5 Smart Ways to Keep Your Kids Entertained in the Car Without a Tablet

Car rides without tablets: possible, peaceful, and even fun

If you're a parent of school-aged kids, you probably know the feeling: you're ten minutes into a long drive, and the requests for screen time start pouring in. Maybe you're trying to scale back on tablets, or maybe you've read about what screens can do to developing brains. Either way, finding ways to occupy kids without relying on devices can feel downright impossible—especially when you're also navigating traffic, GPS directions, and snack crises.

But here's the good news: children aren’t naturally dependent on screens. They’re curious, imaginative, and wired to engage with the world. With a little preparation and a few creative tools, the car can become a space for connection, calm, and even laughter. Here's how.

1. Turn the car into a moving story circle

Storytelling taps into something ancient and magnetic. Kids don’t need visuals flashing in their faces when a well-told tale can fuel their imagination just as vividly—and often more soothingly. Audiobooks or audio adventures are a fantastic screen-free solution, especially if you have children with learning differences who may struggle to read independently.

Apps like LISN Kids offer original audio stories and series designed specifically for children ages 3 to 12. Whether you’re navigating suburban roads or winding highways, turning on an engaging audiobook transforms the ride into a cozy, shared experience. The app is available on iOS and Android.

2. Try car-only conversation games

Sometimes, the best way to pass time (and stave off arguments) is through focused interaction. Car-only games can become a road trip ritual your kids grow to love. Think beyond “I Spy” and try games that spark thought or humor:

• Would You Rather: Silly or thoughtful dilemmas tailored to their age can keep them engaged for miles.
• Category Battle: Pick a category (like animals, countries, foods) and go back and forth naming items until someone runs out.
• Yes or No Game: Pick a topic and ask them questions—your child has to answer without saying yes or no.

These types of games foster language, flexible thinking, and even emotional regulation—all without pulling out a screen.

3. Embrace the power of creativity packs

Preparation is everything. A small box or pouch filled with screen-free activities can be a car game changer. Think tactile and varied:

• Mini magnetic games like word builders or tangrams
• Coloring books or sticker pads on a clipboard
• Dry-erase boards for doodling or word challenges

Keep these kits special—used only for road trips or long drives—so they maintain their novelty. If your child struggles with attention difficulties or transitions, preview the contents together ahead of time to build excitement and a sense of predictability.

4. Let them lead a mindful moment

Car rides, especially after school, can be a much-needed opportunity for mental rest. Instead of racing to fill every moment, you might introduce a new tradition: the quiet two-minute check-in. Let your child lead by asking: "How are you today—from 1 to 5? What do you need right now?"

This encourages reflection and regulation—skills that kids often need help practicing without screens around. And if you’re noticing screen reliance creeping into your daily routines, you might find helpful tips in our article on what to do when your 8-year-old is addicted to the tablet.

5. Create a family podcast

This might sound ambitious, but it’s not. Give your child a prompt—like “three things I saw today that made me curious”—and record their response with your phone (voice recorder only, not screen). You can record siblings interviewing each other, storytelling contests, or day-in-the-life diaries.

It's not for sharing with the world, but for building a family memory bank. Listening to their own voices later can boost confidence and spark connection. And if you're trying to build more screen-free traditions, this one travels just as well in backpacks as it does in backseats. For more analog inspiration, head to our list of quiet screen-free activities that work.

Helping kids learn to wait—and wonder

Screen use isn't inherently bad. But when it becomes the default, we lose out on the quieter opportunities for boredom, creativity, and relationship-building that are so important to a growing child. In car rides, of all places, it's tempting to hand over the digital pacifier. But it’s also a chance to introduce practices that nourish patience, curiosity, and focus.

If you're worried about screens interrupting your child's sleep or attention span, you’re not alone. Check out this guide on how screens affect children’s sleep, or explore some educational alternatives to screens for long car rides and beyond.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about possibility—the possibility that your next journey together might bring more laughs, more listening, and a lot less scrolling.