Educational Car Activities for Children: Making the Most of Travel Time

Ever feel like there’s just not enough time in the day to get everything done? Same here! Between school drop-offs, pick-ups, and shuttling kids to various activities, parents spend a lot of time in the car. If I actually tallied up all the minutes my child and I spend in the car each day, it would easily add up to an hour or more!

But here’s the good news—car time doesn’t have to be wasted time. In fact, it’s one of those rare moments when your child is (hopefully) screen-free and free from the usual distractions of home—no pets, toys, or TV pulling their attention away. So why not make the most of it?

Why Car Time Works for Learning

My daughter has ADHD, and getting her to sit down and focus on homework is like trying to get a cat to sit on command—pretty much impossible! At home, she’s constantly distracted by everything—the cat, her toys, the iPad, snacks, you name it. But in the car? That’s my secret weapon.

It all started in first grade when I realized the morning drive to school was the perfect time to quiz her on her spelling words. No distractions, a set time limit, and the consistency of a daily habit—it was a game-changer. So, I thought, why stop there? I started using car time for reading and math too, and it was amazing. By the time we got home, her work was done, and we were both way less stressed.

Want to give it a try? Here are some simple and effective ways to use car time for learning:

1. Independent Reading (If They Can Read in the Car)

If your child doesn’t get motion sickness, the car can be a great place to sneak in some reading time. Keep a book in the car so it’s always an option, especially for longer drives.

2. Listen to Audiobooks Together

Turn drive time into story time! Audiobooks are a fantastic way to build literacy skills while making car rides more enjoyable. You can even pick books related to what they’re reading in school and pause occasionally to discuss:

Summarize: Ask your child to recap what just happened.
Connect: Have them relate to a character or situation.
Predict: Encourage them to guess what might happen next.

3. Spelling, Vocabulary, & Math Facts Practice

Quick review games make car rides more productive and fun:

Read a spelling or vocabulary word aloud and have your child spell it or define it.
Flip the roles and let them quiz you—kids love catching parents’ mistakes!
Break down tricky words into chunks:
- Example: Distraction → “Dis, DIS… Trac, TRAC… and I know ‘tion’ is spelled T-I-O-N.”

4. Review Class Notes Out Loud

Older kids can use car time to read class notes aloud, reinforcing key concepts while keeping you in the loop on what they’re learning. Encourage them to:

Highlight important terms as they read.
Think of clarifying questions to ask their teacher.

Bonus: This also helps them build strong study habits!

5. On-the-Go Math Practice

Many math assignments don’t require much writing, making them perfect for car rides. Keep a clipboard, pencils, and an eraser handy so your child has what they need to work through problems on the go.

Even without a worksheet, you can:

Ask mental math problems: “What’s 7 x 8?”
Play estimation games: “How many miles do you think are left until we get home?”
Practice skip counting or division facts.

6. Quick Grammar & Writing Review

No worksheets required! Make it a game by quizzing your child on:

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
Idioms, similes, and metaphors.
Capitalization and punctuation rules.

Even high schoolers can use a refresher on these skills!

7. Growth Mindset & Educational Podcasts

Podcasts are an easy way to fill drive time with learning and great conversations. Try listening to kid-friendly educational or growth mindset podcasts, then discuss what you both learned.

Some great options include:

Brains On! (science)
Wow in the World (STEM)
But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids (general knowledge)

Final Thoughts

We may not be able to add more hours to the day, but we can make the most of the time we already have. Whether it’s reading, reviewing, or just having meaningful conversations, car time is a golden opportunity to connect and learn—no extra planning required.

Try one of these tips this week and see how it works for your family!