Entertainment for kids

[One78]

Hi all! Purchased a 2018 Silverado LTZ last fall and really like it so far. We're taking our first long trip in it this spring (10 hour drive) and I was wondering what others do for rear seat entertainment for kids. Some type of off the shelf DVD player? Something more creative? What y'all got to make this and future trips more bearable!?!

[Ravenkeeper]

My kids are both adults, BUT what I have done in the past is set up a laptop for them to watch movies, with the sound piped into the stereo.  I've lost count how many movies the the kids have watched and I have only heard.  When they got older, I bought a y-jack and headphones for them to listen to their movies, while I (finally) got to listen to my music.

 

They make a iPad/tablet holder that can be suspended between the front seats. 

 

Anymore, when my kids are with us on road trips, they use their phones/tablets to watch whatever or play video games.  Last road trip, my son got back into Pokemon Go, and somehow, conquered a couple gyms while we were still moving down the highway.

[YYC-SIERRA]

2 hours ago, One78 said:

Hi all! Purchased a 2018 Silverado LTZ last fall and really like it so far. We're taking our first long trip in it this spring (10 hour drive) and I was wondering what others do for rear seat entertainment for kids. Some type of off the shelf DVD player? Something more creative? What y'all got to make this and future trips more bearable!?!

 

We sold our house last April and started travelling full-time in May. We've had wheels in every country except 1.  We started in Poland with a rental car and drove over 5k miles across central/eastern europe in a continuous road trip (PL, SK, HU, HR, AT, CZ, RO) averaging 3-5 hours drive each day we changed locations. This was done over 3 months. 

 

Then we went to the middle east for 2 months (EG, UAE, SA) We didn't drive in Egypt but we drove almost the entire circumference of UAE, followed by western Saudi Arabia. The drives in Saudi were some of the longest of the year, easily 6-8 hours in one day, sometimes 10, just to get from one destination to the next, not much in between (tip: Al Ula is amazing) We drove about 35 hours in 3 weeks. Luckily the highways are excellent!

 

We've since driven from Nebraska to Guatamala over another 3 weeks. Our kids are 8 and 5. 

 

Our gameplan involves a combination of:

- Spotify kids audio stories/podcasts

- School work books and coloring/puzzles

- iPad (netflix, disney etc) in moderation

- Scavanger hunts (finding items outside like a train, cows, bridges, ambulances etc)

- rest stops at nearby playgrounds

- lots of snacks

 

So far we haven't strangled each other, although i do have more grey hair than a year ago 

 

Alex

@inclined2travel

Edited February 8, 2022 by YYC-SIERRA

[shakenfake]

Tell them to go to sleep or set up a laptop for movies.

Count cars and license plates.

[KARNUT]

My kids were glad to get out of the house. Being a business owner vacations were few. There’s plenty going on outside the window to entertain. My kids grew up without all the mind numbing constantly stimulating electronics. Books and music, card games. I’d probably be forced to have movies going with earphones today. Or threaten to turn around, my father’s favorite. 

[JimCost2014]

Teach them how to play "Slug Bug"

 

Regularly use the threat of pulling over, and "coming back there", makes a fun trip for everyone

 

Maybe put these on the front seat headrests:

 

[shakenfake]

@KARNUTBooks!?! That would make the back seat quite messy if you get what I mean

[DCazares]

We use an Ipad and download movies and shows from Netflix/Disney+ for trips since it doesn't use cellular data.  We have a headrest holder to hold it in place.