This post is a collaboration with Kia, but all thoughts and experiences are my own
As parents, we know that long car rides can be torture for everyone involved. But the good news is that you don’t have to suffer through silence or your kids’ incessant bickering. Instead, try playing some music in the car! Not only will it make your journey a little more fun and entertaining, but it also has numerous other benefits. Let’s take a look at why you should consider playing music on your next road trip.
What’s on your playlist?
Kia recently published in-house data which reports “real-world driving [in] electric cars can be influenced by music playing in the cabin”. The experiment was overseen by a leading authority in psychoacoustics and revealed classical music, such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, could make drivers up to four times more efficient in an all-electric Kia EV6.
Education and Learning
Playing music in the car (especially when you are stuck in traffic) can actually help with learning. Studies suggest that listening to classical music helps stimulate brain activity, improve memory recall and even increase creativity, all of which can come in handy during long drives. You can even use it as an opportunity for your kids to learn about different genres of music and composers from around the world. Learning in the car always includes something the kids enjoy like music, a kiddie song or a story.
Stress Relief
Think of listening to music as a kind of meditation; it helps reduce stress levels and relaxes both your mind and body. Music also encourages mindful thinking, a practice where you focus on being present without judgment or distraction, which can lead to lower stress levels over time.
We all need a break from reality every now and then, so why not give yourself (and your passengers) this small pleasure? When I’m stressed, one of my favourite songs to listen to is “Don’t Stop Believin'” by Journey. Listening to this song always helps me to forget my worries and just focus on the present moment, which is a huge stress reliever for me!
Mood Booster
Music has the unique ability to evoke strong emotions in us, making it an effective mood booster no matter what kind of day you’re having. It has been proven that certain types of music can act as a natural antidepressant; listening to uplifting tunes like hip-hop or pop-rock while driving could help lift up everyone’s spirits.
As parents, we know how hard it is to keep our kids entertained during long car rides, but fortunately, there’s an easy solution: playing some music! Not only does it provide entertainment for everyone involved, but listening to music also helps reduce stress levels, boosts moods, stimulates brain activity and encourages mindful thinking. So, don’t let another car ride go by without any tunes and get ready for a fun-filled ride! The next time you are in your car, don’t be afraid to whip out your favourite playlist, it could make you an even more efficient driver!
When you are not with your children, playlists may vary greatly. I love listening to my Nashville soundtrack. I was curious as to what Dans playlist was when he drove over to France from the UK alone and it includes various artists, a lot that you may not want children to listen to but we are quite liberal in what we let them listen to. This is what Dan said when I asked him what he listened to…
‘As the journey started early, I fancied something uplifting, so I decided on something funky. My first track was Around the World by Daft Punk. I listened to many genres of music. Please take a look at my playlist below,
- Around the World – Daft Punk
- No More Heroes – The Stranglers
- The King of Rock n Roll – Prefab Sprout
- Voodoo People – The Prodigy
- Firestarter – The Prodigy
- Charlie – The Prodigy
- Fire- Kasabian
- Underdog – Kasabian
- Shoot the Runner – Kasabian
- Stevie – Kasabian
- We will Rock You – Queen
- Another one bites the Dust – Queen
- Under Pressure – Queen
- Massive Attack – Unfinished Symphony
- Come as You Are – Nirvana
- Breed – Nirvana
- Call Me – Blondie
- Heart of Glass – Blondie
- Keep Ya Head Up – Tupac
- Dear Momma – Tupac
- Life Goes on – Tupac
- Canned Heat -Jamiroquai
- Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai
- With a Little L – Jamiroquai
- High Times – Jamiroquai
- Once in a Lifetime – Talking Heads
- Psycho Killer – Talking Heads
- Wild Wild Life – Talking Heads
- Slippery People – Talking Heads
- Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
- Horse – Salvatore Ganacci
- Dive – Salvatore Ganacci
- Take Me to America – Salvatore Ganacci
- Step Grandma – Salvatore Ganacci