Keeping Your Preschooler Occupied While On The Road
When traveling by car, it can sometimes be difficult to keep your preschool aged child entertained. They have short attention spans, a limited ability to perform tasks independently and a difficult time sitting for extended periods of time. If you are looking for some fun and simple ways to make your next road trip with your little ones a bit easier to handle, continue reading for some great advice.
Pack a few surprise gifts before leaving home. When you are getting ready for your trip, pay a visit to the local dollar store or superstore for some great deals on fun games and toys for the car. These might include a new stuffed animal that doubles as a pillow, some new child friendly music, coloring books, picture books or simple games that are easy to play independently. Wrap each toy up separately and give them to your child one at a time to open and have fun with. Pace yourself so that you are not giving more than one gift per hour. The excitement of opening a new toy will keep your child occupied, and you will have plenty of fun games for the road.
Make sure to have plenty of snacks on time. There is nothing worse than a preschool aged child with an empty belly when you are in the car and hours away from your destination. To prevent this from happening, make sure to have a cooler full of favorite and easy to eat snacks within easy reach of your seat. Include healthy options like cut up apples, baby carrots and whole wheat crackers. It is also okay to add some favorite junk food like chips, gummy bears or a small piece of chocolate. Also have a refillable water bottle or some handy juice boxes. If you can keep your child's belly full, it will be easier to entertain him until you are able to reach the next rest stop.
Have a few movies for the road. One great way to keep your child entertained is to provide a few movies for him to watch. In order to do this, you will need a DVD player in your car or a portable one that your child can carry on his lap. Try to find movies that are no more than an hour in length so they keep your child's attention. Make sure to have a good variety, and try to include both favorites from home and a movie or two that your child has never seen before.
Finally, consider playing a few road games while you are traveling. While a preschool child will not be able to recognize license plates or read signs, you could play games that ask the child to find a certain number of birds, look for a variety of different colored cars or watch for landmarks along the way. This is a fun way to keep your child engaged in the trip. It is also a great way to play a game that the entire family can join in on, regardless of age.
Taking a road trip with a preschool aged child does not have to be difficult or frustrating. Follow the advice listed here to keep your child entertained, and make your next road trip a more pleasant one for the entire family!
