How does Hilary Erickson manage family road trips without in-car entertainment?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. How can I help?

On road trips, I’ve chosen to be anti–DVD player so car time becomes imagination and family time, not just screen time. That doesn’t mean the kids aren’t entertained, though.

Here are some of the main things I do:

• 100‑mile prizes or tickets: I reset the odometer each morning and the kids get a small prize, treat, or family game every 100 miles. I’ve even made “ticket books” with miles and fun state facts that I punch as we go so they can see our progress.
• Little wrapped surprises: I hit the dollar store for tiny toys, wrap them in newspaper, and hand them out along the way. Unwrapping is half the fun.
• Simple games: ABC game (finding letters or items that start with each letter), car bingo printables, and other spotting games.
• Music for mood: I rotate music so everyone gets a turn, and I’ll put on calm music (like Enya) when I need the car to mellow out.
• Personal “car bags”: Each child (especially younger ones) gets a small bag or “car purse” with a few toys, books, or activities so I’m not throwing random toys back every 10 minutes.

Would you like ideas tailored to your kids’ ages and how long you’ll be driving?