bestillandwrite Have you ever taken a road trip with a toddler? It’s not always was, but when you take the time to prepare beforehand, a family road trip can actually be fun! Below are 10 things that will help Entertain Your Tired Toddler on a Road Trip. Each of these things have been tested by our 2.5 year old and are toddler approved! Be sure to let us know what works best for you.
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1. Books
Our toddler loves to read, so books are always a staple on any car ride or flight. I choose a collection of small paper back books such as Franklin, Little Critter, Fancy Nancy, etc.. It’s also a good idea to pick up a couple of new books or ones with lift-a-flap to keep your toddler entertained longer.
2. Magnet Board
We recently purchased a magnetic letter board from Amazon, and it was quite a hit. This toy will help our daughter learn how to trace, identify letters of the alphabet and strengthen her fine motor skills. I will say the magnets are pretty strong, so she struggles sometimes while tracing and needs a little help.
3. LCD Drawing Pad
The best part of packing the LCD drawing pad is that it takes up hardly any room in your bag. That and you can erase your drawing with a simple click of a button. Amazing.
4. Reusable Sticker Books
Reusable sticker books are the newest hit with our little girl. We bought her a Daniel Tiger sticker book and it was her favorite thing of the entire road trip. They also have a Toy Story one that I’m saving for a future trip. What I love most is that they are reusable and easy to clean.
5. Mess-Free Markers
Another crafty activity you can pack to Entertain Your Tired Toddler on a Road Trip are mess-free markers. These are genius and can help keep our daughter occupied for quite awhile. The only downside is when she drops markers everywhere, but if you have someone in the backseat with your toddler then that won’t be a problem.
6. Busy Book
Something I keep in our diaper bag at all times is a busy book. These are handy to keep your toddler entertained, but quiet. They have all sorts on Amazon and Etsy.
7. Flash Cards
Flash cards are a more interactive way to entertain your toddler, but again if you have someone sitting in the backseat, then this is an excellent option. They always have flash cards in the dollar spot at Target or at the Dollar Tree. You can work on colors, numbers or shapes on the drive!
8. Water Wow
Water wows are always a fun activity to have on hand, because you can paint a picture using only water! They also take up very little space and have lots of options for designs.
9. Fidgets
Long road trips can get really boring, so be sure to pack a few fidgets for your toddler to play with. They sell multi-packs of them on Amazon, but you can pack a few random things you already have from home. We usually grab her pop it and some squishy toys or sensory tubes.
10. Scratch Art
On our last road trip I tried our the scratch art pads for the first time. My toddler didn’t seem that interested, but she was also hungry and over being in the car at that point in the drive. I think we will try these out again another time, because they seem so fun!
11. Snacks
You can never ever have enough snacks on a road trip with a toddler. Try packing a new or fun snack they rarely get to eat. Or you could try packing a special snack box, so they have to open different compartments to find treats. That way snack is also interactive and lasts longer. A spill-proof snack cup is also a good idea.
12. Amazon Fire Tablet
As a last resort we always pack the Amazon Fire Tablet, fully charged and loaded with a few movies and shows. Our daughter doesn’t really love the games on the tablet yet, but if yours does then I recommend downloading those. Also, don’t forget to bring the charger cord and triple check that you have active downloads. Sometimes shows or movies expire, and you don’t want to find that out at the end of a long drive.
Thank you for reading the Entertain Your Tired Toddler on a Road Trip. I hope they will help you on your next vacation. For more travel content, please see the blog posts below:
How to Entertain a Toddler at Universal Studios Orlando
The Best Items to Pack When Flying with a Toddler
The Best Foods at Universal Studios Orlando
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Safe Travels,
