Car Repair - How to Keep Your Children Entertained

When you have children it might be challenging to find something to keep your children occupied while you wait for your vehicle in the waiting room of the car repair shop. Although many waiting rooms offer toys and other items to keep children occupied, you might feel more comfortable if you bring some of your child's own items for play. Bring a bag with some of your child's favorite toys and the child will use his or her imagination for entertainment.

Dolls, cars, and items that help the child develop hand-eye coordination might be brought to the waiting room. Be careful not to bring too many items or items with small parts. You do not want your child to lose precious parts to toys or games in the waiting area. Older children might bring a book or listen to music while they wait. These children can complete homework or catch up on class assignments during this time. Teens with cell phones might play games on their phones in the waiting room. Some younger children will sit quietly and listen to a book on tape. Bring new books so the child will have new and interesting stories to explore. Children will most likely be entertained by newer stories than stories that they have heard several times before.

If you have a portable DVD player, you can bring your own cartoons or children's movies with you to the waiting room. Your children can watch movies that you have chosen instead of watching the generic movies that might be shown in the waiting room. You can choose to give the children educational shows to watch in addition to shows that are merely entertaining. Just be sure that the children will enjoy watching the material that you have set out for them. If they are not entertained, they are likely to cry or feel bored and frustrated.

Remember to bring headphones if you bring your own multimedia for the children. Having headphones will allow the children to listen without disturbing the other people who are in the waiting room. Keep in mind that the children might want to sing to some of the songs in stories, especially if they know the songs. If the children have never heard the story before, they will not be as familiar with the music and they might not try to sing along. It is up to you if you would prefer your children to sit quietly and listen or if you feel that it is appropriate for your children to sing in the waiting room.

Establish rules before you visit the car repair shop. You need to give the children your expectations for behavior. Do not give the children a long, boring lecture. Simply tell them a few short rules and the penalties for breaking those rules. Children typically respond to rewards for good behavior. Be sure to pack everything that you will need for a small baby or young children. You might want to bring snacks, drinks, and extra diapers for your children. Try to pack your bag when you are not feeling stressed, and you have the time to think about the items that you might need to spend time with the children in the waiting room of the car repair shop.