10 ways to keep your child occupied when travelling

If your children are like mine, well, like my five year old daughter, you'll know what I mean when the thought of travelling just fills you with dread.
See, India doesn't like sitting still for too long, so when we go for even just an hour drive to see my nan who lives in Llangollen, we have to plan ahead for the journey. A few months ago, we went away for a little break away in Abersoch which is 2.5 hours away, and I found myself searching online for tips to keep children entertained on the way. Thankfully my six month old tends to sleep on most car journeys, so he is pretty much sorted.

Now, when travelling, once the excitement of being on the road wears off, boredom kicks in.. and that's no fun for anyone, because we all know when children are bored, it can turn into trouble. 

SNACKS. Aaaaall the snacks.
Food wins every time for India... and my partner Ben! Just a bag of popcorn or a few biscuits, and it keeps her quiet for a good 15 minutes which is a success in my eyes!  You can even use a divided container, and put in a selection of all their favourite sweets and fruit for the journey.

IPad/portable DVD player
Throw one of their favourite films on ,and there you go... sorted. Normally for a good half an hour to an hour at least, and you have peace and quiet, well, as long as you pack the headphones! I found this idea was the best one when we were travelling in my dad's car and he had TV's in the back, and I literally didn't hear a peep out of India for the whole journey. Which made a change from the good old "I'm boooooored. How long left to go?" I was hearing, on repeat.

Activity Books
Before you head out on your next adventure, pack some activity books that fit your child’s interest and skill level. These may include crosswords, word finds, sticker pages, mazes, MadLibs, coloring activities, and more. I personally find that the wipe-able books are India's favourite and they can be done over and over again. She is also a perfectionist, so you can imagine the uproar we have if she's colouring and the car causes her to make a mistake, hence why wipe-able activities are our favourite!

Car Games
Who doesn’t love a good round of “I Spy” or ‘Who can find a....”? These and others that you can make up on your own are great ways to pass the time and add a few laughs to your trip. You can also find printables on Pinterest like the one below, or even look up "travelling scavenger hunts" for some great I Spy lists.

Audio Books
One great way to keep the whole family entertained is to find audio books. This is one of our favourite activities, as it is a great way to keep the kids and (yourselves) engaged for hours. With so many services out there with audio books on, there are tens of thousands of choices, so there's definitely something for everyone in your family, regardless of age or interests.

Kid friendly Apps
OK, yes, it's another IPad idea, but to be honest, they come in handy, and as long as they are used in moderation, I don't see the harm in using it for times like this. See, technology can serve a purpose, particular on a road trip, when you’re scrambling for ways to stave of boredom, distract the kids from squabbling, or to keep yourself calm. Many kids’ tablets come pre-loaded with fun, educational apps. And you can download plenty of others for free or not very much.

Story Time
Have one family start the story with a few sentences. Then, each other family member adds a few sentences of their own. You never know how the story is going to go, and it's always interesting to see how creative your family can be. However, our stories tend to sway more towards the "poo topic" with a funny five year old, and my partner who is a bad influence with encourages the giggles.

Lego hack
India is obsessed with lego, and the first time she asked to take lego with us on our car journeys, I couldn't imagine anything worse with all those little pieces going everywhere in the car and losing them all. But when I found this hack where you can create a travel lego case with a lunchbox, I couldn't say no! Genius idea!

I-Spy game
Another little activity, which I'm currently in the middle of making for India, is an I-spy bottle. Fill a large bottle with rice, beads, small toys, buttons and other colourful objects, and see how many things they can spy.

Travel memory game
So simple to make, using left over felt and easy for your children to play on their laps without it going everywhere due to the grip of the felt.

Now, I am always looking for more travelling ideas so if anyone knows any good ones, please comment them below!