Keeping Kids Busy in the Car with Limited Screen Time
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Let’s be honest—traveling with kids is an adventure in itself. While screens can be a helpful tool, many families want to limit screen time, especially during road trips. The good news? With a little planning and creativity, you can keep your kids entertained, engaged, and (mostly) meltdown-free without relying on tablets or phones.
Here are our favorite screen-free ways to keep kids busy in the car—tried, tested, and parent-approved!
1. Create a Travel Activity Kit
Give your kids their own little workstation in the car. A clipboard with storage is a game-changer—it provides a hard surface to write or draw on and opens up to store crayons, markers, stickers, and more.
Print out age-appropriate worksheets from Education.com before your trip. Look for:
Dot-to-dots
Early math practice
Mazes
Word searches
Handwriting or tracing pages
Add in mini coloring books and puzzle pads to mix things up.
2. Pack a SNACKLE Box
Snack time = entertainment. Use a small tackle box or craft organizer to make a snackle box—a bento-style snack kit with bite-sized options. Kids love the variety and independence of picking what they want.
Some kid-friendly ideas:
Goldfish crackers
Pretzels
Raisins or dried fruit
Apple slices
Cheese cubes
Mini cookies or gummies as a treat
Bonus: It cuts down on unnecessary snack stops!
3. Bring Travel-Friendly Games
Interactive, hands-on games make the time fly. Try:
Magnetic games like checkers or tic-tac-toe
Reusable sticker books (Melissa & Doug has great travel options)
Dry erase boards with drawing prompts or simple games like hangman or Pictionary
These are lightweight, reusable, and mess-free.
4. Audiobooks & Kid-Friendly Podcasts
Let their imaginations run wild with audiobooks or podcasts designed for kids. Download them ahead of time so you’re not dependent on cell service.
Some favorites:
Wow in the World
Circle Round
Brains On!
Classic stories like Charlotte’s Web or Magic Tree House series on Audible
This is a great way to wind things down if the car gets too energetic.
5. DIY Travel Bingo or Scavenger Hunt
Make your own travel bingo cards or download some printable ones. Include items they’re likely to spot on your route—stop signs, cows, red cars, airplanes, fast food signs.
Want to get fancy? Laminate them and use dry erase markers so you can reuse them on future trips.
6. Pack Surprise Bags
Small paper bags filled with little toys, snacks, or activities can be handed out at intervals during the trip. Let your kids open a new one every hour or every major town you pass through.
It gives them something to look forward to—and keeps the novelty factor high.
7. Bring a Few Favorite Toys or Books
Let each child choose 2–3 small items—stuffed animals, board books, action figures, or dolls. Keep them in a rotation and bring them out when attention starts to fade.
8. Family Music Time or Car Karaoke
Create a playlist the whole family can enjoy—Disney songs, kids’ classics, or throwbacks from your own childhood. Singing along together can be surprisingly fun and brings everyone into the moment.
Don't forget the classics like:
"The Wheels on the Bus"
"Let It Go" (from Frozen)
"Can’t Stop the Feeling!" by Justin Timberlake
Final Thoughts
Keeping kids entertained in the car without relying on screens is totally doable—and can actually make for more memorable, meaningful family travel. With just a little prep (and maybe some printable worksheets and a snackle box), you’ll be well on your way to happy passengers and a smoother ride.
Safe travels—and enjoy the journey as much as the destination!
