Entertainment for long car journey (almost 3yo)

[Inyourwildestdreams]

Very long car journey coming up. Can anyone recommend some toys etc that may be good for in the car seat? Or just any tips in general for a long journey with a young child. 2 adults so one can be in the back with our child at all times.

Drive is about 7hours direct. Obviously much longer when factoring in how many stops we’ll need. Unfortunately not possible to break it down into a couple of smaller journeys - it needs to be done in one day and we will be doing the return trip 48h later.

Doesn’t usually have much screen time (maybe an hour a week) so have an iPad full of stuff incase I need it but would rather have that as an emergency back up than a main source of entertainment.

Any entertainment suggestions or tips/tricks are very much welcomed!

When we used to do journeys this long as a child, my mum made a goodie bag for us with a surprise to take out every 45 minutes to keep it exciting. Nothing huge, just things like sweets, stickers, magazine, a small toy. Having said that, my sister just tried this out with her 5 year old, who enjoyed the surprise element but preferred the iPad!

I have a 2y11 month old and things I would try would be:
-Music
-Audio books
-High quality YouTube (Like beautifully animated children's stories - we like the Hairy MacLary stories, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other Eric Carle ones)
-etch a sketch/water painting book
-fidget toys like a fidget popper, stretchy caterpillar etc - I'd pick up a new one she's not seen before for maximum novelty! Mine liked snap bracelets on a recent long journey
-stories the parent in the back can read her
-books she'll enjoy looking at herself, i.e lift the flap, That's Not My... etc

• small figurines

-stickers -snacks and drink -I spy (something that's blue, something that's soft, something bigger than you)

Good luck!

@FloralDance Thank you 😊 I have the iPad prepped just incase but have no idea if he gets car sick with screens or not so would rather avoid it on such a long journey if possible!
I have 3D stickers and a new book to stick them in, snap bracelet, a small etch-a-sketch type thing, a busy book activity folder thing from Amazon, his favourite teddy, music & popper toy.

I’ll download some audio books too 😊

oh, I have a water painting book too 👍🏻

Stickers, notebooks, colouring pens, water colouring book, busy book, favourite stories/songs/blanket, teddies, favorite toys, puzzles. We got this lap tray thing from Amazon that was good for drawing/puzzles and just holding the tablet.

Lots of snacks!!

But the favourite by far was the tablet, they get limited screen time and we have allowed it as much as they liked on the car journey so that worked well. But hopefully they will be napping most of the journey if you time it well 😆

Is it possible to the do the journey evening/overnight? That way they should sleep a large part of it- if not definitely have a bag of tricks you can pull up- also trying to secure the tablet to the headrest may help elivate carsickness if you're worried about that!

Short Audio books used to keep mine entertained, although I think 2 of them were older than 3yrs.

I would suggest leaving at 3/4am easier to drive into the day after a sleep and then they should also sleep.

Nursery rhymes, audio books can be good at that age, ipad, food and deep breaths.

Just flew 7 hours by myself with a 14 months old.

The best tip I'd give is going during sleep time. We flew in the day and it was exhausting.

Although I did have an additional worry of him annoying other passengers.