Traveling long distances doesn’t have to be boring. Read on to discover the best travel entertainment ideas for adults and kids here.
Are you planning a fun family trip but don’t know how to keep the kids entertained? If the kids are bored, they might throw tantrums and be cranky all the time, so whatever entertainment you can bring to keep them occupied will be worth it.
Don’t forget to pack something fun for yourself as well while the kids nap or play games.
Keep reading to discover 10 simple travel entertainment ideas for the entire family.
- Bring Books and Coloring Books
Books and coloring books are the ultimate way to combine travel and entertainment. If you’re traveling with kids, bring plenty of coloring books and let the kids choose them. This way, when they get bored with one coloring book or they fill it out, you can always offer a brand new one.
Also, bring books for the adults as well. This is especially useful for long flights when the kids fall asleep and you don’t want to watch a movie. You can also bring the kids’ favorite bedtime stories to read it to them before they fall asleep.
- Bring Toys and Puzzles
When traveling with little kids or toddlers, you should plan to bring lots of toys, games, and puzzles. You might need an extra carry-on to pack them, but they’ll be lifesavers when the little ones get cranky or tired.
Bring the kids’ favorite toys and games, but also get some new ones and let the kids choose them. The novelty of a new toy will keep them entertained for hours and you can also play with them.
Better yet, when you get to the airport, visit one of the toy stores and let the kids pick a new toy. This will attach a special memory to the toy and they’ll always remember they bought it before a fun trip.
- Play Apps and Games
As a parent, you probably have screen time rules that apply in everyday life, but during long trips, apps and games will be a lifesaver. Before the trip, download the best iPad apps for travel entertainment to keep yourself and your kids occupied.
Download apps that’ll be both fun and educational instead of watching one movie after another. For instance, download apps that teach the kids colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. Also, set the iPad settings to make sure only you can exit and control the apps to prevent dangerous things sneaking into the apps.
- Watch Movies and Cartoons
Watching movies and cartoons are worth at least a couple of hours of entertainment. For example, on long flights, there isn’t much you can do with the kids, so make the best of in-flight entertainment and play the kids’ favorite cartoons or animated movies. Make sure they only watch one movie at a time and not back to back.
If you travel by car, you can find a great Putlocker alternative or download some movies onto your iPad or laptop.
- Bring a Lot of Snacks
Whether you travel as a couple, alone, or with kids, snacks are a great way to calm everyone’s nerves and prevent hangry tantrums. For example, the kids might not like the plane food so you should always have their favorite snacks at hand.
Snacks are also great distractions when the little ones are cranky or tired and will give them something to do at least for a few minutes. Snacks will also keep you and the kids happy enough between meals, especially if you don’t know when the next meal will be.
- Take Photos and Videos
Taking photos and videos is a great way to document your trip and do something fun together. If you have older kids, you can give them a small camera and let them be creative.
If you travel by car, you can make a few stops on the way to take some photos. Then, you can edit the photos together, add filters, and make an entire family album before you even get to your destination.
- Make Plans for Your Destination
If the kids can’t stop asking “are we there yet”, ask them if they want to make plans for your destination. You can give them creative freedom to brainstorm ideas or research some fun activities for the entire family. This is also great travel entertainment for adults.
For example, if you’re going on a family vacation, plan the entire first day with the kids. First, you’ll book into the hotel and unpack to find the kids’ swimsuits and beach toys. Then, you’ll eat lunch, grab some snacks, and get to the beach. At the beach, you can buy ice cream and play in the sand. Planning the day with the kids can help them stay calm while dreaming about the fun stuff they’ll do.
- Tell Funny Stories
Good old storytelling can keep the kids entertained for hours on end. For instance, you can tell them stories from when you were little or read them stories from their favorite books.
You can also make it into a competition and have every family member tell a funny story. The person who gets the most laughs gets a prize and decides the topic of the next round of stories.
- Listen to Music and Sing Together
If the kids have a favorite singer or songs, play them in the car and sing together. This is a lot of fun for the kids and they can burn a lot of energy this way so they can take a nap later.
Be silly with them and pretend like you don’t know the lyrics or the tune and let them help you figure it out. This will be one of their fondest childhood memories.
- Bring Sticker Pads
Sticker books can keep your kids entertained for ages. Bring a few sticker books that the kids can use during the entire trip so they don’t get bored. Let them choose what sticker characters they want to use so they don’t throw a tantrum if you offer them something they don’t like.
These Travel Entertainment Ideas Will Make Your Trip More Fun
Whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, travel entertainment for the entire family is important to keep everyone happy. Especially if you have kids who can’t sit still for long periods of time, these ideas might just save you a lot of tears and tantrums.
Want more travel tips and ideas? Check out the other articles we have on this topic and stay tuned for more news and updates.
