Before we can address the traveler’s boredom, we must GET COMFY first!

#1 Be sure to wear comfy clothing for

travel !

The night before a big trip, I like to have my kids sleep in comfy casual outfits. Example would be a T-shirt & cotton pants for my son and a one piece cotton dress for my little girl.

These clothing options hardly wrinkle and are comfortable enough to sleep in, yet still presentable for stops and arrival!

Having kids sleep in their travel clothes the night before means they are “almost ready” when they wake up.

This gives my children a little more

Zzzzz’s and me a few extra minutes to finish up those last minute task.

#2 Bring along blankets & pillows

– I love this 2-1 travel pillow from Walmart! It is great for snoozing or to just to rest your neck on long trips. http://www.walmart.com/ip/American-Tourister-2-in1-Convertible-Travel-Pillow-Hawaiian-Blue/326626491

Any pillow will work though! If you’re already packing pillows for the trip, just keep them by you instead of taking up space in the back.

-Blankets are great for naps, but they are also a comfort source for the cold natured!

If you’re super cold natured they even make a heated car blanket.

(A great gift idea!) ❤️

– I always keep these cheap -$3 blankets from Walmart in the back for my kids.

They are soft, thin and roll up very small. They are big enough for adults use too!

#3 Bring sunglasses!

There’s nothing worse then driving directly into the sun while it shines just below your visor.

For this very reason, we try to always keep sunglasses in the car.

For the little ones, these retractable sun shades have worked wonders.

I can raise them for a better view by just the push of a button.

I typically leave them about half pulled, wich shades most sunlight and still gives them a great view outside.

If you don’t have shades for the back, bringing along the kids little hats works to!

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ON TO THE BOREDOM BUSTERS

#1 Incorporate Fun Education

The car is a great place to practice flash-cards, learn new songs, memorize memory verses , or even make use of some fun work books, activities such as these exercises their little brains and keeps them occupied. (Win-Win!)

Due to our frequent travels, I use car time as a way to control how much screen time my children have.

In other words, tablets, in our home, are mostly car toys.

During this free screen time, I like to take advantage of educational learning apps like these. ……… (available for Apple & Adroid and usable w/out internet!)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/balloon-pop-baby-game-abc-0-9/id1498726683

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/abc-kids-tracing-phonics/id1112482869

A couple tablet/ electronic tips would be to ..

A.-Bring earbuds for each child

We don’t use these all the time but they are nice to have on hand when needed.

Dollar tree has these that wrap around sports ear buds (great for little ears) for only $1 as of 4/2021.

B.-Download a brand new app and have it “pre-screened” and ready for the long trip.

A good new game can occupy a child for a very long time!

I am currently useing this concept with this bible app a friend told me about.

I am downloading a couple new bible stories each trip for him to listen to and explore.

So far, this app is great. It reads the Bible story, then allows the child to interact and play on the stories page. It really catches the attention of my 3 year old, and does not require internet to play . (Although You will need internet to initially download each separate story.)

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bible-app-for-kids/id668692393

#2 Connect With Family & Friends

Use travel time to make group calls to distant living family & friends.

I love doing family face time or audio calls while in the car.

We can make a call to “Nana or

“Ma-maw”, put it on speaker phone and have a nice group chat without having to corall everyone or chase the kids!

#3 Enjoy Time Together

Life in the 21st century has a way of keeping us so busy and running in every direction.

Take advantage of ‘travel time’ as a way to spend time with each other .

Play car games such as “the letter game”, teach the kids a new song, tell stories and jokes , or simply talk & interact.

Sometimes we get so caught up in keeping up with the outside world we loose touch with those closest to us.

You can live in the same house and never really be together.

#4 Remember The Radio

Lastly, our all time family favorite would have to be to put away the screens and listen to that old fashioned radio!!!

*Image credit: Erik Mclean

Singing

My favorite gospel radio station is the holinessvoicesradio.org

And for more kids style songs,

https://radio.keysforkids.org/ has a live streaming radio that continuously plays gospel kids music and stories.

(The kids love to sing along in their toy microphones.)

As you will notice in my list below, they also offer a weekly show reel with one weekly episode from several different programs.

Preaching & God’s word

http://holiness-preaching.org/audio/MP3/ is a wonderful outlet for good preaching and truth from God’s word!

You can dig out some of those old CDs to bring along to.

The Gidian bible app is my all time favorite way to listen to bible audio.

I like to use bible listening as an additional way to take in God’s word in. And the DRAMATIZED option the app offers is amazing! I’ve even noticed things I never noticed before while listening

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gideon-bible-app/id1000709020

And don’t forget the …. STORIES!

I have compiled a list of my family’s absolute favorite audio series.

These audio dramas range from all age recommendations and are not limited to car rides only.

I hope you find a new “story collection” in this list to try out in your home!

1.Adventures In Oddysay

(club subscription available!)

https://www.adventuresinodyssey.com/listen/

Also played once a week on

https://radio.keysforkids.org/

2.Jungle Jam

Available free here @ specific brocade time

https://tunein.com/radio/Jungle-Jam–Friends-p34835/

You can also check what stations plays episodes in your state here ..

https://fancymonkey.com/?Pg=203

3.Down Gilead Lane

A free episode every week on

https://radio.keysforkids.org/

4.Jonathan Park

(Unlimited Club subscription available

currently only $9.99 a mo)

https://www.jonathanpark.com/pages/subscribe

5.Lamp Lighter Mysteries

(Several club subscription options

available) & free episodes!

https://lamplighter.net/c/audioclub/

6.Paws and Tales

Free episodes!

https://pawsandtales.org/

Also played once a week on

https://radio.keysforkids.org/

7.Red Rock Mysteries

These are former books turned into audio, https://radio.keysforkids.org/ plays one

free episode a week.

8.Mr. Henry

Audio episodes available for purchase here $6.99 each as of (5/2021)

https://www.chirpbooks.com/series/Mr%252E-Henry%2527s-Wild-%2526-Wacky-Bible-Stories-audiobooks

9.Your Story Hour

Free episodes!

https://www.yourstoryhour.org/listen-for-free

10.The Pond

Played once a week @

https://radio.keysforkids.org/

Also available for purchase for $1.49 per story download @

https://lifeatthepond.com/collections/audio as of 5/2021

11.Unshackled (free app download!

Lots of dramatized testimonies

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/unshackled/id1448074396

12.Father Gilbert

I have not been able to find these available to listen for free, if you have please leave in comments below!

They are here available for purchase.

https://www.amazon.com/Father-Gilbert-Mysteries-Collectors-Theatre/dp/1589976541

Please note, father Gilbert stories are spiritual based but can be very intense . The CDs says recommended for ages 8+. They are a little pricey but If you love a good intense story line these are for you!

There are also many single stories albums out there that are really good! Check out these titles if you haven’t already.

13.Silas Marnier

14.Pilgrims Progress

15.Little Woman

16.Anne Of Greene Gables

17.The Legend Of Squanto

18.The Secret Garden

19.A Christmas Carol 20. Narnia

All of these (with the exception of the last two), are produced by focus on the family theater and can be purchased here along with many others ..

https://store.focusonthefamily.com/radio-theatre-for-kids/

If you’re a member of Apple Music or tunealin some of these stories and others like them can be found there. Just search your favorite story title and see what comes up!

Did you know many local library’s have a online program where you can rent audio books online right from your phone!

21.War Room

22.Courageous

These two audio books are popular and are available for sale in many places. But for money saving purposes you can sign up for 30 day free with audible (link below) and get 2 free book downloads! Just don’t forget to unsubscribe at the end of your free trial period!

https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/war-room-prayer-is-a-powerful-weapon/239650

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Just in case you need a few more grown up ideas to bust that boredom.. I’ve got you covered!

Here’s a few of my favorite time occupiers . (Besides story time ????)

1. Catch up on mobile banking or finances

2. Do some mobile gift shopping for upcoming holidays or birthdays.

3. Take it easy & sight see

4. Do something you enjoy like knitting, photo editing, or blogging ????

5. Plan your next hosted holiday / event

6. Bring an old fashioned word

puzzle/book or download a free app version to save $ and space.

7. Catch up socially

8. Listen to your own personal audio book

via earbuds

9. bring a magazine or book you haven’t

found time to read

10. Take a nap without guilt! ???? there’s no housework available on a trip.

If your still board, then go back and try some of the more kid & family friendly options I mentioned first.

(Those were my best tips anyways ????. )

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What stories do you love that I didn’t mention? Please mention in the comments below so we can all try them too!

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God bless,

– A Simpler Life –