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One of the worst parts of road tripping with children is the whining that inevitably accompanies the boredom that sets in as soon as you leave the driveway. Screen time can be a lifesaver, but what if you don’t want your kiddos staring at a screen your whole trip?
We’ve taken several long road trips and have another one planned for the near future, so we’ve spent a lot of time trying to keep kiddos from whining. We bring along a variety of toys and games and other distractions to keep the kiddos occupied, and rotate them out when they start to get bored.

Must-Haves for RVing with Kids

1. Lap tray

This tray buckles around the child’s waist and has a lip to keep things from sliding off. We had one for Sunshine when she was younger, and while she liked it, once she was done with it, she was done with it. She’d try to rip it off, which she couldn’t, and then she’d get very frustrated. So take your child’s personality into account with this one.

This tray could slide off the child’s lap, but has pockets for holding stuff. If you can, look for a similar item at WalMart or Target in the back-to-school section- it should be much cheaper there than on Amazon.

This folding tray is great for older kids, if they have plenty of leg room on their seat.

2. Mini clipboards & coloring supplies

Buy a 3 pack here or make your own using this easy tutorial.

Stock them with a pad of paper, and a box of jumbo crayons or colored pencils.

3. Sticker books

Kiddos love sticker books, and there’s such a wide variety to choose from. Try an animal sticker book, Melissa & Doug sticker books, or these paint by sticker books for older kids (they require a bit of hand-eye coordination). Sunshine really likes these.

4. LEGO

Bring along a bin of Duplo size for the littles.

And a bin of the smaller LEGO for the olders. Regardless of the size of the LEGO, make sure they have a tray with a lip to keep them from sliding off, and your kiddos will be occupied for at least half an hour or more.

Need some screen-free ideas to keep kiddos entertained while on your next RV road trip with kids? I shared some ideas at ouradventuringfamily.com.

5. Cars or other small toys

The boys love their Matchbox cars.

When Sunshine was younger, she liked itty bitty toys like Polly Pockets.

6. Books

If your kiddos don’t get motion sickness, bring books (picture books, chapter books, whatever is appropriate for them) to rotate with the toys and keep them occupied for a little while.

7. Magnetic puzzles and games

Puzzles or games that involve magnets are great, as the pieces stay in place despite the bumping and swaying that accompanies traveling in a vehicle. These Melissa & Doug magnetic dress up dolls have been a favorite with the younger kiddos and these magnetic Tangoes tangram games are a favorite of all ages. The younger kids don’t know how to play the game, they just like messing with the magnetic pieces.

8. Boogie Boards

I just bought boogie boards for the kids, but have hidden them away until we leave on our road trip this summer. These LCD eWriters are basically high tech versions of a magna doodle for toddlers, but you don’t have to charge it all the time like a tablet.

9. Games

Travel size games usually have magnets to keep everything in place. Look for games for just one or two players like Solitaire Chess, Rush Hour, Connect 4, or Travel Checkers. Card games like Uno, Go Fish, Sleeping Queens, or Munchkin might also be a good option, depending on the ages of your kids.

I have a vivid recollection of playing Pit! with my brother and sisters in the back of our family van as a teenager. I’m still amazed that my dad didn’t shut it down as he was notorious for not liking a lot of noise in the car. If you’re familiar at all with the game, it is not a quiet game 🙂

10. Snacks

Check out our lists of gluten free and low carb road trip snacks for snacks that won’t give your kiddos a sugar high or the subsequent sugar crash.

11. Let them stretch their legs

Don’t forget to stop and run around rest stops (more and more have playgrounds, but even if they don’t, there’s usually a grassy field), parks, or roadside attractions. The chance to stretch their legs and get some energy out can make long hours in the car or RV much more tolerable.

Don’t forget you can also listen to audiobooks to stave off boredom (check out our favorites here). What are your favorite boredom busters when road tripping with kiddos? Planning an RV road trip with kids? Want to keep them entertained without resorting to screen time all day? Try our ideas at ouradventuringfamily.com for keeping them occupied & happy.