Let’s face it, you and I both know how easy it is to turn to a DVD player or iPad or other screen device to entertain your kids for long hours in a car or a plane. Our family has been there. And we still do screen time—especially for long trips! But in our experience, our kids get along better, they’re more agreeable, and overall in a better mood when screen time is limited.
I found a great no-screen option for keeping your kids busy while traveling that is also great for other times that being patient is hard (like in doctor’s office waiting rooms or restaurants).
To start, you’ll need:
- a three-ring binder
- some clear page protectors
- a dry-erase marker
- a scrap piece of cloth for erasing
- age-appropriate worksheets and coloring pages: either free printables from the internet or from books you have at home already
Some of our preschooler’s favorite pages are a maze, face-drawing activity, hidden objects sheet, and matching activity that requires you to draw a line from an adult animal to the corresponding baby animal. I also printed practice sheets for the alphabet, numbers, and name-writing.
On our epic road trip to Wyoming and Montana last year, our older elementary kids preferred the license plate game, hangman, battleship, and a map of the U.S. where they could trace the route we drove.
The best part about these books is that they wipe off clean with a soft, dry cloth, and can be used over and over. You can even change out the pages to keep the books fresh. Have fun keeping your kids busy with their busy binders. Spring Break is just around the corner!
