Long Journeys Without a Screen

Pack a small bag your child has not seen for a while: a few crayons, some paper, one small toy, a picture book. Bring it out in stages rather than all at once.

Games that need nothing at all work well on a journey. Spot something red. Count the bridges. I-spy. Say a word that starts with the last sound of my word.

Talk about what is going past the window — the fields, the stations, the names on the boards. A train window is a very good vocabulary lesson.

Expect some restlessness on a long journey. Walking up and down the corridor for five minutes usually resets everybody.