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Original poster

Screen-free car entertainment for teen

53 replies

LongTermLurker · 03/08/2023 14:48

We're trying to break DC13's screen addiction / have a bit of a dopamine reset. We've offered a financial bribe to go 10 days without a screen, and are combining this with a trip to stay with the in-laws (I'm hoping this will ease the process as the in-laws are great fun, and there's always plenty of non-screen stuff to do). However, it entails an approx 10 hour journey there and back again.

I'm brainstorming with DC about car entertainment. Reading is tricky as they get car-sick when reading. I was thinking a pack of cards for solitaire, some embroidery thread for making friendship bracelets, playing audio-books / podcasts, maybe a puzzle book if car-sickness allows...

Any other ideas?

OP posts:
TwigTheWonderKid · 04/08/2023 12:34

We play a kind of "scavenger hunt" where we compile a list of about 20 things to spot along the way. We also do the car thing (each pick a make and get points for each one spotted) And the number plate game where you have to make a three word phrase from the last three letters of the car registration.

Plus audiobooks and lots of singing too.

1stepforward2stepsback · 05/08/2023 15:01

If reading makes them car sick I think the same will happen with most other things they need to look at. Audio book could be a good option. Personally I’d drive either over night or very early in the morning so they just sleep. Or find somewhere interesting to stop half way to break it up a bit.

Timeturnerplease · 05/08/2023 15:30

I was severely car sick as a child and teen, before tablets were a thing. We used to drive to ski resorts twice a year and I was so jealous of my siblings being able to read in the car - I love reading!

I listened to a lot of Radio 4 if my dad was the one driving and thus in charge of the radio. I also had a portable CD player with audio books on CDs, which saved my sanity. I’d definitely go for audiobooks if I were you.

It’s all very well saying that being bored in a car isn’t a bad thing, but honestly children and young teens are a nightmare when bored. My siblings and I used to lean across/back and annoy each other, argue at top volume and pester my stepmum
for snacks and toilet breaks. No judgement here OP for doing what needs to be done to save your sanity!

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PurpleStar22 · 05/08/2023 20:58

If you go for audio books and are Harry Potter fans, I highly recommend the audio books. Stephen Fry narrates them and he is really engaging with it. That would be my go to choice for a long journey.

What about a cheap MP3 player where you can add music and audio books so teen can listen to their own thing if you’d rather do something else. No screen but gives a bit of privacy

SuddenlyISee · 05/08/2023 21:04

I recently did a 6.5 hour journey with a flat phone battery. The other passenger looked up quizzes and we took it in turns answering questions. I also just love looking out the window and watching the world go by.

iwasthewalrus · 05/08/2023 21:19

How much £ are you offering for 10 DAYS without a screen? I don’t think I could do it.

leccybill · 05/08/2023 21:35

I think short spells on a screen is good and I'd even say healthy in a way, for decompression. We've all been a bit on top of each other painting and decorating all day today. In our breaks, everyone just looked happily at their phones for 15 mins then got back to it. Is it a battle to get them off screens?

Longwhiskers · 05/08/2023 21:58

Hi OP, on long car journeys as a child we used to safety pin the top of the friendship bracelet onto the back of the front passengers head rest. Then as you are knotting and moving the threads around you are looking straight forward and not down. Worth a try?

caringcarer · 05/08/2023 22:36

Listen to music
Listen to audio book
Or nap

CountingToThree · 05/08/2023 23:01

Try Richard Osman's birthday game podcast for everyone to listen together and play along with,

Stompythedinosaur · 06/08/2023 02:01

Honestly, I think that I wouldn't have picked the week with the ten hour car ride to ask her to go screen free!

Many teens with ADHD require stimulation, I would have thought that requiring her to sit still for such a lengthy period is tricky enough without also restricting her mental stimulation.

Creamteasandbumblebees · 06/08/2023 07:36

My 14yr old daughter (ADHD) also gets car sick and would also look at a screen for 10 hours straight! She's a total chatterbox too so I get you! When we drove to the South of France she took loads of fidget toys. She made a Spotify playlist of her favourite songs and podcasts but we also had a portable DVD player so she watched a few movies too.

0021andabit · 06/08/2023 10:13

I agree with audiobooks/ podcasts. The Greeking Out podcast by National Geographic is fab, also Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls do a good one too, Radio 4 panel shows like The Inbelievable Truth, Just A Minute etc

Original poster
LongTermLurker · 06/08/2023 11:29

Okay so outbound journey done! It was in two stages (staying in a b&b on Friday), but we're hiring an electric car and had the charging was much trickier than we'd imagined, so about 5 hours driving in Friday and another 7ish on Sunday.

The charging breaks kind of helped a bit though.

Listened to (and squabbled over) music. Made friendship bracelets. Puzzle book and playing cards didn't get used. My ears almost fell off with the non stop talking 🤯. Honestly, ADHD chat is something else.

To the PP who asked, we're paying £100 for the 10 days. DC is an absolute spendthrift, and money is the best motivator. I decided it was worth it, as an equivalent to two therapy sessions!

It's all working pretty well so far. DC's behaviour and attitude have improved! Being more helpful and less snarky!

OP posts:
Original poster
LongTermLurker · 06/08/2023 11:45

Stompythedinosaur · 06/08/2023 02:01

Honestly, I think that I wouldn't have picked the week with the ten hour car ride to ask her to go screen free!

Many teens with ADHD require stimulation, I would have thought that requiring her to sit still for such a lengthy period is tricky enough without also restricting her mental stimulation.

The logic is that once we're here, DC has a much better chance at succeeding than at home when we're both at work, and there's "nothing to do".

OP posts:
JRM17 · 06/08/2023 12:46

It's only a 5hr journey one way, surely a 13yr old can entertain themselves for that length of time. I'm not sure how any child these days would have survived in the days before smart phones and tablets. I get rediculously car sick unless I'm the driver but we used to drive for hours when I was a kid and the time would be passed with silly car games like spotting the oldest/newest car - making up sentences using the VRM of the car infront - or shock horror appreciating the scenery. My DS is 6 and will happily do a 5hr trip with nothing more than a hot wheels car and some conversation. I think you just need to stop worrying and let them get on with it.

Original poster
LongTermLurker · 06/08/2023 13:09

@JRM17 DC has ADHD. You probably don't realise that this has a HUGE impact on the ability to tolerate boredom, sit still, and self-entertain. DC is very, very different from a neurotypical kid. I have three DC btw, so have also been lucky enough to parent kids who can cope with a long journey with "nothing but a hotwheels car and some conversation".

OP posts:
Original poster
LongTermLurker · 06/08/2023 13:12

Also, just to be clear it's going to be a 10 hour+ journey in a one-er on the way home.

OP posts:
gogomoto · 06/08/2023 13:14

The only one of your list I can do in the car is audio books and struggle to change to the next one without feeling sick! Back of car is worse

LookItsMeAgain · 06/08/2023 13:38

Car bingo. Is there someone else who will be travelling with your DD in the car that could also complete a car bingo card?

Rocknrollstar · 06/08/2023 14:03

Play word games eg making words out of numberplates; alphabetical lists of girls names, animals, pop stars. Personally I think you need to find an audio book that they will like and you can suffer.

Isitthathardtobekind · 07/08/2023 10:07

I’m sure others may have said similar but we never provide anything to ‘entertain’ our children in the car, who are now 10/13, beyond chatting, radio and audio books. That’s all children had for years. I don’t understand the need for screens in a car personally.

Isitthathardtobekind · 07/08/2023 10:14

Just read your updates and see she has ADHD. Could you include more breaks in the journey? I would go for audio book still if you can. Is there something she could play an audio book or music on with headphones? Maybe some of that nice metallic putty or similar. Fiddle bits. Beyond that I’d be stuck as I wouldn’t be able to do things like making in a car and neither could my children as we would feel sick. Good luck for your journey!

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 07/08/2023 13:12

Audio books are always a good plan.

But I think alot if it will have to be chat, playing games, engagement with the adults in the car.

I’m a single parent and my ds (9) has ADHD and also gets car sick so I feel your pain. I get that ADHD chat can send your head spinning after a bit.

I think it’s best not to let them know it too much though - or be kind and subtle if you do - as I remember some comments from my Mum when I was little about my doubtless incessant chat being quite hurtful.

What about giving everyone a turn in the front - assuming they’re all old enough for that to be safe. That might break it up a bit, and also give them a go of talking to your DH/ DP rather than you?

Frazzledatfifty · 08/08/2023 13:16

Travel overnight? You and DP take turns driving/snoozing… Kids sleep….

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