{"id":304776,"date":"2024-02-20T13:20:58","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T13:20:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/au\/?post_type=parents&p=304776"},"modified":"2025-11-06T16:39:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T16:39:50","slug":"bust-screentime-with-car-games-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"parents","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/nz\/parents\/bust-screentime-with-car-games-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Boredom-busting car games for kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A tablet can be a great tool for avoiding the dreaded chorus of \u2018Are we nearly there yet?<\/em> \u2019 ten minutes in to your next long car journey. But as hours pass, the screen time \u2013 and associated grumpiness \u2013 can start to add up. Find out how car games for kids could help\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To screen or not to screen? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mother of five (and founder of Better Screen Time<\/a>) Andrea Davis was once so concerned about screen time that she hid the family TV in a cupboard. But now, she believes in a tech compromise. That means on car journeys, an iPad is sure to be in the car \u2013 but so are strict limits on its use, and plenty of non-tech activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But kids being on screens isn\u2019t a bad thing in itself. Organisations like the American Association of Paediatrics (AAP) have said that while children\u2019s screen time<\/a> \u2013 and parental concerns about it \u2013 are up, parents should start shifting their focus from time limits to how <\/em>their kids are using them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve had to really think about everything as a balance, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic,\u201d says Dr. Nusheen Ameenuddin, chair of the AAP\u2019s Council on Communications and Media.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"car<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most parents would agree that some kind of tech device is a must-have when taking a long car journey with children. Ameenuddin says that\u2019s okay \u2013 as long as parents can offset that screen time with real-world activities. The key, she says, is to support their digital interests with hands-on ideas<\/a> and real-world extensions that play on those interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are top car games for kids, to stretch your child\u2019s on-the-road screen-time activities into real-world fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get road ready<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ameenuddin acknowledges that the normal screen-time rules won\u2019t always apply during long drives. But that doesn\u2019t mean you have to give up completely and rely solely on technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGiving kids an idea of what to expect will actually make a much more pleasant experience for everybody,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use these tips to prepare for the journey\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Davis, author of Creating a Tech-Healthy Family<\/em>, sets clear rules before hitting the road with her family. For instance, her kids know the iPad won\u2019t come out until two hours after the trip begins. And because the kids (ages five to 17) share the screen, they know they\u2019ll have to choose things they can do together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She suggests encouraging young road trippers to download films and music they agree on before <\/em>they get in the car. It\u2019ll help set expectations \u2013 and avoid arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set time limits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Medical organisations recommend strict screen-time limits for children aged five and younger, but they\u2019re a bit more flexible for older kids. Still, you don\u2019t want them buried in a screen all the way until you reach your destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Davis suggests helping kids adhere to clear time limits by using a built-in timer or perhaps an alarm you set on your device. For younger kids, consider offering a warning when time is winding down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Post your tech breaks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Tech platforms make it easy for kids to become completely immersed in their screens, but parents can help break things up with an in-car activity at a pre-arranged time or distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, before her family heads out, Davis sticks a series of sticky notes on the back of her seat. Each note represents 100 miles, so her kids know to expect a surprise \u2013 stickers, small games, snacks \u2013 when they hit that point. It helps shift eyes away from the screen\u2026 and avoid all the \u201cAre we there yet?<\/em> \u201d questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Car games for kids that combine screen time with real time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Finding ways to transition your kids\u2019 favourite on-screen experiences to real-world activities on your road trip will ensure no one complains about the tech down-time. Here are some ideas to get started\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be art smart<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Turn what your kids are seeing on screen into a kid-inspired masterpiece. Take inspiration from a movie they\u2019ve just watched in the car and have them draw their favourite character, write a new ending or (especially if there\u2019s a risk of car sickness) describe a scene out loud. They can even star as the main character!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a shot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once kids have had an appropriate time on their apps, have them turn the phone or tablet\u2019s camera outside<\/a>. Encourage kids to snap the weirdest \/ coolest \/ funniest thing they can see from the car\u2019s window, or set up a scavenger hunt for children to find specific shots (something yellow, something furry etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Set up a digital family photo album and have everyone share their favourites for a special road trip souvenir when you get home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get their game on<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Help your little gamers give their fingers a break with some real-world extensions. Hand over a sketch pad and challenge them to create a pencil version of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if a child can\u2019t get enough \u2018Minecraft\u2019, perhaps they can initiate a sort of \u201c…and then?<\/em> \u201d activity, where one person starts to draw a new landscape, then someone adds on, and so on. Or if a kid\u2019s into something like \u2018Mario Kart\u2019, they could try drawing a maze and using toy cars to race along it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scroll outside<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Kids engrossed on YouTube or TikTok are often being fed videos based on interest, whether it\u2019s sharks, fashion or food. After letting them spend a bit of time on these platforms, play a sort of \u201cI Spy\u201d game based on what they\u2019re watching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, if they\u2019ve been watching puppy videos, challenge everyone to shout, \u201cPuppy power!<\/em> \u201d when they spot something related outside the car, whether it\u2019s a billboard for pet food, a canine license plate, or a dog being walked a rest stop.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"car<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Uh, talk!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Helping your child think through and discuss big issues by relating them to a show or movie they\u2019ve watched in the car can make it easier for them to express what they\u2019re feeling. To start with, use what kids are watching as conversation starters during your road trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask big questions (Have you ever felt like the character did?<\/em> ) or offer your own observations (I loved how those friends together and helped each other!<\/em> ) to prod some memorable exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you run out of screen time references, keep the conversation going by chatting about your trip. What’s on the family’s bucket list <\/a>while you’re away? Are there any cool activities or top camping hacks<\/a> your kids are excited to try out when they arrive? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Instead of letting kids zone out while plugging in to their music the entire trip, have them create playlists on their device before leaving home. Then ditch the headphones, hit play, and pause after 15 or 30 seconds and see which family member can guess the name of the song first. (Parents, you can create a playlist too!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twist it up with themes from movies or TV shows or select genres like punk or oldies-but-goodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See who’s smarter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Turn your kid\u2019s favourite viewing into a family quiz. Sites like Sporcle<\/a> have trivia quizzes based on TV shows, movies, music and other special interests the whole family can participate in. (We\u2019ve even got some about animals right here at Nat Geo Kids!<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or before leaving home, design your own family quiz on a site like Kahoot<\/a> based on the games, movies, music and shows your kids love best. Set one person up as quizmaster while everyone else plays along.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After these car games for kids, <\/strong>find out how to swap screen time for reading<\/a> on your holiday!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Written by Heather Greenwood Davis. Images: Tablet \u00a9 Lwa\/Dann Tardif \/ Getty Images. All others \u00a9\u00a0Adobe Stock.<\/strong><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A tablet can be a great tool for avoiding the dreaded chorus of \u2018Are we nearly there yet? \u2019 ten minutes in to your next long car journey. But as hours pass, the screen time \u2013 and associated grumpiness \u2013 can start to add up. Find out how car games for kids could help\u2026 To … Continue reading Boredom-busting car games for kids<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":304778,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":["post-304776","parents","type-parents","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","countries-australia","countries-ireland","countries-new-zealand","countries-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFun car games for kids | Parents | National Geographic Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/parents\/304776\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Fun car games for kids | Parents | National Geographic Kids\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A tablet can be a great tool for avoiding the dreaded chorus of \u2018Are we nearly there yet? \u2019 ten minutes in to your next long car journey. 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