
Traveling with elementary-aged children can be a delightful adventure filled with opportunities for learning and fun. Here are some engaging activities to keep young travelers entertained and stimulated on the go:
1. Travel Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items or landmarks for your kids to find during your trip. Everything from entire buildings to architecture features to clothing accessories “native” to your travel destination are fair game in this on-going activity that will be an on-again, off-again game throughout the trip. This can turn boring waits, and long drives into exciting hunts! You can find printable templates on Scavenger Hunt Kids. {link}
2. Audiobooks and Podcasts: Keep the kids engaged with age-appropriate audiobooks or entertaining podcasts. Downloading ahead of time and ensuring your children have a device with headphones as well as connectivity to speakers in your rental car will become a good alternative to constantly having to engage your children with on-the-spot activities and allow the slower pace that your family might need. Websites like Audible, the Libby app available through your public library, and KidLit Radio offer great selections.
3. Travel Journals: Give your children a travel journal to document their adventures, sketch scenes, and jot down memories. Your children can use their journals to share the experience with their classroom, giving them the motivation to journal and find the photos they want to use. {link} {link}
PRO TIP: Communicate with their teacher in advance of the trip so the teacher can reinforce their excitement and encourage the journaling. Remember to bring something back for the teacher and their classroom. Yes, I’m biased!

4. Interactive Maps: Use interactive maps or apps, such as Google Earth, to learn about the geography of the places you visit while sparking their curiosity about the world.
5. Busy Activities for kids to get energy out while keeping their bodies still. {link} {link} {link} {link}

6. Cultural Snacks Sampling: Explore local cuisine by letting kids sample various traditional snacks or dishes, creating an exciting culinary adventure. We love a grocery store visit along our route!
7. Pre-Departure Homework: Have kids learn about sights, sounds, and adventures that they will encounter on their trip, before their trip. Load an audio book about Norse gods before a trip to Iceland. Build a paper mache volcano to prepare for a trip to Hawaii. Expose kids to the Moomin cartoon and picture books to get excited about their upcoming trip to Moomin’s home country, Finland.

8. Geocaching: Plan and search for caches along your travel route. Bring trinkets with you that reflect your home city/state/country so you can leave something behind in the cache and make sure to have a pen with you at all times. Check out Geocaching and Geocaching Basics. Also check out REI’s Geocaching with Kids
By incorporating these activities into your travel plans, you can ensure that your children remain engaged, curious, and entertained, making your journey as memorable as the destination itself!
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