Four best ways to turn a car trip into toddler teaching time

Sing a song

With their rhythmic repetition, songs are a great way for kids to learn language. Sing-along's also make for great distractions, so go ahead and belt one out. Pediatrician Ari Brown, author of Toddler 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Toddler, recommends children’s songs that contain farm animal noises to encourage audience participation—even non-verbal kids are pretty good at squeaking, mooing and quacking. Pop in a CD (check out author Sandra Boynton’s collections) or create a playlist of some old favorites like “Old McDonald Had a Farm” and “Grandpa’s Farm” if you don’t want to go acappella.  

Hands-free reading

At this age, mastering language is still at the top of your child’s development checklist. At home you’d snuggle up with some books to foster this skill, so why should the car be any different? “Audio books are a great way to read to your child when you can’t,” points out Dr. Brown. Buy some online or check out the selection at your local library. With classics and favorite characters such as Dr. Seuss, Winnie the Pooh, Curious George, and Frog and Toad now available on audiobook, your tot might just sit back contentedly in his car seat and listen. 

Mini artiste = better dexterity

Let’s be honest: while developmental advances are nice to have in the car, peace is a necessity! Luckily at this age it is possible to have both with the aid of an Etch-a-Sketch, crayons, colored pencils, or any other drawing utensil that won’t wreak havoc on your car’s interior should your child decide not to play nice. “Toddlers are working on fine motor skills so scribbling is a very useful activity,” says Dr. Brown. 

I Spy a smarter kid 

Blue cars, yellow dump trucks and brown dogs — the ordinary, everyday objects you see out your windshield all add up to a great game of ISpy for your observant little one. A classic game of look and see, I Spy is agreat way to help your toddler work on his language recognition and visual learning skills. By this age most kids are in a forward-facing carseat, perfect for gazing out the window at the world wizzing by and helping you “spy” all the stop signs, school buses and strollers they can find.