Wondering how to reduce screen time for your kids?
One of the best solutions is using screen free car activities. My family has taken multiple long road trips over the years–with kids from one to thirteen. And we’ve done them all with very little screen time.
It’s not easy. Actually, being less dependent on screens is an intentional habit that takes time to develop.
And in our tech heavy world, it can be hard to think outside the box and come up with quality screen free car activities.
But this is something I’ve been passionate about for a long time. Over the years I’ve discovered quite a few ways to keep kids engaged in the car without using technology. And when I decided to write this post, I researched additional ideas to add to my list.
All of that resulted in the following…20 screen free car activities for kids from toddlers to teens. This is a must-have resource for parents who want to get serious about less screen time. Check it out below–and don’t miss the bonus section at the end on how to keep it all organized!
20 Screen Free Car Activities for Kids
Books
One of the best screen free car activities is reading! Whether it’s board books for a toddler, picture books for younger kids, or chapter books for older children, a basket of books should be a staple in your car.
(Have kids that don’t like to read? Click here for five keys to developing a love of reading in your child.)
Audiobooks
Audiobooks are another great option that the whole family can enjoy together. My kids and I love listening to audiobooks during the summer when we’re in the car more often or take longer road trips.
The Libby app is an excellent resource for free audiobooks. You just need a library card/account and you’re good to go!
Coloring
Coloring is another screen free car activity that can be adapted for all age levels. My favorite mess-free options for littles is Color Wonder. This travel set is especially great because it’s designed to be on the go.
Younger children may also enjoy simple coloring books, while this more complex option might be good for teenagers. Store colored pencils or crayons in an inexpensive pouch like this or keep it even simpler and use a gallon size Ziploc bag!
Journals
Writing is another simple screen free car activity perfect for any age. Let your kids pick out their own journal or notebook. (Cheap ones from your local dollar store work great!) Add an assortment of writing utensils in a bag (see the above storage suggestions) and they can be entertained for hours.
Pro tip–avoid markers and pens. They stain everything and the lids always seem to get lost. Use colored pencils, mechanical pencils, crayons, Twistables, ect. (My one exception to this is the Color Wonder markers listed above. They’re mess free and the lid hassle is worth it.)
Writing Tablets
These cool little gadgets give kids the tech feel without actually incorporating technology. I prefer this version with a stylus tether. I’ve lost too many of those pointy little things in the car to choose anything different.
Search and Finds
Search and Finds are another great option for screen free car activities. My three-year-old loves this Disney one. (It’s a bit cumbersome for the car, but we’ve made it work.) This is another popular option for young children. Or try this for older kids.
Road Trip Games
These road trip games were a huge hit on the first long road trip we attempted with kids. The whole family had fun playing! These also look interesting and are ones I’d like to try soon.
Travel Board Games
Travel board games are a fun choice if you have kids relatively close in age or non-driving adults in the car who’d like to play. This set of four is a relatively inexpensive option.
Sticker Books
Can kids ever get enough stickers? I love the side-by-side design of this sticker book. (I’ve tried other layouts and they’re much trickier to navigate.) Plus, this book comes in so many different styles!
My kids also love this create a face sticker pad.
And I often just throw a bunch of sticker sheets and a mini notebook in a bag for a quick DIY sticker book too!
Fidget Toys
One of the best screen free car activities I ever tried was a small bag filled with fidget toys. It kept my toddler entertained for hours on a long summer drive to the mountains. This is a similar version of the one we used. It’s worth the money!
Wikkistix
This simple toy is another crowd pleaser, regardless of age. Even adults enjoy them! They can be reused again and again for endless hours of fun.
Travel Magnetic Tiles
Magnetic tiles are another one of those classic toys that kids never get tired of. And now they have a travel option! These are the perfect screen free car activity for the builder in your family.
Dot Art
I haven’t tried this particular Magnetic Dot Art, but my three-year-old loves a similar toy that we often take on the go. Even my older girls enjoy picking it up when she finally moves on to something else!
Foil Fun Crafts
I’d never heard of Foil Fun until I started researching for this list. But I’m anxious for my own kids to give it a try. It has great reviews and includes several different styles.
Tape Activity Books
For kids, tape ranks right up there with stickers when it comes to fun! Tape activity books are another new concept for me, but I’m definitely getting one of these for our upcoming summer road trip. In fact, I may have to get more than one because I’m pretty sure my older kids are going to want to join in!
Finger Puppets
Finger puppets are an amazingly simple and cheap toy. They encourage imaginative play while working on fine motor skills. It’s a win-win!
This version is perfect for toddlers and younger kids–stick them in a small zippered bag and they’re travel ready.
Busy Boards
Busy boards are another fabulous screen free car activity for toddlers and preschoolers. We have one similar to this one that has been well loved by our youngest daughter and spent considerable time in our car!
Water Wow Books
I’ve been using Water Wow with my kids for years. There are many different options available, but I’ve found the Melissa and Doug brand to be the most durable and functional.
These are geared towards younger children, but my older kids enjoy them too. (Pro tip: Make sure you have a water bottle in the car to refill the marker. Your kiddo will most likely empty the marker before they’re ready to stop coloring!)
Magnetic Tangram Puzzles
These tangram puzzles are ideal for older kids. (The description says three and up, but in my opinion they will frustrate most younger children. However, the littles might enjoy just exploring with the shapes.) Bonus–the magnetic pieces make them perfect for travel!
Brain Teasers
Brain teaser games are also a great option for older kids. Kanoodle and Flipslide are perfect for travel. Or give an old-fashioned Rubik’s Cube a try!
How to Organize Screen Free Car Activities
These amazing screen free car activities might be way better for your kids’ brains than a screen, but they also take up a lot more space! So, where in the world are you going to put them?
I’ve tried multiple different things to organize our screen free car activities and have settled on one option as my hands down favorite. This simple bin is cheap, but surprisingly durable. And even when it does wear out (because it will if you use it as much as I do), the $5 replacement cost is definitely worth it.
One of these bins stays in my car at all times for short trips and just errands around the city. When we go on a longer road trip, I’ll fill up two or three. When we get to our destination, I pull them out and they double as entertainment for the kids at our hotel or Airbnb.
Backpacks are my second favorite option for long road trips. Each kid fills a bag of their favorite activities and in the car it goes. Simple, but very effective. It doesn’t hold quite as much as the bins, but it’s nice to have items pre-sorted for each child.
The Value of screen free car activities
Going screen free in the car takes time, effort, and intention. But the benefits of making it a priority are lasting. The conversations I’ve had with my kids in the car are ones I wouldn’t trade for anything. The learning that’s taken place during screen free car activities or reading books while traveling is immeasurable.
(Need another reason to spend more time screen free? Check out this post!)
But most importantly, teaching my kids they don’t need a screen to be entertained is a lesson that will serve them well the rest of their life. And one that will reach far beyond the inside of an automobile.
Leave a Reply