Part of our continuing series: Traveling With Kids
We recently added a new tool to our traveling arsenal when heading out on a long trip- a computer tablet!
We were gifted a used tablet and have found that by relaxing our stance on electronics in the car, we have a new item to help make the trips go smoother. We loaded the tablet with games and some movies that meet our criteria for educational value and non-violence. We find our Bluey really appreciates this new part of the traveling repertoire.
Now part of the lead up to a longer adventure includes the possibility of a new game to try out, so our kiddo is even more excited about the road trip.
We have created a few rules about the tablet, so that it doesn’t overtake our usual traveling experience:
1. The tablet never comes along on shorter trips, so we can continue to build our appreciation of experiencing rides together.
2. We have an understanding that when TRMom or TRDad say the tablet must be set aside for a time, there are no arguments. This allows our kiddo to get back to his other car activities that stimulate other parts of his mind: looking out the window, playing with Legos, drawing, singing and interacting with the rest of the family.
3. No headphones! We don’t want our kiddo retreating from the trip entirely, so we insist on no headphones. We’d rather tolerate a few quiet blips in the background and be able to talk with Bluey as we like, than have him checked out completely.
We find our longer jaunts highly enjoyable since this piece of tech has joined our family. Our kiddo looks forward to each new adventure. And he continues to be just as likely to spend a half hour during the trip playing with his stuffies, or fiddling with a Rubik’s Cube, as opposed to exploring on his tablet.