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Occupying children on a train.

38 replies

delilabell · 21/05/2019 10:38

Ds 6 who had adhd, me and dd(2and a half) are goingto visit relatives. Its a 3 and half hour direct train and we're at a table.
Id really appreciate any ideas for how to keep them occupied. (or anything to drug ds with. Joking.. Kind of)

OP posts:
Tableclothing · 21/05/2019 10:40

IPad + ear phones

Summerorjustmaybe · 21/05/2019 10:41

I spy.
Snacks.
Sticker books.
More snacks....

WorraLiberty · 21/05/2019 10:42

Do not drug your child.

Be a responsible parent and drug yourself instead Grin Grin

Interested in this thread?

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delilabell · 21/05/2019 10:43

See I wondered whether to me to add this in @tableclothing we have a kids tablet. The thiught of the fight from the two of them for it makes me rather not take it!

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 21/05/2019 10:43

I just knew 'snacks' would be on the list Grin

JohnLapsleyParlabane · 21/05/2019 10:43

Puzzles? Whatever an etch-a-sketch is called nowadays? French knitting?
And then iPad and headphones for the last bit.

Disfordarkchocolate · 21/05/2019 10:43

We have done card games, used a tablet, read books, did an I-spy book based in travel, noughts and crosses. And food.

delilabell · 21/05/2019 10:44

Oh @WorraLiberty why didn't I think of this? Then I just wouldnt care. Genius!!
I always forget sticker books. Absolutely getting them thank you.

OP posts:
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 21/05/2019 10:45

Colouring books?

If this sort of journey is reasonably frequent it might be worth getting a second tablet

HopelesslydevotedtoGu · 21/05/2019 10:45

Duplo/ Lego keeps ours occupied for ages (beware of losing small bits through).

New sticker and drawing books.

Lots of snacks.

Backup of cartoons downloaded with headphones (only start when other options exhausted, as you won't be able to turn off again!).

Enb76 · 21/05/2019 10:47

I found the train the easiest way to travel with children. Colouring, sticker books (especially the more elaborate ones - like this). Also, audible and headphones + colouring, sticker books, looking out of the window was good for mine who had to have at least 3 different things going on at once.

Mesmeri · 21/05/2019 10:47

My brother and I used to do a lot of long train journeys with just my mum when we were small (we lived in Scotland, grandparents lived in the far south of England and we used to visit nearly every holiday. It took aaaaages).

My mum would bring a bag of cheap but super exciting stuff - comics, colouring books, sticker books, new colouring pencils, small games without too many piece and of course an awesome picnic with snacks and drinks that we weren't usually allowed... but the trick was, we never saw any of it until we were on the train. And then, she would give us it one bit at a time. So, we'd each get something little when we got on the train. And then, after 20 minutes or half an hour, we'd get something else (unless we were still occupied with the first thing).

justilou1 · 21/05/2019 10:54

iPad - them
Wine - you
(Frequent trips between Netherlands & Australi

justilou1 · 21/05/2019 10:55

Whoopsie!
Frequent trips between Netherlands & Australia with 4y/o & 2y/o DT’s.

WorraLiberty · 21/05/2019 10:58

Honestly though, I wouldn't go with the snacks unless you think they'll be genuinely hungry (might be good to take some in case of delays).

But other than that, using food to keep kids occupied just teaches them to comfort eat or boredom eat.

A lot of overweight Mumsnetters say this is a huge problem for them, so probably best not to get them into the habit.

delilabell · 21/05/2019 11:00

I've just been on the book people and ordered several activity books. These ideas are brilliant thank you!
Travelling v early in morning. Coming back later at night so hoping littliest bell will nap.
Will do a picnic. Think they'd love the idea of a picnic with cakes when they're usually eating breakfast!

OP posts:
notoafternoontea · 21/05/2019 11:02

@Enb76 how have I never seen these! They look brilliant. I've just bought a couple to take away next week and a couple more to take away in the summer.

notoafternoontea · 21/05/2019 11:04

OP agree with picnics for meals working well - and let them be involved in decisions about what's in the picnic. that helps get them excited about it.

Also agree about the snacking - DD2 would graze all the livelong day if I let her - and I don't think that food is a good answer to boredom, so we don't let her do it.

AwdBovril · 21/05/2019 11:05

We always take a "picnic". Including paper plates. Cold sausages, boiled eggs, cherry tomatoes, veg sticks, etc. Mini cake bars. Bread rolls, already cut & buttered. Everything disposable (yes I know but needs must). Wet wipes.

Colouring pad & pens/pencils - the wind up crayons are good, no sharpening.

RubaiyatOfAnyone · 21/05/2019 11:06

And if you've only got one ipad, get an earphone splitter so they can both watch and be grateful that cbeebies/cbbc allows you to download.

simplekindoflife · 21/05/2019 11:08

Buy another tablet! It'll be worth its weight in gold, trust me!

formerbabe · 21/05/2019 11:09

Top trumps
Rubix cube
Sticker book
Small Lego set if you will have a table on train

JaneEyreAgain · 21/05/2019 11:15

Mini playdough set, Dobble, audio book, bubbles, Usborne Sticker books (we got a set of these, sport, space, history), Usborne Puzzle world books have saved us on many a journey. Rush hour, Smart Games IQ (but I can't remember at what age my son started being able to play these), You Choose book, how to draw book and lots of paper. Do walk up and down the train too!!

PotolBabu · 21/05/2019 11:16

One day of train snacking won’t set them up for a lifetime of obesity. Don’t we all snack more on journeys?
I am a veteran of long haul flights (and REALLY long-27 hours and more). This is what I take:

  • stickers
  • colouring books or just a notebook and colour pencil sets for each
  • Usborne makes travel activity books
  • Plan Toys mini games
  • Uno
  • Magnatiles in a ziplock bag
  • You get small tubs of playdoh
  • A couple of ThinkFun games- Rush Hour Jnr is a big hit as is the cupcake game. There is also a game called Penguins on Ice and Deducktion that come in travel versions.
NoNewsisGood · 21/05/2019 11:20

Check at your library about ebooks. I used to download all sorts for a trip as all free and no excuses of 'I've read it, don't like it, bored of that story' as always a mix on there.

The I-Spy on a Train Journey book. We had so many of them for every possible experience that could involve boredom :) Or, can make your own. Write a list of things you think you might see (or they think they might see) and then have to keep an eye out for them on the way.

We still have a few of those pen and paper game notepads lying around - a pad of games like hangman, shut the box, word searches, etc.

For the tablet - Toca Boca games are good ones they can do together at the same time and should amuse both age groups. Look for the Town/City/Village ones - something like that rather than the haircut or doctor one - though, they are all good! There are a couple where there isn't a 'game' per se, but the kids can just wander around a colourful world doing things like making food, going in a lift, putting things down the loo.... :) It's built for more than one set of paws on at a time and there are no rules so it's great for them to explore and just see what they can do - so should be fairly calming and can be picked up by one or the other and not really messed up as there is a reset button (useful for when one of them has discovered they can remove all the movable objects and hide them in the storage room in another part of the game Hmm

A magazine bought at the station - one with free plastic (terrible, I know!) things that means they can play with the toy/make whatever it is and read the magazine.

There are also kids puzzle books, which are good as have a mix of stuff.

Overall I would say a variety is the best way. Have had some journeys where DC have sat reading a book the whole way apart from lunch and a trip to the loo. But, other times have ants in their pants and want to do something different every ten mins.