When we were getting ready for our two week trip in November, everyone we mentioned the flights and road trip to offered us their DVD players and iPads. And we considered it (before realizing we didn’t trust ourselves with other people’s $500+ technology).
And then we considered it as a good excuse to run out and buy an iPad.In the end, we decided against that for a couple reasons: 1) $500 is a lot of money, and B and I have talked on and off since they came out about buying an iPad and always decide that we wouldn’t use it enough to justify the purchase. 2) Our kids are relatively good in the car as it is, so even though we were talking about some long travel days, we didn’t think movies or apps were necessary yet, and we figured we could re-evaluate if the first day of driving was a disaster. 3) Even though we were talking mostly about entertaining a 29 month old, we wanted this trip to be about family togetherness, not distract the kid while we tourness. Talking to and pointing out signs, golf courses, and new cities to Thomas was one of the most fun things about our trip. 4) We really try to avoid technology and TV with our kids as a general rule for now. That’s not to say we never have the TV on or that we will do this forever – but as far as Thomas knows, my iPhone is for listening to Raffi and looking at pictures of himself (my vain little man) and the television was invented for the sole purpose of watching football and golf. And we’re good with that for now. Let me say that this was a personal decision for our family and we know it’s not a choice everyone makes, and we also know that there are television programs and apps that teach kids lots. Our little man is like a moth to flame with technology, if something is on TV or he has an iPhone in his hand, he’s addicted until we force him to move away. This combined with the fact that we know that once the kids are in school, computers and TV and all of that becomes so much more prevalent, we’ve decided that while we still get full control over our kids’ bubbles, we will limit technology.
Love this! We are flying in September and these are awesome ideas.
Planes, trains, and automobiles! Love that movie!! I love this because we also try to go movie and app free with our kiddo. She is obsessed with technology so I worry that once we head down that path there’s no turning back. Right now the iPhone is for pictures, music, and FaceTime. I will say that we have an iPad and I love it. Especially for cooking. Also, your post yesterday made me miss DC like crazy and you hit up my favorite museums. We go back every year and I could walk around DC for hours. Glad you had a good trip!
We have the same philosphy on technology for 2 year olds. One my BFF’s lets her kids sit on the couch and watch TV all day. it drives me nuts! The only way I go visit her is if it a nice day and we can all play outside.
These are some great ideas! We do tech-free traveling, though we aren’t tech-free at home (we limit to 30 minutes a day, but occasionally have family movie night). One of my favorite traveling toys is a Curious George magnet set. It has two different scenes and a ton of magnets, which I divided into three bags to extend the fun and try to limit magnets that end up on the floor of the car. Pipe cleaners have also been an unexpected hit on long road trips. I bought them for 50 cents at Target, brought them on an 8 hour trip as something small and light, and C ended up loving them. He loved twisting them and later my dad taught him to make mustaches, which he really loved. We don’t travel super often, we do at least a five-hour drive every couple of months, but I’ve found having a bag of toys that are only for trips or putting some loved things away the week before a trip makes entertaining in the car a lot easier.
I’ve heard more than one mom sing the praises of pipe cleaners, I’ll have to check them out for T!
These are really great tips. And I’m pinning this for when Henry gets a little older.
Tell me more about tech free. Do you and B avoid tv and computer when the kids are awake? Just curious. We don’t watch much tv before Henry goes to bed and usually don’t have time for the computer. My phone, however is another story.
B would never go for not having the Broncos game on every weekend, and we watch some golf on and off, but that’s really it for tv while the kids are awake. And then we watch FAR too much TV after they go to bed…maybe B and I should be more concerned about our tech addiction? And yes, the iphone is tough, sometimes I’m good about not looking at it when I’m playing with T, and other times, meh.
You are brilliant!!! brilliant!!! Some of my fondest childhood memories are of being lost in a book in the backseat.
Thanks for these ideas! I’m pinning this to refer back to. I’m likely driving 8hrs with the boys (3 and 9), but without my husband, in April. They’ll get to watch movies part of the time but these are great ideas to add to the mix. Love the magic slate – I had one too! (I live in Reunion so would gladly make the trip to visit your toy store sometime.)
The calculator trick is genius. We don’t have kids yet, but do hope to limit their access to technology. I realize at this point that may be easier said than done!