In the car with kids

• 3828

  2009-10-26 04:26:19 UTC

  Learner Drivers

  When travelling in the car with my girls 3 and 4yrs, whether it be 5 minutes or 2 hours, I have a collection of educational sing a long cd's from which they choose one to play. They vary from ABC songs, number/math songs to learning their phonics through music. I am preparing them for a great start in kindy and they don't even know it. This makes for a very pleasurable trip and the whole family sing along.

  - Tracey (Mum of 2), Miranda
  Give it a Star* 5

• 3807

  2009-09-24 02:50:16 UTC

  Road Readers

  My daughter gets agitated quickly in the car, which can be particularly difficult to deal with! The best way to curb the complaining early is to let her select her favourite books before leaving the house, and put them in her bag. That way she has new entertainment every time we go somewhere!

  - Annika (Mum of 1), Fountain Gate
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3795

  2009-08-21 10:41:55 UTC

  On the road

  Let the kids pack a bag or basket each. I will put out a few suggestions eg. books, favourite figurines, colouring. I have a healthy snack shelf the kids can help themselves to as well. When all else fails we sing some silly songs or play eye-spy (using colours, not letters). This suits all ages! I spy with my little eye something that is blue - the sky!

  - Wendy (Mum of 4), Fountain Gate
  Give it a Star* 2

• 3779

  2009-07-22 09:52:03 UTC

  Story Time

  Since my children were young enough to make up stories, we play '3 things'. We play this in the car, in bed...anywhere really. Taking it in turns, one person picks 3 things eg. a car, a lollypop, grass... the other player must try and put these 3 obscure things into a story (obscure because we want to streeeeetch their imagination). Once upon a time, driving along in mummy's CAR, she surprised me at the lights with a LOLLYPOP! I opened it and we arrived home, when I hopped out, I dropped it on the GRASS! The End. Then you swap turns, these stories can be very funny! Try this one 1. Shrek 2. Spiderman and 3. a fork!

  - BJ (Mum of 2), Hillarys
  Give it a Star* 6

• 3776

  2009-07-16 00:00:44 UTC

  Little Navigators

  In the car, I always ask my 6 year old to read signs for me, or anything in writing that's passing by on trucks or buses. It keeps him busy as well as learning at the same time.

  - Sonia (Mum of ), Burwood
  Give it a Star* 4

• 3752

  2009-06-03 06:19:14 UTC

  Storytelling Competitions

  To engage the children, and therefore stop the fights and raucous, we make up stories. Each time we get in the car it is someone's turn to tell a story. At the end of the day or week, we vote on the best, and someone wins a treat, eg a lolly pop or a special dessert. My kids love it!

  - Jessica (Mum of 2), Cannington
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3751

  2009-05-26 01:34:40 UTC

  Car spotting

  When our 3 1/2 year old (then only 2) started learning his colours, we would often play spot the yellow (or whichever colour) car. Often when I thought he had moved on to something else, I would hear him say "there's one"! A great game that we're now teaching our 18 month old.

  - Tanya (Mum of ), Carindale
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3749

  2009-05-21 07:07:48 UTC

  Choosing car songs

  My daughter Lara is almost 3. We both love music and take turns to pick songs. When her song is finished, she always says 'it's your turn Mummy!' Apart from being a valuable lesson in sharing, it makes travelling lots of fun. We're always dancing and singing to all sorts of music. It might be Justine Clarke, Wiggles,Kylie Minougue or Kasey Chambers! It teaches her new words everyday, stops tantrums and gives us all a great amount of joy!

  - Sally (Mum of 2), Chatswood
  Give it a Star* 3

• 3732

  2009-04-13 05:52:32 UTC
  My daughter loved an alphabet song which she was learning at school, so I purchased the CD from a shop. My kids absolutely love the song especially travelling in the car, they always tell me to repeat it. My youngest is 3 and has learnt so much from the ABC Song. Whilst in the car he watches his eldest sister do the actions, and copies her. It's a great way to keep them occupied as well as they are using their sound skills. Are we there yet? Is no longer heard!

  - Chris (Mum of 2), Penrith
  Give it a Star* 2

• 3713

  2009-03-12 01:06:33 UTC
  I am a mother of a soon to be ten year old who is always very active so I always have some sort of ball in the car so that on long trips we can stop and play with the ball. We also have a range of CD's in the car but on really long trips we take the DVD player.

  - Dominique (Mum of 1), Cannington
  Give it a Star* 3