Keeping Those Kids Entertained on Long Drives!

22 Nov Keeping Those Kids Entertained on Long Drives!

Remember going on road trips as a kid with your family? Everybody piling into the family van and driving for hours? Back then, before the age of movies in the car and smartphones and tablets, we usually spent lots of hours talking, singing, and laughing together. And, there was that inevitable question: “Are we there yet?” In the beginning, when the drive was fresh, it was exciting and we looked forward to wherever we were going and what we were planning to see and do. But, as the miles stretched on, it could start to feel like a small eternity.

It’s funny…as adults, your perspective changes a bit. Taking a day to drive with a friend or loved one and have the chance to have an extended conversation with them can sound lovely. Or, driving alone for several hours can give you the opportunity to sort through a perplexing problem, catch up on your favorite podcasts, or just listen to some favorite tunes and relax in the quiet as you make your way homeward.

But. If you’re traveling with kids and time seems to be creeping by for them, you can start to feel like you’ve gotta figure something out, and fast. On your next sightseeing trip when the troops are getting restless, let apps be your friend. There are so many to choose from, appealing to a variety of interests. We’ve spent some time reading reviews and perusing different games so you don’t have to. Next time you’re in a bind, check out a few of these games to keep the peace (and the whining at bay) during those long hours in the car.

For the adrenaline junkie, check out the popular game of Temple Run. Get chased by the chimpanzees and negotiate various obstacles as you try to stay ahead of them and escape! Or, another fun heart-racing challenge? Check out Rail Rush! Jump in your cart and speed through various locations while trying to steer clear of things in your path and gathering stones at the same time along the way.

For puzzle lovers, here are some options. Monument Valley is a newer game in the last couple of years, and requires the player to help navigate a princess through various levels. People love the game! It has many positive reviews stating that the interface is clean and beautiful, and that the game is both fun and relaxing. Snail Bob seems to be a pretty popular choice, too. The snail will just keep moving, and it is up to the player to make it possible for him to do so, filling in drops and other obstacles so that he can continue to move forward. Tesla Tubes is another fun puzzle game where you have to connect colorful tubes on a game board, and this game has several good reviews as well. For a game that starts out pretty easy and then becomes increasingly more difficult, check out CrossFingers. This game requires you to fill a space perfectly with various wood block pieces, and it gets tricky!

There are many coloring and art apps out there, but here are a couple other spins on creativity. Let’s Create Pottery lets the player create pots of various sizes and shapes. Once finished, you create different designs and “fire” the pieces. For those that love design, check out Design This Castle (like the game Design This House), creating fortresses or princess palaces from basic beginnings all the way through to lavish furnishings.

For just general fun, what about checking out the Toca games (Toca Kitchen, Toca Hair Salon, Toca Life: City and Toca Life: School, etc.)? These little apps have consistently good reviews and the players get to have their characters interact in situations that mimic real life: cut and color different hair styles in the salon, change outfits, use the lockers at school or have a fun food fight during lunch, shop at the grocery store, make food for people in the kitchen app, and on and on. There’s always the super popular Candy Crush, a game that starts out easy, but quickly becomes an addictive favorite. Match up rows of coordinating candy and work your way through various challenges in each subsequent level. It’s super fun! And another classic? Never hurts to play Tetris. (There’s a reason that some games reach “classic” status.). Another one that has consistent positive reviews and people say is addicting and fun? Check out Panda Pop, helping to free captured baby pandas and return them to their mother. Jumping Balls is a game requiring the player to navigate a bouncing ball through various hoops and avoiding obstacles all along the course. And, if you liked Cut the Rope, you’ll probably enjoy Living Legends, a game put out by the San Diego zoo for their 100th anniversary. You help feed the various animals in the park, and the graphics are adorable, too.

A few last ones? For some creative thinking, check out Inventioneers. It’s great for problem solving, as you have to choose different objects to work together to create solutions. Super fun and surprisingly difficult at times, too. Check out Risk Ranch for some agricultural learning…from raising livestock and weighing them in to managing things on your farm. And for those that like a little battle now and then, Nimble Quest has almost 3,000 reviews with an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Navigate through a course and encounter enemies along the way that need to be dealt with.

Next time you’re on the road, we’re pretty sure you can keep the impatience and wiggles away for those last few hours with these fun games. We get that you probably don’t want them plugged in for the entire drive, but when the whining and fighting ensues toward the end…rest easy. We’ve got you covered.