10 best ways to entertain yourself and your children while stuck in the car

Lots of holidaymakers are hitting the road this week to take off for their Summer break.

But chaos at Dover saw British holidaymakers stuck waiting for up to 30 hours to board ferries yesterday, on one of the busiest Summer getaway days in nearly a decade. 

According to reports, the delays are the result some French border control officials failed to turn up on time yesterday, causing huge delays to families and lorry drivers trying to make the crossing into Europe.  

The port declared a ‘critical incident’ yesterday due to the delays and urged tourists to stay away amid concerns today could be even worse, as it has to deal with the backlog.

However many are still expected to attempt their journeys, which means lots of people, a large proportion of whom will be travelling with their children, could be trapped in their vehicles for hours at a time.

Here, FEMAIL reveals 10 of the best ways to keep yourselves and your children entertained while stuck in your car for hours.

Travelling to your holiday destination can become fractious at the best of times, but with major delays expected in Dover today, tempers could flare while trapped in the car (stock photo)

1. Take art supplies for both children and adults

Lots of children enjoy being creative, and if your vehicle is stationary, breaking out some artistic activities could keep little ones entertained for quite some time.

Some of the easiest (and tidiest) items to put in your activity packs include colouring pencils, paper, crayons, and stickers.

Meanwhile, it’s best to avoid particularly messy options, notably glitter and felt-tip pens.

And if the art supplies keep the kids quiet, you could even indulge in a little colouring yourself.

Adult colouring books are thought to relax the mind, and provide a meditation-like experience, as the brain focuses on the activity at hand.

So not only will this pass the time, it could also help to soothe frayed nerves, and calm some of the stress of travelling chaos.

2. Listen to audiobooks

For many children, listening to much-loved stories is not only entertaining, but also relaxing.

To take the pressure off parents (who may feel too carsick to read anyway) sourcing audiobooks can be the best option.

Listening to a compelling narrator read one of their favourite tales will not only entertain children, but also take some of the stress out of their journey, hopefully calming any fractious moods.

Just make sure there is something appropriate for all relevant ages, so everyone can listen to something they will enjoy.    

3. Use electronic devices for games and activities (on a low volume setting)

Although many parents like to be mindful of their children’s screen time, sometimes a game on the iPad is the best option.

There are many games that will keep children entertained for hours, some purely recreational, but lots with an educational element too.

While iPads can be connected to the car speaker, to optimise all passengers’ travel experience, the volume should be turned down low or off.

Be mindful that squabbles could break out over who has the device, and ensure everyone gets a turn at playing. 

4. The silence game

If all else fails, and everyone is reaching the end of their tether, a classic car undertaking beloved of many stressed parents is the silence game. 

This task makes being quiet into a competition: no kit or equipment is required, simply challenge everyone in the vehicle to stop talking for as long as possible.

The winner is the person who breaks their silence last.

Making sure you have small toys or maybe sweets for prizes, means that players have an incentive to be victorious – and stay as quiet as possible for the longest time they can.

5. Kick back with a movie

Another time-tested favourite when it comes to keeping young minds entertained is films.

While some cars come equipped with small screens for your viewing pleasures, those who don’t have them, can pick up a portable DVD player.

Alternatively, phones, iPads, and any other electronic devices with a screen may be suitable.

With an average running time of over an hour, sticking on something the kids enjoy watching could win parents a brief reprieve during delays.

6. Writing a holiday journal

If you have paper and pencils handy, being stuck in traffic could be the perfect time to get everyone started on journalling their holiday.

Keeping a record of their travels will be fun for youngsters, and making a start by writing about the journey, and drawing sketches, could be a great distraction.

You could try giving them questions and prompts to fill out, so they have some directions to experiment with.

For example, they can write about what they packed on the trip, what they know about where you are going, and some of the things they are looking forward to doing. 

7. The classic sing-a-long

For a slightly more raucous activity, you could blast some family favourite tunes from the radio, and get everyone to join in.

If you have playlists, or perhaps albums from their favourite films, you may be able to avoid listening to current favourites for hours on repeat.

Singing may do more than just while away the hours – it may reduce stress, and could even release feel-good endorphins.

With nerves likely to be frayed, and tempers at an all-time high after uncomfortable hours in a hot car, anything that can lift everyone’s spirits is worth trying out.

8. Try some guided meditation

If everyone in the car is starting to get ill-tempered and short of patience, trying a mindfulness exercise may help.

While there is evidence to suggest that meditation can offer a host of positive effects, it is worth noting that some researchers suggest that a small number of people can experience some negative effects including anxiety.

However, these effects are most likely to be felt by people undergoing intensive experiences at retreats.

Listening to guided meditation designed specifically for children (these can be found online) may help everyone focus, and draw their attention away from any quarrels or grumbles.

It could also create a more peaceful ambience in the vehicle, which in turn, will foster calmness.

9. Play travel board games 

One enjoyable car activity for older children and adults is playing travel board games while stationary.

Lost of favourites, including chess and scrabble, come in miniature versions that are suitable to play while you’re en route.

Games that may cause rows (like Monopoly, for example) are perhaps best avoided during long delays.

While unsuitable for very small kids, due to being age inappropriate and containing small parts, others can break up the monotony of long delays with a good board game.

10. Have a snack

If all else truly fails, and you reach a crisis point, you can try to distract everyone in the car with something tasty to eat or drink.

You can pack a range of healthy (and not so healthy) treats for the road, which could serve as a distraction when all else fails.

Try to ensure there is something everyone enjoys, and make sure you have enough of everything, so there are no fights over gets to enjoy the treats.

Favourites include cereal bars, oat cakes, and grapes. You can also pack sweets (individually wrapped may be best, to make sure you don’t end up with a sticky mess).

After something delicious, and a little sugary boost, moods may well be restored enough to return to one of the other suggested activities.

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