April 11, 2023, by Maartje

I'm going on a car holiday and I'm taking… The kids! (oh help…) 5 x ways to entertain your children in the car

Kids
April 11, 2023, by Maartje

I'm going on a car holiday and I'm taking… The kids! (oh help…) 5 x ways to entertain your children in the car

We are with you: That car holiday seems more attractive than ever this summer holiday. In the comfort (well, we try) from your own container, take all your belongings with you and - if all goes well - no hassle at the border. Everything in the trunk, kids strapped in and off we go. Until five minutes into the trip they start asking if we are there yet, need to pee or are hungry. An iPad in our hands seems to be the solution, but Peppa Pig also has its expiration date (and we can't handle that tune for much longer than half an hour maximum). No, it's better to take care of something in advance car entertainment. Children's entertainment on the road: 5 ways to entertain your children in the car. Watch & learn.

Never underestimate the power of an old-fashioned game

Never underestimate the power of an old-fashioned game

I see what you don't see (just make sure you haven't zoomed past it again) and for the slightly older kids: look for the alphabet! Or a pre-arranged (hangman style) word. Give them a pen and paper and together look for the alphabet or word you have chosen on all the license plates that pass by. Or you can ask them to make a sentence with the letters on the plates: “RLD 352” = “Really Long Drive“. Or start a story and let everyone in the car tell a part, young and old. Twisted thoughts guaranteed!

Highway fairytales

Highway fairytales

Sometimes a big brand just does such good things, then we have to write about it. Like Volkswagen with Highway Fairy Tales comes. A concept that we would have liked to come up with ourselves: interactive listening stories for on the go, compiled with the best children's book writers in the Netherlands. And it really is true: a ride on the highway turns into, as Volkswagen itself calls it, a 'fantastic adventure'. Thanks to smart technology, every story automatically adapts to your route.

There are four fairy tales to listen to, recover and experience: Joekeltje, a little person looking for someone to play with. Shteinpoist and Tic: Two aliens explore the roads on this planet. They wonder if humanity should just be erased – are humans worth it? Commander Shteinpoist and Captain Tic do their utmost, out-of-this-world effort to find a reasonable answer to this. The Warning Ones: PAS is a young Warner. That's one of those voices in your head that says: watch out! Together with her grandfather OP, PAS goes on a journey to obtain her Warner diploma. Can they ride with you for a while?

And our favorite: Turbo Gerrit, a funny fruit fly on its way to the moon. But, the moon is far and Gerrit is small. So he looks for friends and objects along the highway that can help him. Will Gerrit succeed?

Why is Volkswagen doing this? Well, the brand turns out to be a partner of the National Reading Days this year. An annual campaign aimed at encouraging reading to children. We like it, we like to support it and we wrote this post - of course - not sponsored (a comment we felt we had to make in connection with the major car brand).

you can download the app here

Drive 'in' Cinema

Drive 'in' Cinema

Slightly older children? Turn your car into a rolling cinema. Drive 'in' two point zero, so to speak. Each child chooses a film that everyone can watch together. Bring cans of Nutripops (eating from a can is allowed for one occasion) and during long trips, mom and dad can also choose a movie. Nice, because then you can also watch one of Disney's own classics.

If it does become a 1 on 1 cinema, make sure you... Cinetree Kids download on the little ones' tablets. Cinetree is a platform set up by Hanna Verboom where Dutch actors and film experts share their favorite films. And there are some real pearls there. Beautifully illustrated cartoons and fun films that you would have forgotten long ago (youth sentiment!).

Read more about Cinetree Kids

Barts (car) Bingo!

Barts (car) Bingo!

Lord knows that we love a good game of Bingo… And yes, that also applies to travel bingo! And the best thing is: you don't have to be involved yourself, which is nice. This is how it works: your kids draw in advance (at home or earlier in the car) a square for each thing they see – traffic light, bird on power lines, car wash, etc. You can also make your own bingo cards with landmarks for your specific trip, but let's be honest, you probably can't ;-). And then tick it off! In addition, buy a number of prizes that you pack: this really makes it a mini party in the car.

 

If your mini is still too small to understand the bingo principle, you probably have the advantage that there will come a time when he/she falls asleep. You win some, you lose some. But buy your little one X number of mini gifts: nothing is as fun as unpacking during the trip! Please note: do a maximum of 1 per hour, otherwise it will be over in no time.

Good idea!

Good idea!

  • Good idea 1: In addition to your car radio, make sure you also have a Sonos roam packs (and keeps close). With us there are ALWAYS issues with the sound in the car (but really: always) and the Sonos Roam is also your perfect holidaygear the rest of the week(s).
  • Good idea 2: Provide more than enough sewing. Candy (who can avoid it) and 'candy' that is both tasty and good for the little one (because no one wants a sick child). Ours loves the apple cookies from NaturNes Bio and the Nutripops. The fruit bags are also ideal for on the go!
  • Are you reading this and thinking... I don't actually have a car that can handle a long drive... Did you know that you don't have to take out a subscription via MyWheels? And that you can also rent the shared cars for a longer period? And that they have a super good range of electric cars? That's how it is, that's how it is.

Okay, this one isn't for people who don't like mess or noise, but if you can tolerate that, get a musical instrument for every child. The three-year-old on his guitar, the baby a tambourine, you a microphone and your partner the steering wheel as a drum. Think in advance which songs you are going to play and provide guidance via Spotify (or similar). By the way, family karaoke is another fun pastime! Even more fun: stick your phone in a strategic place in the car: who knows, you might even go viral! And otherwise grandpa and grandma are having fun again. 

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