Are We There Yet? What Parents Should Know About In-Car Entertainment

In 2015, 70% of British families have been on or are planning a staycation break here in the UK, instead of going abroad, according to research findings from the 2015 Travelodge Holiday Index. And the trend is similar all over the world. If you’re going on ‘staycation’ then chances are you’ll be travelling by car. But as any parent will know, like oil and water, long car journeys plus children just don’t mix! So what can parents do to keep the little ones entertained on your next road trip?

Back in the day, in-car entertainment on long journeys was seen as an opportunity for family bonding; chatting, playing eye spy and counting how many red cars you could see. But for most families, the reality is very different! With naturally shorter attention spans, traditional games just don’t keep today’s tech-savvy kids entertained for very long anymore.

The good news is, in today’s technology age, there’s no need for kids to be fed up in the car because we’re fortunate to be able to keep them happy and entertained with a range of different audio and visual methods. Depending on your child’s age, there are lots of things to choose from - here are some of our recommendations:

• Bring the cinema into your car

Great for toddlers, juniors and teenagers

Even if your car doesn't have a built-in entertainment system, you can still add high-quality video entertainment to your vehicle. One option is to use your existing iPad or Android tablet and a tablet mount that attaches a tablet to the back of a front-seat headrest. The downside to using your tablet is the touchscreen interface can be tricky to reach on the road, especially for toddlers.

Alternatively, if you want a more TV-like experience with more entertainment options, you can swap out your car's headrests for a DVD headrest system with built-in LCD monitors at the back of the head rest. There are lots of different sizes, colours and options available, meaning choosing a headrest DVD player can be complex; so to help we’ve put together the Ultimate Guide to Headrest DVD Players which you can download for free.

One obvious advantage of built-in DVD headrest systems for car journeys is that the viewers (your kids) are a captive audience with nothing else to distract them - so they’re more likely to be willing and able to watch a movie for longer than they would at home! If you’re like the thousands of other families planning to stay in the UK for your holidays throughout the year then a DVD headrest system is a worthwhile investment, as it can be used to keep the kids happy and boredom-free all year round.

• Treats, games and snacks

Great for all ages, ideal for under fives

Keep kids fed and hydrated by taking plenty of snacks and drinks, and make sure you make regular rest stops for toilet breaks, nappy changes and stretching (or wiggling) the legs.

For added fun-factor, why not make it a truly cinematic experience with the novelty of cinema-style snacks such as flavoured popcorn and pick-n-mix sweets? Nothing goes better with a movie than an irresistible snack (in moderation of course!)

As a reward (and incentive) for good behavior, rev up the excitement by taking a ‘treat sack’ filled with goodies that your child loves, including snacks and small toys such as colouring books, sticker books, puzzles and crayons. Then every 50 miles or so, or after each service break, let your child choose a gift from the treat sack. This gives your child something to look forward to as well as something to entertain him for the next 50 miles!

• Audio CD Story Books

Great for all the family Pass the time on a long car journey with a CD audio story book, which can be something that everyone can enjoy, no matter the age range. Long car journeys can be transformed by good family listening – and by the conversations about the books afterwards.

Finally, if you do opt for electronic entertainment, remember to keep a charger nearby to avoid any dead batteries and subsequent tantrums. A simple portable in-car USB / cigarette charger is an easy way to keep the power supply up - and your children happy. Don’t forget to download your free copy of our Ultimate Guide to Headrest DVD Players, which gives advice on the different types of system available to help make shopping for a DVD headrest player a simple, enjoyable and easy experience."

With these tips, we hope you never hear the whine: "Are we there yet?", again. Good luck!

Established 10 years ago, XTRONS has become a leader in-car entertainment products, car accessories and car electronics. With a focus on reliable products, exceptional customer service and simple pricing, everything we do is focused  on keeping you, the customer, happy. For more information, feel free to say hello and contact our friendly team today.