Unplugged - In the Car

Remember the old days when you would climb into the back seat of a tiny plane and fly across the country for 13 hours at a time? Oh no? Just me? Eh, well, that happened... every summer of my childhood. My family would pile into a Cessna 210 and fight over the 1 walkman tape cassette player and hope we didn't fill the "sick sack." I vaguely remember my mom packing us each a few bags of special snacks and reminding us that our snacks had to last us the whole flight. I always polished mine off before we crossed state lines. I remember coloring books. A lot of coloring books. Other than my snack pack, a coloring book, and a turn with the walkman every few hours - staying entertained was a matter of looking out the window and using my imagination. 

Today I can hardly pick up Layla's friends to hit the nearest pool when they ask "What movie do you have in your car today?" I don't get it. Well, actually I do. I get that it's way easier to tune your kids out with electronics so you don't have to engage with them. I get it because I know it can feel exhausting constantly carrying on the conversation of a toddler. But despite that.... I still don't get it. Being in the car seems like a perfect place for family interaction seeing that it's one of the only times parents aren't on their electronic devices! 

Anyway, since we travel sans ipads and DVD players - our trip to Disneyland a few months ago made me nervous as it was the longest car trip our kids had been on before. But with a little pre-drive prep and planning our 14 hour drive went amazingly. As we leave for a road tip tomorrow I figured a 5 hour trip will be a snap. But I wanted to share our tips and tricks to surviving a road trip without electronics... and not only how to survive - but how to actually enjoy your "unplugged" time with your kids. 

1. I found these awesome free printables at I Heart Organizing. this is an eye spy game and age appropriate for kids as young as two. I also printed the license plate version and we had fun working together to spot as many states as possible before we got home. Mom and Dad had to offer help but it was a good way to teach the kids how to look out the window and be excited about all the new things they see. 

2. I packed each child their own "entertainment bag." Layla had a coloring book, two eye spy books (keep them busy for at least a good 30 minutes), a sticker book, and a read a long book from Usborne. I found a little water toy for each of the kids that looks like a video game but it's like water basketball and you try to shoot the little rings into the basket. 

3. Ring pops are a MUST for car trips. I feel like they're safer than suckers because I don't have to worry about the kids choking on the stick and they last a long time. Another sucker option are the giant round suckers you can find at most gas stations - they take hours to eat and it keeps the kids mouths quiet. 

4. Hit up the local library and pick up some books on CD. I stumbled upon this trick when Layla was gifted a book on CD and I was shocked at how much she loves to listen to it in the car. The boys loved listening to the different voices of each character in the stories. 

 5. Magnedoodles: Since the boys are still in the "crayon eating" phase, the magnedoodle is a perfect alternative. They are mesmorized by their ability to erase their scribbles over and over. We also had fun with a game where Kday would draw a picture and the kids would guess what it is.

6. Rider is obsessed with Fish so I found some flash cards with fish on them at the dollar store. I hole punched the corner of each card and put them on a key ring so he could flip through and study is favorite pictures.

7. I found two Disney character fan toys. These were a big hit, they still play with them on a daily basis. Just be on the lookout when you're at the store for any cheep toy that has moving parts or a button for little kids and it really keeps their attention.

8. Look around your house for little figurines or games you already have. I pulled an Eye Spy game out of our church bag that Owen always really enjoys playing. Anything with wheels like tiny bike or monster trucks keep boys busy when stuck in a car seat. 

9. I also try to pack exciting snacks that the kids don't usually eat and use them as rewards for making mile markers without crying or getting bored. 

The kids didn't know what was in their bag and I tried my best to only give them one thing at a time to hold them off for as long as possible. I don't think we even used all their books before getting to California! It was a lot of work for Kday and I to engage with the kids and we didn't get to have our own private conversations unless all the kids were sleeping... but we really feel like it was a great way to connect with our kids instead of connecting them to electronics. I hope my kids look back on their childhood trips with fondness the way I do. I hope that when they're parents they will appreciate the work we put into being present in moment on road trips. Maybe they won't, maybe they'll curse us for being "those parents" who wouldn't let them just watch a movie on the drive.... either way I know how much I love being in the car with them and really focusing on them without electronic distractions. And I love fostering their ability to use their imagination and appreciate the beautiful scenery God has surrounded us with. 

What's you're favorite road trip tip?