How to create a road trip activity box for your kids
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Long road trips with kids can be challenging, but with a little preparation, they can also be filled with fun and happy moments.
Over the years, we’ve found that the easiest way to keep our kids entertained during long car rides is by preparing a road trip activity box — a simple but effective way to bring hours of screen-free fun to our travels.
This activity box allows kids to choose what they want to play with while giving them a variety of engaging activities throughout the trip.
It has helped us turn long hours on the road into a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
If you’re looking for an easy way to keep your kids busy on a road trip, here’s how to put together your own road trip activity box.
What is a road trip activity box?
A road trip activity box is a small box or bin filled with toys, activities, and supplies that kids can easily access in the car.
It helps keep them entertained with open-ended play, creative activities, and quiet games, making road trips smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.
How to set up an activity box for your kids
Select a sturdy, accessible container that fits comfortably in your car.
We usually place the activity box in the backseat, between the kids’ car seats, so they can easily reach it. If space is limited or you want to manage the activities more intentionally, keep the box in the front seat and hand out items one by one throughout the trip.
A helpful tip is to avoid putting everything in the box at the start of the trip. Instead, keep some activities separate and introduce them gradually to keep things fresh and exciting.
What to include in your road trip activity box
When choosing what to pack, focus on items that are engaging, mess-free, and reusable.
Here are a few ideas:
- Drawing supplies such as crayons, markers, and colored pencils
- Books (interactive books and encyclopedias work well for long trips)
- Sticker books
- Activity books like doodle books, puzzle books, and maze books
- Dry-erase activity cards
- Card games or travel-size games
- A small zipper pouch filled with toys (allow kids to choose their favorites)
- A mini playdough kit
- A kids’ camera
- Fidget toys
- Headphones for audiobooks
- Water WOW activity pads from Melissa & Doug
- Your child’s favorite snacks.
Keeping the activity box engaging throughout the trip
To make the road trip more fun and prevent kids from losing interest in the activity box too quickly, try these simple strategies:
- Introduce new activities gradually. Instead of offering everything at once, keep some items in a separate bag and bring them out at different points in the journey.
- Use surprise bags. Prepare small paper bags with surprise items and hand them out every couple of hours to keep excitement high. These could include small toys, craft supplies, stickers, or a new snack.
- Encourage independent play. Include open-ended toys and materials that allow kids to use their imagination. Items like playdough kits, dry-erase boards, and activity books provide endless ways to play.
- Mix independent and interactive activities. While the activity box is great for keeping kids entertained on their own, consider packing a few simple games or storytelling prompts to do together when they need a break from solo play.
A road trip activity box is an easy way to keep kids happy and entertained during long car rides.
By choosing simple, engaging activities and introducing new items along the way, you can make traveling with kids a little easier and a lot more fun.
Taking a little time to prepare an activity box can make all the difference in making the trip enjoyable for the whole family.
