Frugal Ways to Keep the Kids Busy in the Car

Summer is almost here and so are summer vacations! If you’re scared to take off cross country with a car full of children well, I don’t blame you. In fact, that’s not something I look forward to either. However, there are a few fun things you can do to make the time go by faster and they won’t break the bank!

1. Crayola Color Wonder:

Yes, I will be buying these. The kids can color on the paper, not themselves and not the loaner car we’ll be using. Plus, you can find them at the dollar store now, cheap & fun!

2. Craft Kits:

Make it simple. Pack a Ziploc bag full of pre-made cut outs like pictures, animal, etc. Bring along a glue stick, pom poms and craft sticks for the kids to make puppets out of. It’s not as messy as it sounds especially for kiddos over age 4.

3. Scavenger Hunt:

If you have older kids, this works great. Have a list of items your kids have to spot along the way and if they get them all, give them a surprise when you arrive at your destination. Think beyond license plates here, have them search for items such as 12 brown cows (can you tell I live in Oklahoma)?

4. Stop along the Way:

Are you a get-there-quick driver? You know the kind, the driver that won’t even pull over to go to the bathroom because they have to make it on time. Well, I’m not. I like finding little shops or attractions along the way to break up the time besides, it seems a bit easier on the kids. If we have a 6 hour trip planned, I plan on stopping at least every 2 hours and not just for potty breaks. Find a museum or a park along the way and let the kids out to run around and see the sights.

5. Sticker Books:

Have you seen the Ultimate Sticker Books available at Sam’s Club? They’re GREAT! Packed full of stickers for all sorts of different Disney/Pixar movies like Cars, Finding Nemo, etc. These keep my kids busy for hours. If you’re really frugal though, you can make your own. Print off blank coloring sheets from the internet (do a quick google search for the character like ‘cars printable color sheets’).  Then, pick up some stickers at any $1 Dollar Store. There you have it, homemade sticker books.

Enjoy the vacation, make the most of it!