Get Crafty: Make the Car More Fun for Kids

If you have kids, I hope you don't have to haul them very far in the car. But if you're like most American moms and dads, you probably do. Every. Single. Day. 

 

Maybe you're kids love to snooze in the car, or sit silently, looking out the window like little angels. But if not, read on for some crafty ideas!  

 

Seat Back Bling. If you have an infant in a backwards-facing car seat, you'll have to admit the view's not very interesting. Improve it by creating a car felt board. Attach a felt "bib" to the seat back to display fun felt shapes in ever-changing scenes. Or for a personal touch, use laminated pictures of favorite people or things. Glittery stickers on the ceiling are fun, too.

 

Faces and Places. If you've got a forward-facing kiddo old enough to manipulate objects, try adapting the felt board idea for the toddler set. Cover a lapdesk top in felt, or stock side pockets with re-stickable stickers and use the plastic top as it is. Kids love to participate in the grown-up world. Try including pics of grocery items and ask your little helper, "What do we need at the store, today?" 

 

Discovery Depot. Do you know the trick for making old toys and books new again? Put some of their stuff away for a while, then bring it out to be re-discovered. Try this in the car by placing items in seat or side pockets. Trade "car toys" out so kids constantly discover "new" titles or toy favorites. They'll learn to look into the nooks and crannies to find "car exclusives" of the week.

 

Craft Central. If you've got little artists on your hands, turn the car into a rolling craft-mo-bile. Stock interesting papers in seat pockets plus washable crayons or markers in cup holders. Try challenging your kids to create something great for whoever you're driving to see. Little extras like tape, stickers, googly eyes, foam shapes, or pipe cleaners make fun additions to drawings — and are all super quiet, too! 

 

Investing a little time and energy into making the car a more fun place for kids can really pay off. After all, the more fun the car is for them, the more fun it'll be for you, too.