How to Survive Your Next Road Trip With Kids

If you’ve ever been on a road trip with kids, you know it can sometimes be a little … chaotic. 

There’s boredom. There’s whining. And constantly being asked, “Are we there yet?” is enough to drive you crazy. 

But long car rides don’t have to be a source of misery. In fact, I’ve found ways to connect with my daughter, encourage a love of learning, and have fun on our road trips.

And that’s why I wrote this post. So keep reading to learn how I tackle a road trip with my preschooler!

Essentials for Your Road Trip with Kids

As the mom of a busy 4-year-old, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to road trip with kids.

And the longer the trip, the more car activities I like to have handy. Here are just a few ideas:

What is Story Coins?

Story Coins is a writing game with endless possibilities. I designed the game to help elementary-aged students get their creative juices flowing and instill a love of writing and storytelling. 

And no – the game doesn’t require pencil and paper – just a kid ready to get creative! 

Each coin has a simple image or symbol your child will use to tell their unique stories. There are images for creating characters, actions, events, and settings. 

These are a great way to connect with your child anytime, especially on a long car ride. Read the Story Coins FAQs here.

Additional Benefits of Story Coins

They Can Help Prevent the Summer Slide:

The Summer Slide is a term my fellow teachers and I use to explain the dips in student learning over an extended break. 

Story Coins can spark creativity, build vocabulary, develop writing stamina, and more. And since it’s a game, it won’t feel like “learning,” making it perfect for summer enrichment. 

Check out my summer-themed story coins here! 

They Offer a Fun Alternative To Screens:

As an educator and mom, I’m a fan of screen time and strive for balance regarding how my daughter uses it.

The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that children ages 2-5 get no more than 1 hour of non-educational screen time per weekday (3 hours on weekends). “For ages 6 and older, encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens,” the AACP says. 

It also advises parents to turn off all screens during family meals and outings and 30-60 minutes before bed.

Story Coins offer an excellent, screen-free way to connect with your child.

But how can you use Story Coins on the next road trip with your kids? 

Story Coins Game #1: The Group Story

This is the OG Story Coins game, and it’s super simple.

The first player will pull a coin from the bag and use the image to write (or verbally tell) the beginning of a story. 

The next players will do the same, adding to the first player’s original idea each time they pull a new coin. 

Keep going until the story is complete (or until you run out of coins)! 

Parent tip: As the story develops, make a note of the characters, setting, plot, and other parts of a story; this will help build their literacy and writing skills.

Story Coins Game #2: Where Are We?

This is one of my favorite games because it can help your child use their surroundings to get creative! 

Here’s how it works: have your child grab a coin out of the bag and tell a story using whatever environment you’re in.

For example, if you’re driving through the mountains and your child draws a seahorse, she’ll have to come up with a story about that seahorse in the mountains! 

This is a great way to develop problem-solving skills and creativity. 

Parent tip: Try not to over-correct or influence your child’s story. Remember: it’s their story and their developing voice – no matter how fantastical, improbable, or downright wacky it might be.  

Story Coins Game #3: Questions Only

Fans of the 90s TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” might be familiar with this improv game where the comedians could only speak in questions. The first person to get stumped or not ask a question lost. 

Here’s a quick example.

To play, have your child draw a coin from the bag to inspire a question. Then, the next player’s response must be in the form of a question related to the coin the first player drew. 

This is an excellent game because elementary-aged students typically struggle with how to form questions, which is a crucial component of reading comprehension. 

Parent tip: This game is challenging, especially for K through 2nd graders, so limit the number of questions per round. 

Let’s Wrap It Up! 

Your next road trip doesn’t have to be miserable! Remember to pack:

You can find my summer-themed Story Coins set here and the entire stock of Story Coin sets here.

Want more literacy tips? Follow me on Instagram!

Happy road-tripping!