask your toddler to pack a backpack full of toys to bring along for the trip.
Will there be the most random things in the bag? Yes.
Will it seem like your toddler will never play with these things? Yes.
Will your toddler surprise you and play with them on your road trip? Also, yes.
Include any books you bring along in this bag.
Of course, books are great entertainment for the car.
But this also requires that the books must fit in "the backpack" so your toddler doesn't fill half of your suitcase with books.
And so, you don't have to dig through three suitcases at a rest stop to search for the books your toddler suddenly is dying to read.
Why the Backpack of Toys Entertains Your Toddler
Allowing you toddler to pack a backpack of road trip toys will
provide an opportunity to participate in packing (i.e. give him a task to do so you can focus on actual packing)
build excitement for the trip
give control over which toys come and which toys stay
limit the amount of road trip toys to just one backpack
require your toddler to be strategic about which toys are important enough to take up space in the backpack
provide entertainment in the car and during your time away from home
plus, if your toddler chooses the toys, they are much more likely to play with them (we all know toddlers love to be in control)
Sample Backpack of Toys
Here is an example of how my 2- and 4-year-old filled their backpack of travel toys.
books
stacking cups
egg music shakers
matchbox cars
very small stuffed animal toys
figurines
a few pieces of play food
This mix looks different every trip, at least in our house.
If Your Toddler Is Bored on the Road Trip
If you get to a lull during your car ride, and your toddler is dying to be entertained, pull out the backpack of toys and make up games for him to play.
Some examples:
set the stage for a scene
example: pretend spike the hedgehog is going to the beach
suggest a task
example: build a sandcastle with your bristle blocks
ask questions that will prompt your toddler to use his/her imagination
what is your pop it unicorn's name?
Where does it live?
Is it friends with your sparkly snap bracelet?
What adventures do they go on?
2. Prepare for Lots of Poad Trip Music and Song Activities
Music, one of my favorite ways to set the mood, distract, and occupy your toddler's attention during your family car trip.
Plus, I love some good tunes.
We have a play list of all of our kids' favorite songs. Makes it easy to turn on and not have to manage while driving.
But we also love Kidz Bop. And Raffi. Classics.
My recommendation, make a playlist ahead of time and accept that while your kids are awake, you will not be catching up on your podcasts.
See below for lots of ideas for your toddler to have fun, pass time, and move your body, all while strapped into his or her seat belt.
Best Road Trip Music and Song Activities for Kids
Play DJ - You play DJ and take song requests.
If siblings are arguing, this is a great way to take turns.
Kids can earn the opportunity to request a song if they respect/enjoy the other's requests.
Shake Your Sillies Out - Toddler getting restless sitting in the car?
Turn on some fun music and shake your sillies out in the car seat.
Your arms and legs can bust a move even while seated and bucked in!
Shake music makers in different directions - pack a few small music makers (ie maracas) in the "backpack of toys," they will come in handy for times like this
shake - left, right, high, middle, low, in a circle
parent is the director, says and demonstrates the direction to shake, then toddler can be the director
song suggestion: Day-O
Dance To A Word - Do something (dance move, make a noise, throw hands in the air) every time you hear a word in a song
song suggestion: Biscuits in the Oven
Make a Beat - Make a beat with music makers during the chorus of the song
Dance Moves - Different dance moves made up by all people in the car
Sign Language - Learn a song in sign language
Different Language - Learn a song in another language
Songs With Hand Movements - A great time to teach songs with hand movements
Wheels on the Bus (with hand motions)
This Little Light of Mine (learn hand motions)
Hokey pokey
Shake your sillies out
Old McDonald - kids pick the animals and make noises
Relaxation Time - Need your toddler to relax? Turn on some chill music to help mellow the mood.
3. Transform into a Family Band
Ok, this one is fun, and a Ramirez Family Favorite when it comes to road trip activities for the kids.
Throw a few small music makers into your kid's backpack of toys.
Egg shakers are our go-to since they are small, easy to hold, not too annoying.
You can also get creative and use the toys you do have packed to make music.
When your toddler is bored or in need or a good wiggle in the car seat, distribute the music makers between all adults (non-drivers) and kids.
Play some sing along tunes, turn your family into a band (don't forget to give yourselves a name!), and put on a show.
4. Listen to Kid Podcasts
Kid Podcasts are a great option for all kids, but especially those who get car sickness when looking at screens in the car (like my son!).
Our favorite kid podcasts are:
Stories Podcast (our #1 fav)
Brains On (our #2 fav)
Small Talk Baby (my IG community's recommendation)
Search for "kids podcasts" you will find lots of options
I also like this list of Podcasts for Kids Under 5 by Simple Families
5. Kids Audiobooks
A great option for super long road trips with toddlers.
There are many audiobooks available on Audible (short stories and longer chapter books) that toddlers and preschoolers are familiar with and would enjoy.
Best Audiobooks for Toddlers
365 Bedtime Stories
Children's Favorites
Search "Disney" - most Disney movies are available in audiobook format including
Encanto
Toy Story
Tangled
Moana
Frozen
Finding Nemo
Little Mermaid
I also like this list of Audiobooks for Family Road Trips by Be Family Travel
6. Bring Kids Books
Have your kids pick a few books to include in their "backpack of toys."
How Books Can Entertain Your Toddler in the Car
toddler can look at the pictures
toddler can "read" the book to you - have him look at the pictures and tell the story
toddler do a search and find - find all the animals (and make their sounds), things that are the color blue, etc.
read the book to your child from the front seat
7. Embrace Road Trip Screen Time
There are times to implement screen time limits and there are times to ignore them.
This is an ignoring-screen-time-limits type situation.
If you are on a road trip with a toddler, you must do what you need to do to survive.
Road Trip Screen Time Tips
Bring the iPad. Fully charged.
Download movies, shows, and games ahead of time
Ask your toddler for requests ahead of time so you aren't managing tears when you tell them you don't have Wi-Fi and can't download Cocomelon
Hang the iPad on the seat in front of them for easy viewing
Bring a strap so you can strap (like this one) the iPad onto the seat in front of your kiddo.
This way they don't have to hold the iPad.
And even better, can't accidently push buttons.
And, for older kiddos, handheld gaming systems like a Nintendo Switch are great too.
Kids who are prone to car sickness may want to skip the screen time
Instead, check out helpful tips on how to pass time in the car for kids who get carsick
I also like Run Wild My Child's "Screen Free Road Trip Ideas for Kids."
Cut off screen time 1 hour before bedtime to ensure your toddler has the right cues to fall asleep.
We want happy and entertained toddlers. If screens do it for your kid, take the win!
8. Best Road Trip Travel Toys
In addition to the "backpack of toys" that your toddler packs him or herself, you may want to sneak a few additional toys in yourself.
Just to ensure your toddler has enough things to do in the car.
These road trip activities also double as great toys to play with on your actual family vacation.
Check out a few of my favorite road trip toys for toddlers.
1. Best Road Trip Activities/Toys for Toddlers
When choosing a road trip toy for your toddler, keep the following tips in mind
Small, doesn't take a lot of space
Toddler attention spans are often pretty short. There is power in numbers with road trip toddler toys. Get bored, move onto the next toy, get bored, move onto the next toy. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Small toys for the win.
Keeps your toddler entertained
Choose things you know will entertain YOUR toddler rather than things you wish/hope will entertain your toddler.
If you have tried fidget toys in the past and your toddler is bored by them, then skip the fidget toys
One new surprise.
A shiny new toy is gold. See #2 below for more on this.
2. Surprise with a New Road Trip Toy
Surprise your toddler with a new toy for the trip!
No matter what to you pick, surprising with a new toy just before a road trip with a toddler is gold.
Give the new toy to your toddler right before you get in the car or during the drive, depending on when you need him or her to be most entertained.
The new toy should be hand-held and easy to play with in the car.
Not only will this new travel toy be super exciting during the drive but will entertain your toddler while away from home.
You'd be surprised at how simple of a toy this needs to be to keep your kid's attention.
Below are some of my favorite road trip toys for toddlers.
3. Fidget Toys
My daughter begged for fidget toys. I thought for sure they would collect dust. I was so wrong.
Fidget toys are some of our favorite road trip toys.
They are small. There are lots of them. The kids use their imagination with them. They trade them.
Fidgets entertain for hours.
I love these fidget toy variety packs on Amazon. You get way more bang for your buck, plus lots of variety.
4. Pop Its
Another fidgety type toy.
If your kids are into pop its, you can make up games to play to help pass time.
Games to Play with Pop Its
hide your fingers underneath the pop it, have your toddler guess which bubbles your fingers are under by pushing on the bubbles
time how fast they can "pop" all the bubbles
make patterns/shapes
find colors
5. Fine Motor Toys
Any toy that involves fitting things into holes, moving things around, popping things, will be win.
I like this Spike the Hedgehog.
How To Play with Fine Motor Toy in Car
play imagination with just the hedgehog,
put the spikes in the holes,
put fingers in the holes,
play with the spikes,
talk about colors,
practice counting,
make patterns,
store spikes inside the toy
6. Bristle Blocks
Bristle blocks are a great travel toy. Another Ramirez Family Favorite.
Throw a couple handfuls of bristle blocks in the "backpack of toys", and they will build and rearrange over and over.
7. Snap bracelets
How can a snap bracelet provide endless entertainment for your kiddos in the car?
I don't know but it worked for mine!
The texture, snapping it on different arms and legs, on the car seat, opening it and closing it, hearing the noise... its fun and a bit soothing (you may find yourself playing with one like I did!).
So many different texture options which make them extra fidgety.
8. Matchbox Cars
Matchbox Cars are another Ramirez Family Favorite.
Really though, any set of cars you have will do the trick.
Ways to entertain with Matchbox Cars
Let your toddler use their imagination
Ask questions - ie which matchbox car is fastest?
Give names to the matchbox cars
Sort - by color, type of car, favorites
9. More Road Trip Activity Tips
My final tips for taking a road trip with a toddler are actually for you, the parent on this road trip with a toddler.
These tips all involve managing your own expectations.
So, what should you expect?
Expect your toddler to bounce from activity to activity
While you may be content listening to a podcast for an entire 11-hour drive, your toddler is likely going to want to do one thing, and then something else, and then something else. All within a half hour.
Expect this.
Expect your toddler to be tired of sitting in the car.
To whine. To cry. To ask when you will be there on repeat.
If you are being honest with yourself, you probably feel the same.
Expect your toddler to not love the road trip
It is ok for your toddler to not love the road trip.
It is ok for your toddler to let you know.
Your job is to acknowledge.
Be empathetic.
Let your toddler know you feel the same way.
And then distract and redirect.
Road trips with toddlers are not dreamy. But the road trip is also not the highlight of the trip.
Go into your road trip with a toddler with patience.
Go into your road trip with a toddler with your expectations managed.
Go into your road trip with a toddler with lots of options to keep your toddler entertained.
Be sure to check out my full Parent's Guide for Successfully Taking a Road Trip with Toddlers.
Also, please leave a comment below with your favorite tips, tricks, toys, podcasts, music, for keeping your toddler entertained on your road trips. We want to hear all of your favorites too!
Welcome! We are the Ramirez family. Just your average family, based in Nashville, with a love of culture, togetherness, and making memories. Oh, and international travel.
We are here to document our family travel adventures. To share our stories and our travel experiences. And, perhaps inspire others, who find joy the same way we do, to take the trips. I don't think you will regret it.
Thank you for checking out our blog. Please reach out to say hello and share your stories!
Cheers,
Katie (mom), Roberto (dad), Roberto (2013), and Veronica (2015)
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