How to go “tech” free… A few months ago we decided to take a road trip across 8 States. Not only was it a great way to see the country we had moved to, but it was also a great way to unplug from our daily responsibilities and spend some time together as a family. (Something we had not done in a while)
We decided to go “tech” free. I know right?! Who does that in the 21 century!! In the end, we had a fantastic time!
Here’s how we kept our children entertained!
Tech-Free Road Trip Hacks
Roadside Visits
Before setting out on your trip, investigate the areas that you will be travelling through. Look up interesting and educational spots to stop. Museums, monuments, amusement parks and quaint little shops. It’s a great way to stretch those legs and get rid of any excess energy caused by being stuck in a car for hours.
Object Spotting
Whilst driving encourage your children to count cars, give them colours, shapes and types to help get them started. You could also spot birds and animals. Let’s not forget about the oldest game in the book. I SPY.
Snacks
Use snacks to break the monotony of the trip, pack healthy treats that won’t get the sugar soaring!
CD stories and Songs
This is a great boredom buster and it might just give you a few moments of quiet.
Activity Books
I usually print out a few colouring in pictures, word searches, dot to dot’s etc and put these onto a clipboard. When tensions rise, I whip them out.
Toy Bags
Get your children to pack a few of their favourite toys into a little bag. Every now and then take out one or two. Keeping the rest for another sanity-saving moment.
Educational Games
Use counting, shapes and colours to get your children thinking actively. Count in 2’s,3’s,5’s or test your child’s multiplication or general knowledge.
I hope you find these ideas helpful!
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Really good ideas here…. I’ve been tempted in the past to go tech free on a long drive but never been brave enough… maybe I will now! #ablogginggoodtime
It’s great fun! But I won’t lie, it can be exhausting! Thanks for reading! x
Love this infographic. :) Thanks for sharing. #KCACOLS
You’re most welcome. Thank you! x
Great Ideas, I like the non sugary snacks, there has been so many sweets around during christmas that I cant wait until we get back to normal. It’s also good to see the audio books on there and having a really good time enjoying them. Such a smart infographic.
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
Mainy
We just love audio C.D.’s, our kids are forever singing along or listening to stories. Life savers of note! Thanks for reading! x
Really great ideas. Will steal these if we go on a road trip!
#BigPinkLink
Thanks for stopping by! x
Great ideas, we love an activity book and they make great holiday ones in Holland. Santa put one in the boys Xmas eve box too. Thanks for linking to #eatsleepblogRT
I’m sure they loved their activity book! Nothing beats that on a road trip! x
I need to pin this for later since we are doing a two and a half week road trip this summer!
#anythinggoes
Wow, that’s a long trip! Good luck! Our kids did get edgy at times, our youngest even got the stomach flu. It wasn’t all fun and games :) Hope you have a wonderful time away! x
we’ve never brought out tech on road trip, but to be fair have also never gone farther than three hours. We just do lots of singing and I Spy! #anythinggoes
I spy is the bomb!!! :) Thanks for stopping by!
I spend far too much money on colouring books. I really need to star printing out my own pictures for her! I love this idea, not sure if I would be brave enough to go tech free just yet. I have only just passed my test and need as much silence as possible to try and concentrate! #FortheloveofBLOG
Oh I can imagine! :) Especially when they only colour in half a page and chuck it in the bin!!! Congrats on passing your test! Silence sure is golden ! Thanks for stopping by!
This is so great. I remember some great road trips with my parents when I was a kid – playing some fun games, listening to amazing stories like Roald Dahl and singing all together as a family. We shouldn’t let technology cloud our kids’ childhood. I applaud you. #fortheloveofBLOG
LOVE Roald Dahl!! Thank you for your kind comment! x
What a fab infographic! We don’t travel far from home at the moment, but I love the healthy snacks idea, something to keep them going without the sugar spike and inevitable tetchiness that follows. I’m hoping to travel a few hours in the car to visit family in the summer so this will be helpful then thanks! What 8 states did you see & what did you do? #KCACOLS
Thank you! We visited Illinoi, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana and Ohio. Mainly visiting historical sights and enjoying the outdoors! It was a great trip! Thanks for your comment!
Such great ideas. I am all for anything that does not involve a screen!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Thank you! x
Brilliant tips. I’m very jealous of your road trip, sounds amazing!
#Bigpinklink
It was great fun! Albeit exhausting! Nothing like your own bed :) Thanks for stopping by!
Object spotting is one that we do too! Simple yet effective, although it does get quite tedious after a while! Thanks for linking up to #ThatFridayLinky
My kids loved spotting all the bridges. Chatting about how different they all looked. But yes, it did get a bit tedious! x Thanks for stopping by!
These look great ideas. It’s too easy to rely on phones and tablets these days. After all, this was the kind of thing we had to do ‘back in our day!!’ :) #anythinggoes
And we survived didn’t we! The best was seeing their excitement at the things they got to see! Thanks for your comment.
Loving the idea list and the infographic layout -makes a refreshing change to read something so aesthetically pleasing :-) Cracking work!
Thanks for sharing with #coolmumclub x
Thank you for the lovely comment! X
Great tips – it never hurts to have a few tech free hours (I say this but I never actually do it haha)
Thanks for linking up to #AnythingGoes :)
Debbie
As bloggers we should know hey! haha! Thanks Debbie! x
Wow well done on going tech free, I’m impressed. This is definitely needed in today’s environment where technology is everywhere. I’m intrigued to find out how you managed it? Well we must have all managed without it many years ago, and instead enjoyed family time together playing all the games that are in your list. I used to look eye spy on long car journeys when I was younger. Thanks for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
Thanks Claire! I just made sure we alternated the games often! We also made sure we stopped to see the sights at least 4 time a day! There were times when I didn’t know if we’d make it, but somehow we did :)
Fab ideas!! Will definitely be trying a few of these on our next long journey. Thank you for sharing with #bigpinklink x
Thank you! You are welcome!
These are good reads – we also use sticker books as my daughter loves those. She’s 2 now and we have to do 3-4 hour trips to my parents. We’ve got by so far without the iipad and i want to continue for as long as possible so as she gets older i’ll def try some of your other suggestions. #bigpinklink
Sticker books are a win!
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