When you're a child, road trips are a nightmare. There's nothing worse than being stuck in the back of a hot car for hours on end, as you're dragged across the country to see a long-forgotten auntie or visit an uninspiring "place of interest."
The experience is similarly horrible for parents. A child's incessant moaning, questioning, and need for bathroom breaks is sure to drive even the most patient guardian to the edge of despair.
But don't worry, help is at hand. Here's a list of apps that are sure to keep kids entertained while on a long car journey.
1. YouTube Kids
Sadly, there is a lot of content on YouTube that children shouldn't be watching. Thanks to the official Google app "YouTube Kids," that's no longer an issue.
It's perfect for kids on two levels. Firstly, the app's navigation has been simplified with big buttons, easy searching, and instant full-screen mode. Secondly, all the videos have been run through Google's complex algorithms and have been approved as being kid-friendly.
Best of all, you'll always be in control; you can access the app's settings via a password-protected login and tweak them until they're exactly right for your child.
2. Plates
We all know kids love to feel like they're in control, and this app gives them that feeling while still providing entertainment to all the other occupants of the car.
The game is simple enough; you need to see how many different vehicle license plate locations you and your family can spot while you're on your trip. It includes all 50 US states, all 10 Canadian provinces, and all 33 Mexican states, as well as government plates, all overseas territories, and various other special ones.
You can either play as a team or individually, and if you splash out for the paid version, you can save your game and make it an ongoing project.
3. Mechanic Max
Sometimes road trips go wrong and you break down. Mechanic Max teaches your kids about such pitfalls while also providing plenty of fun along the way.
The app is packed with representations of what you'd expect to see on a typical trip to a garage. For example, you can wash your car; fix scratches, lacerations, and dents; tune up your car with new tires, bumpers, and headlights; and repaint your car in a different color.
The app comes complete with four workshops that each have different tools available, and it includes a way to save your creations and share them with family and friends.
4. Spotify Kids
All parents should be aware of the dangers of too much screen time. Not only is it terrible for your kids' eyes, but it is also likely to make them cranky and agitated upon arrival at your destination.
So, while it's tempting to put a kids' movie on repeat for six hours and leave them to it, you should take a more varied approach to your in-car entertainment.
One solution is to grab Spotify Kids. Anyone who has the Spotify Family Plan subscription can get access.
The app is full of soundtracks, kids' songs, and sing-along tracks that your kids will love. Furthermore, all the music they listen to on Spotify Kids is ring-fenced in their own account, which means Spotify will finally stop thinking that Baby Shark is your favorite song.
5. Angry Birds
It is now more than a decade since Angry Birds first hit our smartphone screens. But while the initial craze might have died down, the game is still as addictive as ever. If your little ones have never experienced the delight of smashing green pigs before, a long car trip is a perfect time to introduce them to the game.
For those who don't know, Angry Birds primarily revolves around using a slingshot in combination with unique skills to bring down structures and release eggs.
Today, there have been more than a dozen follow-up releases to the original game. So, if your kids like it, there is enough material to keep them entertained for many car journeys into the future.
According to the developer, the game is suitable for kids aged four and up.
6. PBS KIDS Games
If you want a single app that has several games within it, you cannot go far wrong with PBS KIDS Games.
It contains hundreds of educational games that feature some of your kids' favorite characters, such as Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Odd Squad, and Curious George. The games themselves are divided into categories, with popular sections including math games, science games, reading games, and art games.
PBS KIDS Games also offers several tools for parents. You can use them to learn about your child's progress and gain an insight into where they might need extra help.
All the games also have a designated learning age (the app caters for children aged three to eight), as well as the ability to download the content for offline gaming. The latter is especially important if you are driving through remote areas where your cell phone signal might be patchy.
7. Crayola Colorful Creatures
We all know that young kids love to draw. Sadly, in a car, it is far from being an ideal activity. The bumps in the road are liable to cause frustrations as their pencil slips, and that's before you worry about them redesigning your vehicle's interior color scheme.
Instead of letting them loose with pens and crayons in the back seat, why not use an app instead? One great option is Crayola Colorful Creatures.
Not only does the app offer various "coloring in" games for your kids, but it is also educational. There are a variety of mini-games that focus on the animals of the world, as well as animal sounds games, games related to feeding animals, and more.
Don't Over-Rely on Your Smartphone
Remember, while all the apps on our list will help keep your kids entertained on a long journey, you should not solely rely on your smartphone to keep them busy.
Time-tested methods such as books, travel board games, and audiobooks will all work just as well. Variety is the key.