Family Travel Tips: How to keep the kids entertained while on the move

As parents we all know how hard it is to keep children entertained on holidays.

You’ve found the perfect family-friendly accommodation, got your family travel insurance, packed for everyone and everything the kids could possibly fit into a bag is groaning at the seams, but there’s always a moment where one pipes up ‘I’m bored.’

Here’s our top 8 tips to keep them entertained while you’re on holiday:

1) I-Spy books are a great way to keep kids entertained if you’re travelling for long distances in the car or on a train. You can also play the classic I Spy game ("I spy with my little eye, something beginning with _____/ the colour of _____").


2) Audiobooks are great and easier to pack than a pile of kids’ books. Load up your iPod or tablet with all the favourites. There are many great free books available online here

3) Make your own ‘busy kit’ filled with paper, markers, stickers, quiet toys, puzzles and other little bits and bobs.

4) Create your own family story. Bring a stapled stack of paper with you and some crayons and write a bit of the story each. If your children are too young to write, get them to draw illustrations or make a comic book.

5) Bring some family-friendly films to watch and follow up with a quiz to make sure the kids concentrate. Ask them the questions once it’s over and provide a small prize for the winner.

6) Bring a Nintendo DS/ iPad. It may not be the most creative but there’s some great educational games on the DS and for iPad/iPhone that will keep your kids entertained. Also, most children’s TV shows have their own Apps and they’re usually really easy to use for kids from 18 months old.

7) Getting desperate? Try a bribery game! Mum or Dad sets a time limit (don’t make it too long) for how long we are going to keep quiet. Everyone who manages to go the whole time gets a reward. Use sparingly for maximum effectiveness.


8) Buy some disposable cameras and get the kids to take their own pictures while travelling to put in a journey scrapbook once you get back.


At Allianz Global Assistance, it’s our mission to help you on your journey and make it as stress-free as possible. Whether you’re looking for the best family holiday insurance or special cover for golf related travel, we’ve got the right insurance cover for you.

Do you have any other family travel tips to add to our list?