5 Fun & Easy Screen-Free Activities for Kids in the Car
5 Fun & Easy Screen-Free Activities for Kids in the Car
We’ve all been there—five minutes into a long car ride, and the inevitable "Are we there yet?" starts from the back seat. While tablets and movies can keep little ones entertained, too much screen time isn’t always the best solution.
If you’re looking for fun, screen-free ways to keep your kids entertained on road trips, you’re in the right place! These activities will spark creativity, encourage learning, and (best of all) make car rides more enjoyable for the whole family.
Let’s dive in! 🚗✨
1. Turn the Car into a Storytelling Adventure 📖🎧
Kids love stories, and audiobooks are an amazing way to keep them entertained without staring at a screen. Whether it’s a classic fairy tale, a silly adventure, or even a kids’ mystery, a great audiobook can make the miles fly by.
💡 Make it interactive: Every few chapters, pause the story and ask:
- What do you think will happen next?
- If you were the main character, what would you do?
- Can you come up with a different ending?
🎙️ No audiobook? No problem! Take turns making up a silly story as a family. One person starts with a sentence, and everyone adds to it. Before you know it, you’ll have a hilarious tale of talking animals, space adventures, or magical lands!
2. Road Trip Bingo – A Travel Game Classic! 🎲👀
Want to keep kids engaged with their surroundings? Road Trip Bingo is the way to go! This simple game turns looking out the window into an adventure.
✅ Before you leave, create a bingo sheet with things your child might see on the road:🚗 A red car
🐄 A cow in a field
🛑 A stop sign
👓 A person wearing sunglasses
🏠 A blue house
Every time they spot an item, they mark it off. The first to get five in a row wins!
✨ No time to make one? There are tons of free printable Road Trip Bingo cards online!
3. Fun Verbal Games – No Supplies Needed! 🎤🚘
Sometimes, the best road trip games require nothing but imagination! Here are a few easy favorites:
-
"Would You Rather?" – Ask fun, silly questions like:
Would you rather eat only ice cream for a year or only pizza? 🍦🍕
Would you rather have wings or breathe underwater? 🦋🐠 - 20 Questions – One person thinks of something (an animal, a place, a famous character), and the others ask yes-or-no questions to guess what it is.
- The Alphabet Game – Take turns spotting objects that start with each letter of the alphabet, from Airplane to Zebra!
💡 Pro Tip: These games work for all ages and can keep kids (and adults!) entertained for hours!<
4. The Surprise Grab Bag – A Road Trip Lifesaver! 🎁✨
Want to keep kids excited throughout the trip? Pack a surprise grab bag filled with small, mess-free toys and hand one out at different points of the journey (every hour or every 50 miles).
🎁 What to include?
- Mini coloring books ✏️
- Sticker packs 🏷️
- Magnetic puzzles 🧩
- Fidget toys 🌈
💡 Wrap each item for an extra fun “unwrapping” experience!
5. Window Cling Fun – A Creative Alternative to Screens 🚗🎨
Turn your car windows into a mini creative play zone with reusable gel window clings! These soft, squishy decorations stick to windows without leaving any mess and can be moved around for endless fun.
💡 Make it themed! Choose:
🦁 Animal sets for a safari adventure
🚗 Vehicle sets for a racing game
🌈 Seasonal sets for extra holiday fun
✨ Pro Tip: Challenge your kids to create a story using their window clings! Maybe the animals are going on a road trip of their own?
Final Thoughts – Enjoy the Journey! 🚗💛
Keeping kids entertained on a long car ride without screens is easier than you think! With a mix of storytelling, games, creativity, and surprises, you’ll turn any road trip into a fun family adventure.
✨ What’s your go-to road trip activity for kids? Drop your favourite ideas in the comments below! 👇
Want to make your next road trip even easier? Check out myHelestia's collection of travel-friendly toys and activity sets – perfect for screen-free fun on the go! 🚗🎒