Road-Trip Ready: Keeping Connection Alive on the Go

A family road trip with kids can bring so much joy—and let’s be honest, sometimes a fair amount of chaos too. Between bathroom breaks, snack requests, and the endless “Are we there yet?”, it’s easy to feel stretched thin. But what kids will remember most aren’t the meltdowns or the traffic jams — it’s the small, connected moments you create along the way.

This guide is here to help you make those moments intentional. We’ll cover road trip activities for kids, road trip essentials for kids, and some simple ways to help neurodivergent children understand travel time so the whole family feels supported. Think of it as your friend-to-friend pep talk with a few therapist-approved tricks sprinkled in to help you learn how to plan a road trip with kids.

Preparing for a Connection-Focused Road Trip

Setting Expectations Before You Go

Kids (and honestly, most of us) feel more grounded when they know what’s coming. Prepping children for the journey gives them a sense of control, which reduces stress and increases cooperation (AAP, 2022).

For little ones, draw a visual “trip timeline” in a Spiral Notebook. A house, a snack, a mountain, a hotel — suddenly the trip feels more like a story than a mystery.
For early elementary kids, make a checklist of stops they can cross off as you go.

This simple step goes a long way when you’re thinking about how to plan a road trip with kids — it sets the tone that the journey is something you’re all navigating together.

Packing Road Trip Essentials for Kids

Packing isn’t just about clothes and snacks; it’s about creating a sense of safety and connection. We always recommend building a small “connection bag” to keep within reach. Here’s what goes inside mine:

Affirmation Cards for quick emotional boosts when patience runs low
The Creatures Full of Feelings Card Game for short breaks that help kids express what they’re feeling
A favorite Slumberkins friend (sometimes a stuffed friend can offer comfort in ways we can’t)
Cozy extras like socks, water bottles, and a blanket

When you think about road trip essentials for kids, consider not just what will keep them fed and warm, but what will help them feel loved and understood.

Road Trip Activities for Kids That Build Connection

Affirmation Breaks

Affirmations are like tiny pit stops for the heart. They help kids build positive self-talk and resilience, and research shows that even short affirmations can lower stress (APA, 2022).

Every hour or so, pull out an Affirmation Card and say it together. Encourage kids to create their own, too. For example:

“I can be patient while we drive.”
“I am safe and loved, even in new places.”

These quick road trip activities for kids break up the monotony and invite everyone in the car to pause and reconnect.

A collection of Slumberkins affirmation cards against a white background

Collaborative Storytelling

Long drives are fertile ground for family storytelling. It’s fun, creative, and sneaks in a little emotional growth too — storytelling builds self-regulation and flexible thinking (Landreth, 2012).

Try this: Open a Spiral Notebook, and let one person start a story. “Once there was a dragon who hated traffic…” Then everyone adds a line or doodle to continue it.

This playful road trip idea for kids keeps the car filled with laughter and shared imagination instead of complaints.

Three Slumberkins spiral notebooks that make great road trip activities for kids

Feelings Check-Ins

Cars can amplify big feelings—boredom, frustration, excitement. Instead of trying to push those feelings away, invite them in. At rest stops, use the Creatures Full of Feelings Card Game for a mini check-in.

Ask: “Which creature feels like you right now?” Then validate: “You’re feeling frustrated that it’s taking so long — yeah, waiting is hard.”

These road trip activities for kids don’t just pass the time—they teach kids that all feelings are welcome and manageable (CASEL, 2023).

A colorful Slumberkins card game displayed in an arch against a white background

Helping Neurodivergent Kids Understand Time on the Road

For neurodivergent children, long trips can feel especially overwhelming. The concept of time may feel abstract, and without structure, the ride can feel endless. Predictability and visual supports can help kids orient themselves and lower stress (CDC, 2023).

Here are a few ideas:

Visual countdowns: Let your child color in a box or add a sticker after each segment of the trip.
Stop-by-stop rituals: Try pulling an Affirmation Card at every major stop for a sense of rhythm.
Travel sequences: Create a repeating cycle — game, snack, music, stretch — so kids can predict what’s next.

These strategies work for all kids, but they can be especially grounding for those who need extra structure to feel safe and settled.

Making the Most of the Journey

Here’s the truth: road trips won’t be perfect. There will be spills, detours, and meltdowns (yours or theirs), and that’s okay. The real magic lies in the ordinary moments — laughing at a silly billboard, whispering an affirmation before a nap, or taking a goofy family selfie at a rest stop.

Connection doesn’t come from everything going smoothly. It comes from showing up for each other, even in the messy moments.

If you’d like more simple, everyday ideas, you can explore our caregiver guide, How to Navigate Connecting With Kids, which shares ways to build connection beyond travel days.

A young girl doodles on some paper next to her Slumberkins stuffed animal, great road trip essentials for kids

Next Steps

When you pack with connection in mind, your trip transforms from just “getting through it” to truly enjoying the journey. A few Slumberkins tools—Affirmation Cards, a Spiral Notebook, the Creatures Full of Feelings Card Game—can help turn long hours in the car into heart-filling memories.

So as you think about how to plan a road trip with kids, consider creating your own “connection kit” for the car. It doesn’t need to be big or fancy—just a bag with comfort, play, and tools to remind your child (and you!) that you’re in this together.

Because road trips aren’t really about the miles you drive. They’re about the connections you nurture along the way.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). (2022). Parenting resources: Routines and transitions. https://www.aap.org
American Psychological Association (APA). (2022). The power of positive affirmations in child development. https://www.apa.org
CASEL. (2023). What is social and emotional learning (SEL)? https://casel.org/what-is-sel/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2023). Parenting children with developmental differences. https://www.cdc.gov/parents/
Landreth, G. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. Routledge.