Keeping 2 year old entertained on long journey

[bebeboeuf]

We have 4 long journeys coming up this year with our two year old.

All journeys are by car and will be about 6 hours (plus stops).

I’ve avoided buying a tablet as I don’t really want him having one for a while yet but should we be considering one to enable watching of iPlayer in the car or are there other non tech things that can be safe car activity toys?

I think you could get away with no tech. Stop a few times for nappy changes etc and choose somewhere to stop where they can run around burning off energy and eat food. There's a travel version of the aquadoodle which goes down well. I would think about a children's song playlist, stories to read/ tell them, stickers, snacks, and timing naps for part of the journey as well. You could even do some of the drive while they sleep if you really want to be able to drive uninterrupted eg v early morning.

That’s reassuring

We have the golf up travel aqua doodle and didn’t think about taking that in the car so that’s a good start.

I think we will try and do an early start. Ferry will be involved so that’s a good break for stretching legs.

He loves music but likes the same song over and over again.
DH was tempted to get him headphones but I don’t think he would wear them and not too sure if it’s a great idea.

We try and time our trip so that we have at least one long nap of 2 hours. If you are 3 hours to ferry then 3 hours off I would leave at lunchtime, let him sleep in the car on the way to the ferry, be awake on the ferry and then tech the later stint.

I honestly do get the limiting screen time thing, I really do. But our daughter knew phonics by 2.5 and was sounding out CVC words by 3 and I firmly believe that came from apps and the iPad. I wouldn't discount it. There is a big difference to something educational than 6 hours of Peppa Pig

I'd try to do as much as possible at evening or early morning so they will sleep.

From experience tablets can lead to travel sickness if the child is looking down rather than at the horizon.

Take plenty of snacks. Especially things that take a while to eat, eg tubs of cheerios take ages!

A CD of their music goes down well here.

Yes try and get a long nap in. Lots of snacks! The aqua doodle is great. Also some audiobooks. Can someone sit in the back with him for a while? That would help.

I recently caved on iPad in car for my 3 year old and it works a charm! I had to do a long drive on my own with him and 6 mo old though-it was so I could concentrate!

I expected my son to hate headphones but he loves them so they might be worth a try (not v expensive and they’d always keep for another time)