There’s something magical about packing up the car or heading to the airport with the whole family. The snacks are packed, the luggage is zipped tight, and the kids are bubbling with excitement. Then, about 22 minutes into the trip – the dreaded “I’m bored” chorus starts. You check your phone. One bar. No Wi-Fi. And your data plan is already stretched thin from last month’s field trip photos and Grandma’s video calls.

If you’ve ever found yourself handing over your phone just to get five minutes of peace, only to later realize you’ve blown through your entire data allowance, this one’s for you. As a mom of two very chatty, very curious, and very easily-bored children, I’ve had to get creative over the years.

Whether you’re embarking on a long road trip, waiting around at the airport, or settling into a train ride, here are five mom-tested and kid-approved ways to keep little ones happily occupied without draining your data plan.

Tote bag with an ipad in it on a park bench.

1. Load Up On Pre-Downloaded Entertainment

This is my golden rule: never leave home without offline content. Whether it’s a road trip to see family or a cross-country flight, I always download a batch of content the night before.

There are lots of apps that let you save content for offline use, but here’s the trick I’ve learned: trim it down. My kids have very short attention spans, and I don’t need to download an entire 45-minute science video just for the four-minute volcano eruption scene they actually love. That’s where tools like SliceTube, CapCut, DownloadBazar come in handy. It lets you snip out the best part of any YouTube video and save just that segment.

We have a folder labeled “Favorites” filled with silly songs, dog training tricks (don’t ask), and five-minute crafts. Not only does it save storage space, but it also means less jumping around trying to find the good parts.

Let your kids help you pick what goes into the folder. Giving them that tiny bit of control makes them more likely to actually watch it when it counts.

2. Create a DIY “Travel Kit” for Each Child

No Wi-Fi? No problem. A good old-fashioned travel kit still works wonders, especially for younger kids. I like to include a mix of activities that hit different senses. Something to draw on, something to read, something to feel with their hands.

Ours usually includes:

  • A new coloring book and a small pack of crayons
  • One surprise toy (dollar store magic)
  • A fidget popper or squishy
  • A book or magazine they haven’t seen before
  • A mini snack stash (non-sticky and crumb-free)

I learned early on that packaging matters. I use zipper pouches with their names on them and rotate the items each trip. It keeps everything contained and exciting. And yes, I pack one for myself too—mine just includes a chocolate bar and noise-canceling earbuds.

3. Set Up a “Travel Challenge”

Here’s a fun one that works especially well with school-aged kids. Before the trip, I tell them that there’s a challenge happening while we travel. It can be a scavenger hunt, a drawing contest, or even a storytelling game. The prize? Usually something simple like picking dinner or choosing the bedtime story.

One trip, I printed out little travel bingo cards with things like “person with red shoes,” “blue truck,” and “someone eating chips.” They stayed glued to the windows trying to spot everything. Another time, I challenged them to write a silly song about our trip using only five words I gave them. You would not believe the giggles that came from that.

It costs nothing, uses zero data, and gives them a goal. Bonus points if you join in too.

4. Curate a Family Playlist (and Keep It Offline)

Music can change the mood instantly. I always keep a few curated playlists saved offline. One is for quiet time—think soft lullabies or instrumental movie soundtracks. Another is for dance breaks. And yes, we absolutely have a playlist called “Carpool Karaoke” with songs we can all belt out together.

Letting each kid add two or three songs of their own helps avoid fights over music choices. I’ve had to endure some truly questionable musical selections in the name of peace, but it’s worth it.

You can also use trimmed audio clips from YouTube—just the song, none of the intros or ads. Again, tools like SliceTube let you trim what you want to hear and save it directly. It’s the best way to avoid those “Wait, what did they just say?” moments.

5. Download Interactive Learning Apps (No Data Required)

While I love unplugged activities, sometimes you just need a quiet moment, and that’s where tablets come in. But I’m picky. If it requires a signal or has a chat feature, it’s out.

Some of our favorite offline learning apps include simple math games, logic puzzles, and vocabulary builders. They’re fun, but I feel better knowing my kids aren’t just watching cartoon slime for an hour.

Before a big trip, I set a timer and let them test out a few apps at home. The ones they keep going back to are the ones that make it onto the device for travel.

Also, don’t underestimate how fun it can be to rewatch old family videos. I trim ours into little 30-second clips (first steps, birthday candles, a random water balloon fight) and save them in a folder called “Memories.” My kids love watching them on loop, and it reminds all of us of the good times we’ve shared.

Rotate, Don’t Overload

This one took me a while to figure out. I used to bring everything. Every toy, every game, every video, every snack. The result? Chaos. The kids would dig through it all in the first hour, and then I’d be left with a mess.

Now I rotate. I pull out one activity at a time and save the next thing for later. It keeps the mystery alive and makes each surprise feel more exciting.

This works especially well with pre-clipped video content. If I give them five little video segments at the beginning of the day, they’ll burn through them fast. But if I pace them, one during a rest stop, one after lunch, one when we hit traffic, they last the whole trip.

A Word from the Backseat

At the end of the day, we’re all doing our best. Travel can be messy. Someone will spill a juice box. Someone will need to pee five minutes after you passed the last rest stop. And someone will definitely ask, “Are we there yet?” before you’ve even hit the highway.

But with a little prep and a few smart tools, you can turn those long stretches of travel into quiet, happy, memory-making moments.

And just maybe… you’ll get a moment to sip your coffee while it’s still hot.