Entertaining Kids on Long Distance Car Trips

Written By Working TravelingMom Saturday, May 15, 2010 20:25

My husband and I have a running debate. In a few weeks, we will be making an eight-hour car trip with the kids, a toddler and preschooler. We are trying to decide if an in-car entertainment system, e.g., a TV and DVD player, is a bit excessive or is completely necessary for the children's amusement and for our sanity. On the one hand, it might keep them from constantly fighting with each other in the back seat, thus allowing us to have a somewhat peaceful (albeit long) car trip. On the other hand, could we be spoiling them by giving them a mindless activity rather than something that would stimulate their brains, like educational games?

What are your thoughts or experiences? Has a mini TV in the car saved your sanity on long car trips, or do you prefer to get by the old-fashioned way, with good old toys and car games? Please leave a comment to let me know!

< Prev		Next >

Comments

#14 George 2011-09-22 14:35

I think a mix of both DVDs and old-school games is ideal. I have three young kids (5, 3, and 2 months) and we actually find it more enjoyable to simply play games. I found a great book on Amazon that gives tons of ideas for easy to play games that even both the older kids can easily play. It is called "Are We There Yet?" by Jeff Sechler and has kept our kids occupied quite a bit during some long trips to grandma's house. If you go on really long trips (more than a few hours) then by all means, use a DVD player and break up the time into segments - 1 movie, 1 hour games, another movie, then more games... and so on.

I think kids forget that they can have fun without using technology all the time.

Quote

#13 james 2011-03-14 03:56

It works awesome trust me, my kids have never been more occupied when we are driving. I got mine here http://portabledvdplayerforkidsreview.com

Quote

#12 Justine Ickes 2010-06-11 22:56

My family made many a long drive up and down the East Coast with our two children (now ages 4 and 6) and we endured many melt-downs. I held off for a very long time before I finally relented and got a portable DVD player for the car. What a huge difference! Like Anne who commented above, we only use the DVD for long trips; we rent or buy a few videos specifically for the trip; and we time the drive so that the kids watch one movie and then fall asleep. In our home we have a "DVD only on the weekends" rule - we don't have cable and the kids can only watch DVDs on non-school nights. So, being able to watch a DVD on a trip is a treat for them. I'm not overly concerned about my kids missing the scenery b/c, frankly, we've driven the same route about a gazillion times and have pretty much exhausted the "Oh, look at amazing view" comments. :-) Also, sometime my eldest will sort of get tired of the video and I'll catch him gazing out the window and making comments about the scenery. I think this is because he got used to doing that when we didn't have the DVD player. We also listen to books-on-tape when we're going to and from school and sometimes for the longer trips.

Quote

#11 leanne 2010-05-28 23:47

I only have one two year old, but I frequently make trips with my brother's kids as well and his kids are all very used to their DVD system in their car and it makes trips without the DVD almost unbearable. My daughter is really great for long car rides, flights and basically is the best traveler ever. If she does get bored, we have lots of books and even hubby's iphone loaded with video that is only for a specific period of time - one show, perhaps. This system seems to work to keep the kids from needing the DVD immediately upon entering the car and driving everyone crazy if the TV is not on the whole way.

Quote

#10 TravelingMom 2010-05-27 21:51

My kids plug in on road trips. However, from now on, I will require 2 hours of unplugged time in the afternoon.

Did I mention that I was too chicken to brave a road trip when my kids were toddlers? In fact, I was proud to be anti-roadtrip for years. Then I took my first trip (kids were 7, 9, 11). LOVED IT! Can't wait to go this summer.

Quote

#9 jennylin 2010-05-26 20:56

I agree with the PP who said get a cheap plug-in one and don't make it a regular habit. I definitely think for a long trip that combining education with entertainment is the best way to go. In balance, the kids will be happier for longer.

Quote

#8 erodg 2010-05-26 20:54

You can get a 99 cent iPhone app called Audiobooks. It plays public domain books -- there are literally thousands of titles. Other apps are Audiobook Player and Tales 2 Go.

No nausea, you don't feel guilty about them missing the scenery -- and hey, they're becoming literate human beings!

Quote

#7 Anne Witkavitch TravelingWith 2010-05-26 18:57

Your question brings back such memories! I still remember the first long car ride trip when my kids were young and in car seats. We were adamantly against a DVD player but put a portable one in the backseat - within five miles I gave in and turned it on! The bickering stopped.

Here are my tips on the subject from our experiences:
-we purchased an inexpensive portable DVD player for long trips. Easily plugs into the lighter slot. We removed it from the vehicle when we got home. I REFUSED to have a DVD play permanently installed - no TV during a 10 minute trek to Walmart!
-We would purchase a "special DVD" before the trip or borrow from the library. Something they never saw that would hold their attention longer and both would agree to.
-When they were small, my kids always fell asleep in their car seats. We would time the trips so they had maximum sleep time. Best I found was a late evening start, after a good dinner.
-Books, books, books! Always a staple in our car. They had a basket filled with books for all treks (even those to Walmart!)
-We would let them bring their blanket, pillow and stuffed animal. Interestingly, we as humans work off visual reminders and blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals trigger "sleep."
-Stop for the potty break/diaper change BEFORE it's sleep time! Never wake a sleepy (or groggy) child!

Hope these help!
A

Quote

#6 Judy 2010-05-26 16:37

We tried the DVD player and movies and the kids got nauseated - just like they did with books. Books on tape, music, sing-alongs, games where kids look out the window (like the license plate game, or looking for animals) all seemed to cut down on the nausea.
strangely, hand held video games did not make them ill.
we also tried to time trips to coincide with naps - in an 8 hour trip (oy!) there should be at least one, but make sure, if you start out the day driving, you give the kids a little time to run around before they get in the car, and at stops. We used to run around the block a few times before any car trip.

Quote

#5 Esti 2010-05-26 15:48

Last year we drove from New York to Chicago with a 4 yr old, 2 yr old, and 1 yr old. We have a very basic minivan (no DVD, Satellite Radio) and we decided to drive at night while the kids were sleeping. However, if we (the drivers) got too tired, we would pull over and rest at a rest area. When the kids did wake-up, we had packed snack bags, coloring books, crayons, and their favorite dolls. If things got really bad (crying, fighting) I would go to the back and sit in between the girls (4 and 2). I think the fact that we packed a lot of little treats and a large selection of their favorite music, we made it without any major problems. The biggest issue was getting to the potty on time, and whether you have a DVD or not does not matter in those situations. Feel free to check out kosher traveling mom for more ideas of making a road trip with kids 4 and under without all of the modern day perks, it can be done.

Entertaining Kids on Long Distance Car Trips

Comments

Add comment