3 Easy Activities to Keep Your Toddler Occupied in the Car

What’s inside this article: A few simple toddler activities that you can use to keep them entertained while in the car.

As a mom, I know it can easily become a distraction when you’re driving if your toddler is crying, yelling, kicking your seat, or non-stop talking from the back seat when you’re trying to focus on the road.

Whether your little one is always fussy in the car, or you’re planning for an upcoming road trip, these activities ideas will help keep your toddler occupied and happy while they’re in the car.

Magnetic Road Way

This activity is easy to set up and is a fun way for your toddler to play with magnets. 

You will need:

• Adhesive magnets
• Toy cars
• Large cookie sheet
• Masking tape

How to play:

1. Attach magnets to the bottom of the small cars.
2. Using the masking tape, create pretend roadways on the cookie tray
3. Let your child use the magnetized cars to drive along the cookie tray roadway

If your little one isn’t into toy cars, you can also use magnetic letters, numbers, shapes, and objects to hold their attention.

There is also a variety of affordable magnetic playboards and puzzles on Amazon.

Yarn Squiggles

This activity is simple and great for the car, as long as you don’t mind picking up some yarn pieces after the drive. Your little one will be fascinated by how the yarn sticks.

What you need:

• Sheet of poster board or card board
• Large sheet of sand paper (big enough to cover the poster board)
• Glue
• Variety of yarn pieces

How to Play:

1. Glue the sheet of sand paper onto the poster board so your child has a solid play surface to use in the car.
2. Fill a paper or zip lock bag with a variety of yarn pieces. Use different colors, lengths, and textures of yarn for added fun and sensory experience.
3. Have your toddler arrange the yarn on the sand paper. The yard will stick all on its own, and can be pulled off and repositioned however your child likes.

I Spy Jar

A simple I Spy jar, made with rice and small household items, will keep your little one’s curious mind busy in the car as they shake the jar to find the hidden objects.

What You Need:

• Mason jar
• Uncooked rice
• Small household items

How to Play:

1. Find small household items to hide inside the I Spy jar – Examples include: coins, bobby pin, small toy figurines, pompoms, googly eyes, buttons, sea shells, charms from jewlery, etc.
2. Fill the mason jar with rice and items. Ensure the lid is secured tightly because small objects could pose a choking hazards.
3. Let your child shake the jar to uncover the items hidden inside.

If you wish, you can dye the rice different colors as well. Read: how to dye rice for sensory play.

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