The #1 Thing to Do if Your Kids Use Tech in the Car (It’ll Save So Much Time)

For a lot of kids, time spent in the car — especially for longer drives — is synonymous with screen time. And the responsibility for coordinating all the chargers, headphones, and internet usage for the family car (which can be a big undertaking) falls on the parents. 

We try not to rely on screens for quick drives, but if we have to be in the car for an hour or more, I’m fine with my kids using their iPads, phones, and game systems, like the Nintendo Switch. But before we hit the road, here’s how I make sure (in terms of tech readiness, at least) it’s smooth sailing ahead.

Understanding what cables, dongles, adapters, and splitters your kids’ devices need before you hit the road is the number-one key to car tech success. My 7-year-old most often uses her iPad and wireless headphones, so we prepare for that by making sure she has cables for all of those things in the car or in a travel bag that she has access to. My 13-year-old toggles between using his phone, iPad, and Switch, so we help him prepare accordingly for that.

I like keeping the specific cables each kid needs in the car, labeled so that I know what device they are for. Test the devices with these cables before you leave the house, and make sure they can handle the proper voltage and that they work well for charging those specific devices. Just because you have a USB-C or USB-A cable doesn’t mean it will work well with every device; sometimes you really need one that’s the same brand as that device for the best experience.

In general, but especially in the car, it’s important to know who in the family is responsible for what. In our family, my two kids, 7 and 13, are responsible for bringing their own charged devices with headphones in the car. For younger kids, you can get them in on sharing the responsibility with a visual checklist that helps them remember what to pack. In most cases, my husband is the point person for any internet issues, but I can do it in a pinch. Knowing these roles helps us all know what’s expected of us so we can prepare.

In most cases, your kids will probably be expecting to have internet service on their devices. You can accomplish this several ways — a family plan from your internet provider, a hotspot that your kids can share when they’re in the car, or even an internet subscription for your car. Our Toyota Sienna has its own 5G Wi-Fi connection for up to five devices at a time, which works great for us, and other car brands have similar offerings. Just make sure everyone is on the network, and you should be good to go for streaming and browsing.

The internet is great — until it abruptly stops working. (At which point you’ll know quickly that your kids have been disconnected — trust me.) For those times, I like to have some downloaded content, including shows, movies, and games, that my kids can play until the internet can be restored. Similarly, you should consider keeping a pair of simple, corded headphones in the car in case the wireless headphones tap out. Just make sure they’re compatible with whatever devices your kids are using.