google576822b194e90422.html

How to entertain a toddler on a long distance car journey

Next week we’re off on a bit of a family road trip. We’re travelling down South and then slowly making our way back up the country with some stops en route. The first leg of the journey is a 6 hour drive with a toddler so my blood pressure is already on the up and I’ve started having visions of 6 hours of shouting, screaming and tears (from me).

I’m not new to long distance travelling with the little man (remember our 9 hour drive to Bluestone last year?) but it’s doesn’t necessarily mean I’m a huge fan!

I try and plan ahead and follow the tips below.

Consider your time of travel

If you can, think about travelling at night or first thing in the morning. Whilst it might not be much fun for the driver, it’s more likely your child will sleep for some of the journey. You could even let them travel in their pyjamas for added comfort.

Talk about where you’re going

One of the places we’re visiting next week is Peppa Pig World at Paulton’s Park. The little man is Peppa Pig obsessed so we’ve talked about our trip a lot and used it as a bit of ‘good boy’ bribing mechanism. We’ve embellished the details to keep him interested and excited and we’ll talk about it while we’re travelling in the hope it’ll keep him entertained and excited. case

Be prepared

Take at least one change of clothes and a towel. Children aren’t very considerate with their timings when it comes to sickness or an explosive nappy.

When we travel in the UK I take as many things from home as I can, including a well stocked first aid kit, cleaning products and plenty of bin liners to safely store anything dirty in, until we get somewhere where there’s washing facilities or get back home. Poki-Tomb-Runner

Make sure your phone and tablet are full charged and loaded with games

Love it or hate it, technology is your friend when travelling with children. You can keep children entertained on long car journeys by using things like tablets, electronic games or a mobile phone. Make sure you have films and great games to play like Tomb Runner and Bubble Charms fully downloaded and ready to play – no one wants to see a buffering induced toddler tantrum mid journey!

A recent discovery of ours is Poki, a cross platform game publisher with more than 30 million users from all over the world. Their games can be played on on your mobile, tablet or desktop. They offer a huge range of age appropriate online games that are fun and free to play. Munchkin 3

Choose your snacks and drinks wisely

Fruit and crackers are always good for car journeys and a mess free child and car. Try and avoid things that will melt in your childs clammy grip. Don’t forget the rubbish bag to dispose of the half eaten sandwiches and mounds of used baby wipes.

Stop regularly

Even if the journey is short, stop often. Try and find somewhere a little more exciting than a service station. Even a grassy field is more exciting to a child than a concrete car park. Encouraging your child to run around and stretch his legs might also encourage him to nap in the car.

On our road trip next week, we’re going to try and make stops at English Heritage venues. We’re members and it will make a nice change to make stops at somewhere scenic rather than motorway services.

The lovely people at Poki are offering one of my lucky blog readers the chance to win a Amazon tablet, a fantastic prize, especially if you have got some long journeys to make over the Summer.

To have a chance in winning, please complete the Gleam form below and make sure you have a read of the terms and conditions.

 

Tablet (1)

Amazon Tablet/Poki

*Collaborate post

 

Follow:

214 Comments

  1. Tracy K Nixon
    21st May 2016 / 5:13 am

    pet soccer!

  2. aaron broad
    21st May 2016 / 9:21 am

    The lego games look great

  3. Tracey Peach
    21st May 2016 / 9:29 am

    I love the look of the game Anna Hospital Recovery 🙂

  4. Isabel O
    21st May 2016 / 10:25 am

    Anna Hospital Recovery looks weirdly fun.

  5. iain maciver
    21st May 2016 / 11:28 am

    lego games

  6. laura stewart
    21st May 2016 / 12:03 pm

    Jeep parking looks fun

  7. Kevin000
    21st May 2016 / 12:33 pm

    Bubble charm

  8. Rose H
    21st May 2016 / 12:46 pm

    It has to be the incredibly simple and addictive crossy road. Drives me mad. And one of my little ones loves it.

  9. Rebecca Cusick
    21st May 2016 / 1:09 pm

    The Bubble Charms game is easily my favourite x

  10. Annabel Greaves
    21st May 2016 / 1:13 pm

    My kids love lego

  11. Suzanne
    21st May 2016 / 1:17 pm

    Lego is a great favourite with us.

  12. Lindsey Stuart
    21st May 2016 / 1:23 pm

    I really like the look of the pet soccer! (maybe because I love cats haha)

  13. marilyn winstone
    21st May 2016 / 1:31 pm

    slither.io

  14. clair downham
    21st May 2016 / 2:05 pm

    pinata cookies

  15. Jackie Dawson
    21st May 2016 / 2:11 pm

    Pet Soccer looks adorable

  16. Tania Atfield
    21st May 2016 / 2:16 pm

    Scrappy Dog

  17. Jo Hutchinson
    21st May 2016 / 2:53 pm

    The Anna Hospital Recovery looks good.

  18. laura banks
    21st May 2016 / 3:40 pm

    bubble charms

  19. 21st May 2016 / 4:32 pm

    I was addicted to snake when I had a Nokia phone and the super snake game looks super fun 🙂

  20. Tony Metcalf
    21st May 2016 / 5:36 pm

    Pet Soccer

  21. Iona Cornish
    21st May 2016 / 5:39 pm

    Angry Birds

  22. Farhana
    21st May 2016 / 6:12 pm

    I think I like the sound of “Anna Hospital Recovery” game.

  23. Lisa Deller
    21st May 2016 / 6:49 pm

    Papas Bakeria sounds fun!

  24. 21st May 2016 / 7:15 pm

    1010 Deluxe looks like the perfect game to just switch off and play!

  25. gemma nisbet
    21st May 2016 / 8:49 pm

    The Lego game looks good. Thanks for the chance.

  26. Jay
    21st May 2016 / 10:40 pm

    Bubble Charms 🙂

  27. Paul Wilson
    22nd May 2016 / 2:44 am

    Pet soccer looks like a laugh.

  28. Karen Lloyd
    22nd May 2016 / 6:59 am

    Creepcraft because my son loves minecraft.

  29. Kali filsell
    22nd May 2016 / 7:51 am

    Anna’s Pedicure

  30. Caroline Clarke
    22nd May 2016 / 9:20 am

    Papa’s Bakeria looks interesting.

  31. Paul T
    22nd May 2016 / 9:39 am

    King Of Thieves looks good.

  32. 22nd May 2016 / 9:59 am

    Scrappy dog looks fun

  33. Rhia P
    22nd May 2016 / 10:07 am

    What a fab idea… I like the look of bubble charms thank you 🙂

  34. Soph H
    22nd May 2016 / 11:24 am

    King of thieves looks good

  35. Julie Feathers
    22nd May 2016 / 11:52 am

    1010 Deluxe looks good

  36. Emma
    22nd May 2016 / 12:27 pm

    Pet Soccer! 🙂

  37. Justine Hughes
    22nd May 2016 / 1:36 pm

    Colour switch

  38. Jim Milligan
    22nd May 2016 / 1:53 pm

    Pet Soccer

  39. Richard Taylor
    22nd May 2016 / 1:55 pm

    Looks Good

  40. Sarah Mackay
    22nd May 2016 / 2:33 pm

    Angry Birds

  41. emma walters
    22nd May 2016 / 2:43 pm

    i think we would like creep craft best

  42. Alica
    22nd May 2016 / 3:04 pm

    The surgeon simulator game! 😀

  43. Rachael G
    22nd May 2016 / 3:11 pm

    Agario

  44. Rob Griffiths
    22nd May 2016 / 3:34 pm

    Pet Soccer looks fun

  45. grainne marnell-fox
    22nd May 2016 / 4:05 pm

    The bubble charms game looks great x

  46. S Bufton
    22nd May 2016 / 5:23 pm

    Supersnake

  47. stephen ashdown
    22nd May 2016 / 6:31 pm

    Bubble Charms

  48. Helen Stratton
    22nd May 2016 / 7:02 pm

    I like the look of Bubble Charms.

  49. Nicola Marshall
    22nd May 2016 / 7:46 pm

    I would have to say Bubble charms

  50. Marianne Daniels
    22nd May 2016 / 8:07 pm

    I would have to say Bubble charms too!

  51. lyn Burgess
    22nd May 2016 / 8:28 pm

    Bubble charms looks fun

  52. Sarah N
    22nd May 2016 / 8:30 pm

    The lego game looks great fun

  53. Tammy Westrup
    22nd May 2016 / 10:11 pm

    Pet soccer looks good

  54. Gnei Usama
    22nd May 2016 / 10:58 pm

    Bubble charm is eye catching

  55. Stuart Allen
    23rd May 2016 / 1:43 am

    money movers looks great!

  56. Hassni
    23rd May 2016 / 7:24 am

    Bubble Charms

  57. Jane Willis
    23rd May 2016 / 7:49 am

    Bubble Charms

  58. jennifer thorpe
    23rd May 2016 / 8:39 am

    bubble charms

  59. Jo Carroll
    23rd May 2016 / 9:15 am

    Rally Racer looks fun…thanks so much for pointing me towards Poki – I’m always trying to find good games for the little’uns to play 🙂

  60. Alison Joyce
    23rd May 2016 / 10:07 am

    Color Switch

  61. jacqui graham
    23rd May 2016 / 10:25 am

    bubblecharms

  62. amy bondoc
    23rd May 2016 / 12:07 pm

    got to be angry birds for me!

  63. helen tovell
    23rd May 2016 / 12:18 pm

    Bubble charms looks my type of thing

  64. Danielle Spencer
    23rd May 2016 / 1:57 pm

    Bubble Charms looks similar to games I’ve played in the past and absolutely love.

  65. judy kennedy
    23rd May 2016 / 4:28 pm

    Bubble Charms

  66. Jayne Townson
    23rd May 2016 / 7:51 pm

    I like the look of the bubble charms game, thanks for the giveaway.

  67. Denise C
    23rd May 2016 / 8:08 pm

    I like the sound of Airport Cafe

  68. Angela Wilcox
    23rd May 2016 / 9:35 pm

    Lego Star Wars

  69. Solange
    24th May 2016 / 4:44 am

    Bubble charms

  70. Suzanne Gaulton
    24th May 2016 / 10:27 am

    Pet soccer!

  71. Alana Walker
    24th May 2016 / 10:40 am

    Matt vs Math for my son as he loves his maths.x

  72. 24th May 2016 / 12:41 pm

    I agree 100% about the technology tip, some people are a bit sniffy about it, but used sparingly, a tablet or phone can be a massive help in keeping kids entertained.

  73. Laura Harrison
    25th May 2016 / 5:18 am

    Lego games looks good xx

  74. Simone lee
    25th May 2016 / 10:11 am

    COLOUR SWITCH LOOKS GREAT GAME

  75. Corinne Peat
    26th May 2016 / 2:16 pm

    I like the look of rally racer

  76. Debbie Burfoot
    26th May 2016 / 4:02 pm

    Lego games look fun

  77. Laura Linsey
    26th May 2016 / 9:18 pm

    Crossy Road

  78. katrina walsh
    26th May 2016 / 10:46 pm

    Pet soccer looks like loads of fun

  79. Simon Tinsley
    27th May 2016 / 7:15 pm

    Angry Birds Space

  80. 28th May 2016 / 11:06 pm

    My daughter plays Slither.io and says it’s a really good game

  81. Stevie
    29th May 2016 / 3:11 pm

    Zombie Town: Sniper Game under the Minecraft category.

  82. Rachel Butterworth
    29th May 2016 / 8:57 pm

    Roger Dead: Zombie Biker.

  83. Laura Findlay
    29th May 2016 / 8:58 pm

    The Lego game looks AWESOME. My kids love Lego!

  84. Tanya Camilleri
    30th May 2016 / 8:59 pm

    Bubble charms – I love games like that

  85. eirini kourvouli
    31st May 2016 / 9:39 am

    The lego games look great

  86. Liam Bishop
    31st May 2016 / 11:15 am

    Jeep Parking, I love parking games.

  87. Fiona Rennie
    1st June 2016 / 8:37 pm

    Papas Bakeria looks like one of those games I’d get addicted to 🙂

  88. Pam Francis Gregory
    2nd June 2016 / 12:39 pm

    Slither looks good

  89. Mirjana
    2nd June 2016 / 11:43 pm

    Color Switch 🙂

  90. Nigel Soper
    3rd June 2016 / 9:39 am

    Angry Birds Space looks good

  91. ema j lowe
    4th June 2016 / 6:56 pm

    me and my girls love playing slither-io

  92. Kate Davies
    4th June 2016 / 9:44 pm

    Don’t crash looks fun.

  93. Rebecca Nisbet
    4th June 2016 / 10:49 pm

    i like the look of ‘Papa Bakaria’.

  94. kelly morgan
    5th June 2016 / 9:39 am

    crossy road

  95. Keri Jones
    5th June 2016 / 4:46 pm

    I like the look of Bleach v Naruto 2.5 simply because I love Naruto!! 🙂 xx

  96. jo liddement
    5th June 2016 / 5:18 pm

    The Scooby Doo Games look fun for the children

  97. Lyla
    6th June 2016 / 8:38 pm

    Flow free

  98. Teresa Lee
    7th June 2016 / 11:11 pm

    Jump The Shark

  99. kim neville
    8th June 2016 / 7:11 am

    Crossy road

  100. Lynne OConnor
    8th June 2016 / 4:47 pm

    Roger Dead: Zombie Biker game

  101. Laura Kevlin
    10th June 2016 / 1:11 am

    Lego Star Wars looks pretty cool 🙂

  102. Lisa Everaert
    12th June 2016 / 12:28 pm

    Papas Bakeria looks like fun x

  103. MANDY DOHERTY
    12th June 2016 / 8:22 pm

    The Lego game would be my grandsons favourite

  104. Ella L
    13th June 2016 / 6:27 am

    Jeep parking

  105. Chrissie Curtis
    13th June 2016 / 12:38 pm

    Pet Soccer!

  106. Francesca Jones
    13th June 2016 / 7:02 pm

    Plants VS. Zombies!

  107. Sarah Lewis
    14th June 2016 / 12:38 pm

    Jeep parking

  108. Sheri Darby
    14th June 2016 / 7:05 pm

    Lego games

  109. keri brooks
    14th June 2016 / 8:50 pm

    Super chief burger

  110. Chloe Bailey
    14th June 2016 / 11:00 pm

    I love the look of Crossy roads! X

  111. Chloe Bailey
    14th June 2016 / 11:00 pm

    I love the look of Crossy roads! X

  112. 16th June 2016 / 10:16 am

    The Finding Dory jigsaw puzzle

  113. gemma hendry
    16th June 2016 / 4:45 pm

    i like look of bubble charms

  114. Kathryn Davies
    16th June 2016 / 7:50 pm

    Finding Dory Jigsaw Puzzle

  115. Tracy
    17th June 2016 / 10:20 am

    Oh wow! Such a great selection! I like the look of Toon Cup 2016

  116. Heidi Craske
    17th June 2016 / 4:05 pm

    Happy Wheels!

  117. Ann Skamarauskas
    17th June 2016 / 4:26 pm

    Plants v Zombies

  118. Ashley Phillips
    17th June 2016 / 10:44 pm

    My youngest would love the Baby Hazel games and my eldest could sit and play tap the frog for hours. Thank you, thank you, thank you for finding this for me

  119. Kim Styles
    18th June 2016 / 9:21 am

    I think Kogama: Lego Star Wars game looks great and my kids would love it!

  120. christine WESTLAKE
    18th June 2016 / 10:15 am

    lego

  121. Amanda Davis
    18th June 2016 / 12:14 pm

    Tomb runner

  122. rebecca smith
    18th June 2016 / 3:19 pm

    Scrappy Dog

  123. AnnMarie Crawford
    18th June 2016 / 3:29 pm

    Bubble charms looks wicked hours of fun and so addictive

  124. Paula Phillips
    18th June 2016 / 4:46 pm

    The Lego gamelooks good.

  125. Elizabeth Hinds
    18th June 2016 / 7:29 pm

    My daughter would definitely love Pet Soccer 🙂

  126. madeline connolly
    18th June 2016 / 11:02 pm

    Bubble charm

  127. Natalie Gillham
    18th June 2016 / 11:08 pm

    Plants Verses Zombies x

  128. Stephanie Hall
    19th June 2016 / 12:57 am

    Thunderbirds

  129. carol boffey
    19th June 2016 / 9:21 am

    The lego game looks good

  130. michelle pierce
    19th June 2016 / 10:18 am

    love the look of tomb runner

  131. Lesley Stevens
    19th June 2016 / 10:52 am

    Don’t crash appeals to me

  132. Emma H
    19th June 2016 / 11:25 am

    Plants Vs Zombies looks good

  133. Michelle Carlin
    19th June 2016 / 11:31 am

    Get On Top

  134. Jayne Kelsall
    19th June 2016 / 12:22 pm

    Color switch looks good .x

  135. Alix boswell
    19th June 2016 / 12:42 pm

    The Lego game!

  136. maggie ali
    19th June 2016 / 1:42 pm

    pet soccer looks fun

  137. Susan Smith
    19th June 2016 / 3:08 pm

    The Lego Game

  138. Sam McKean
    19th June 2016 / 3:25 pm

    Pet Soccer sounds amazing and great fun 🙂

  139. ayesah warsi
    19th June 2016 / 4:49 pm

    the lego games

  140. Deborah Bird
    19th June 2016 / 5:13 pm

    I like the look of polar opposites.

  141. Sarah Mills
    19th June 2016 / 5:31 pm

    plants vs zombies

  142. Kevin Honey
    19th June 2016 / 6:04 pm

    Jeep parking appeals to me

  143. Michelle Sykes
    19th June 2016 / 6:30 pm

    Lego Games

  144. Sylvia Paul
    19th June 2016 / 7:25 pm

    Angry Birds Space

  145. Angie Poulding
    19th June 2016 / 8:01 pm

    Pet soccer.

  146. Andrew Hindley
    19th June 2016 / 8:21 pm

    The Lego Game

  147. olivia Kirby
    19th June 2016 / 8:23 pm

    Euro soccer!

  148. Adele Knight
    19th June 2016 / 8:36 pm

    angry birds space 🙂

  149. Angie McDonald
    19th June 2016 / 8:42 pm

    I really like the look of Easy Joe World! It’s got such a retro look and bright fun colours!

  150. Helen A
    19th June 2016 / 9:32 pm

    Color Switch looks brill!

  151. Danielle Graves
    19th June 2016 / 9:39 pm

    plants vs zombies

  152. Marrian
    19th June 2016 / 9:56 pm

    Tomb Runner.

  153. Charmian Filewood
    19th June 2016 / 9:56 pm

    Bubble charms looks addictive 🙂

  154. Ellen Stafford
    19th June 2016 / 10:12 pm

    Crossy Road fab site will share with my nieces and nephews.

  155. Lisa Lewis
    19th June 2016 / 10:55 pm

    plants v zombies

  156. Claire Butler
    19th June 2016 / 11:59 pm

    plants vs zombies

  157. Heather Haigh
    20th June 2016 / 1:10 am

    Talking tomcat 2

  158. Emma h
    20th June 2016 / 6:06 am

    Bubble charms looks fun

  159. Geoff Hibbert
    20th June 2016 / 6:18 am

    Jeep Parking looks fun.

  160. Lisa King
    20th June 2016 / 8:00 am

    I like the look of Angry Bird Space

  161. LouiseB
    20th June 2016 / 8:33 am

    Bubble Charms

  162. Anthony Harrington
    20th June 2016 / 8:34 am

    Pet Soccer looks great

  163. claire davey
    20th June 2016 / 8:42 am

    angry pigs

  164. Terrie-Ann Wright
    20th June 2016 / 9:06 am

    The surgeon simulator game, love games like that.

  165. Emma Perry
    20th June 2016 / 9:09 am

    Bubble Charms looks like something I would enjoy!

  166. Chris Fletcher
    20th June 2016 / 9:10 am

    Plants vs Zombies is fun – I’ve already played it though!

  167. Laura Whittle
    20th June 2016 / 9:12 am

    Finding Dory Jigsaw Puzzle – my kids love jigsaws at the moment

  168. Dawn Underwood
    20th June 2016 / 9:18 am

    Pet Soccer!

  169. Niki Clifton
    20th June 2016 / 9:26 am

    pet soccer

  170. Tammy Bastian
    20th June 2016 / 9:55 am

    Happy wheels looks like a fun game!!

  171. sandy ralph
    20th June 2016 / 10:35 am

    i love the look of Talking TomCat2 my grandson has number 1 and he loves it

  172. sharon martin
    20th June 2016 / 11:00 am

    cut the rope

  173. Michaela Fuller
    20th June 2016 / 11:03 am

    Really like the look of Crossy Roads – reminds me of a game I used to play as a teen!

  174. christine watkins
    20th June 2016 / 11:14 am

    Happy Wheels is my son’s favourite

  175. Emma Anderson
    20th June 2016 / 11:28 am

    Finding dory jigsaw game would be great for my toddler!

  176. Cyra Bellamy
    20th June 2016 / 12:01 pm

    Tip Tap 2

  177. tracey baker
    20th June 2016 / 12:02 pm

    Plants v Zombies x

  178. Kelly cooper
    20th June 2016 / 12:05 pm

    Definitely the Lego game

  179. Meena hindmarch
    20th June 2016 / 12:15 pm

    Bubble charm looks fun

  180. Lacey Langridge
    20th June 2016 / 12:46 pm

    slither.io

  181. Anna Brown
    20th June 2016 / 1:18 pm

    I like the look of bubble charms it looks like games I have played and enjoyed before

  182. Diana
    20th June 2016 / 1:37 pm

    Jeep Parking 🙂

  183. Simone Kilshaw
    20th June 2016 / 1:46 pm

    Talking Tom Cat 2 for me please. It looks really good.

  184. Jacqueline Roberts
    20th June 2016 / 2:13 pm

    Crossy road looks fun

  185. Scott Fallon
    20th June 2016 / 2:16 pm

    Angry Birds Space

  186. Natalie Crossan
    20th June 2016 / 2:42 pm

    Talking tom 🙂 xx

  187. Julie Howarth
    20th June 2016 / 4:18 pm

    Super Chef Burger looks yummy 😀

  188. Andrea A
    20th June 2016 / 5:18 pm

    Bubble charm

  189. michelle hughes
    20th June 2016 / 6:25 pm

    Bubble Charms 🙂 looks awesome!

  190. Kat Glynn
    20th June 2016 / 6:30 pm

    I love a bit of Plants vs Zombies 🙂

  191. Melanie Burton
    20th June 2016 / 6:54 pm

    I like the look of Traffic Block Game! I have played similar games before and love this sort of game!

  192. Laura Corrigan
    20th June 2016 / 7:15 pm

    Tomb Runner

  193. Beryl drake
    20th June 2016 / 7:16 pm

    Bubble Charms

  194. Jaelin Farrow
    20th June 2016 / 7:25 pm

    I like the look of Spider-Man: The Battle Within 🙂

  195. Tina Glover
    20th June 2016 / 7:28 pm

    crossy roads. my daughter loves it!… Fab giveaway thanks so much for the chance to win x

  196. Lynsie Lynn
    20th June 2016 / 7:43 pm

    Tomb Runner 🙂 Thanks for the chance 🙂

  197. Cassandra Mayers
    20th June 2016 / 7:48 pm

    Zootopia Judy Foot Surgery haha

  198. Nicole S.
    20th June 2016 / 8:07 pm

    Pet Soccer. 🙂

  199. jessica cook
    20th June 2016 / 8:20 pm

    Pet soccer looks fun

  200. alice lightning
    20th June 2016 / 8:31 pm

    bad piggies look good

  201. Suzanne Brown
    20th June 2016 / 9:11 pm

    Finding Dory jigsaw puzzle

  202. Wendy Tolhurst
    20th June 2016 / 10:05 pm

    Farm Puzzle Story 2

  203. George Wright
    20th June 2016 / 10:49 pm

    Bubble Charms looks fun!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *