By: Sarah Evanko, OTR/L

As we are returning home from holiday trips, keeping our kids engaged in activities while we endure long hours in a small space can be a safe haven. Electronic devices are the go to ways to keep our kids enthralled. But the car is the perfect time to work on sustaining one’s attention to a game, because you literally have nowhere else to go!  To help boost our kids (and at the same time our own) ability to engage in non-electronic games, here are some ideas to keep the kids occupied without the use of iPads or devices.

No packing involved games:

• A, B,C game: Look at out the window to find objects or words that start with letter.
• Concentration: Pick a category and name as many things in each category without repeating a word. Topic could be: animals, ice-cream flavors, foods
• I-spy: A classic. For a twist try using descriptors besides color. For example: “I spy something that you can climb”
• Funny story: Each person in the car says one word after another to create a silly story
• Cow on my side: divide the car into sides and count how many cows each side has throughout the trip. Whoever has the most at the end, wins!
• 20 Questions: A favorite for any car ride
• License Plate Says: Take the letters in a license play you see and create a silly sentence with letters.

Some packing involved:

• Have your child pick out a comic book or book: Getting kids to read is a struggle, but comic books or other graphic novels that involve bright engaging colors are good way to have a child sustain attention to a quiet activity.
  • If reading makes your child car sick, check out a audiobook from the local library’s app some family favorites include
    • Homer Price
    • The BFG
    • James and the Giant Peach
    • Charlotte’s Webb
    • Anne of Green Gables
    • A little Princess
    • The Little Prince
  • Tic-tac toe: it can be passed around on a piece of paper in the car!
  • Trivia cards
  • Magnet checkers or other magnet board games
  • Coloring sheets or activity books: Take turns color certain parts (great way to work on wait their turn)
  • MadLibs