"Are we there yet?" If you've ever driven more than forty minutes with small children in the back, you know those four words.
I'm Chloe, a primary school teacher and a mum of four, and I've done my share of long drives, delayed flights and restaurant meals where someone's melting down before the food arrives. And yes, sometimes the tablet comes out, and that's fine, no judgement here. But it's not always the answer I want, especially for the whole journey. So over the years I've worked out what actually keeps a child happily occupied on the move, without a screen. Here's what's in my bag.
Why bother going screen-free on a journey?
Screens are the easy option, and there's a time and place. But they come with downsides on a journey. Travel sickness for some kids when they look down at a screen in a moving car, tired and grumpy by the end, and that lovely battle when it's time to switch it off. Screen-free bits and bobs sidestep all that. They keep little minds genuinely engaged, and, funnily enough, often calm a child more than a frantic cartoon does.
The whole secret is having the right things ready before you set off. A bored child with nothing to do is a recipe for "are we there yet". A child with something brilliant in their lap is a different journey entirely.
What actually makes a good travel activity?
I'm fussy about this, because I've learned the hard way. For a journey, a thing needs to be:
Not messy, with nothing to lose. No loose pieces that vanish forever the moment you hit the motorway. Velcro keeps the pieces safely on the pages.
Reusable. So it lasts the whole journey there, and the journey home, when everyone's tired and fractious.
Doable on their own. You're driving (or trying to relax). It needs to keep them busy without you running a craft session over your shoulder.
Small enough to actually pack. If it won't fit in the bag, it's not coming.
This is honestly why I designed a busy book specifically for travelling, because nothing on the shelf ticked all four boxes.
What I pack
A travel busy book. Our Out & About Busy Book is made for exactly this. Reusable activity pages with removable velcro pieces, designed to keep children aged 1 to 8 busy in the car, on a plane, or at a restaurant. No mess, nothing to spill, and they can do it over and over.
Flashcards. Compact, and brilliant for journey games. Spotting, naming, silly little quizzes. They take up no room.
Good old I-spy and number-plate games. Free, classic, and perfect for the stretches between activities.
A little reward chart for the trip. A fun way to encourage calm travelling. A star for good waiting works wonders on a long haul.
Audiobooks and stories. Screen-free listening for the long, quiet motorway stretches when everyone's flagging.
Why ours survive the journey
Here's the practical bit. Our travel-friendly things are professionally printed, gloss film laminated, and built with removable velcro pieces, so there are no flimsy pages to tear, nothing to spill, and a child can do the activities again and again for the whole trip. They're UKCA tested for safety, designed by me (a real teacher), and durable enough to be stuffed in a bag, used daily on holiday, and brought out again for every trip after. Including for the next child down the line.
A quick note on age: the Out & About Busy Book suits ages 1 to 8 as a guide, but children vary. An older one who enjoys it, or a younger one who's ready, will get just as much from it. Go with your child.
A well-packed bag genuinely transforms a journey. Fewer "are we there yets", happier children, and a calmer drive for you. Pack a busy book and a few flashcards, and you're set for the summer travels, wherever you're off to.