Screen-Free Summer Travel
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For a long time, I was a hard liner on screens. No screens for children under two. Limited screens for older children. For the longest time, we didn’t have a tv in our space. As my kids have gotten older, we’ve gotten more lax in our views of screens. We do movie nights, they have shows they keep up with and my oldest plays collaborative video games online with his friends. I’m finding a balance that works for our family.
One thing that I continue to notice with my own children is that when we cross the line into too much screen time, my kids’ behaviors are really out of character. We hear grumpy voices, arguing and a lot of anger when it’s time to turn it off. Because of this, we always travel with no screens (with the exception of my oldest, who uses his phone to listen to music). Traveling with kids is stressful and bringing devices adds unnecessary frustration and conflict. A show is a great way to pass the time on a road trip, but for us, the behaviors that can come along with it aren’t worth it.
The past two summers, we’ve made the 17 hour drive to Colorado. We’ve also made two seven hour trips to the beach in the past two years. Our kids are used to no screens when we travel, so it’s never an issue. The earlier you can start this convention, the easier it will be. Here are a few things we have found that make screen-free travel work for our family:
Pack open ended art supplies. Choose items like coloring pencils or rock crayons to avoid any cleanup. A small notebook is easier to manage in the car than loose paper. Model magic clay in a zipper bag is also a great item to inspire some creativity on the road.
Bring books. Choose books with engaging photographs or illustrations. For 4-6 year olds, I recommend I Spy type books. Where’s Waldo is a favorite in our family. For older kids, audio books are a great way to pass the time. On our last trip out west, we started the Harry Potter series. All five of us loved it and it made the drive so much fun.
Play games. Children LOVE oral games and the car is a great place for these types of games. Play I Spy, games that involve license plates and billboards, and rhyming games. Count how many red cars you see. Not only will these games keep your children engaged, it will support their language development. These types of games can also be lifesavers when you feel the temptation to pull out a device at a restaurant.
Take deep breaths. There will be whining and arguing and crying. And that’s ok. Pull over when you need to. Stretch legs. And don’t skimp on the snacks.
