A road trip can be torture for kids. Imagine, spending hours on the road with nothing to do but sit and go stir crazy! This does not have to be the case, because there are plenty of games you can play or teach your children to help pass the time and make car travel more fun! Here are just a few you can play… be sure the driver focuses on driving though, have the passenger play these games with the kids or teach them before leaving the driveway:
I Spy: Almost everyone has played this game at least once in their lifetime! It’s a tried and true way to get your child not to focus on the time in the car, and have fun at the same time. The best part is, it’s easy! Simply pick out an object that is easily seen… then give everyone a clue by saying “I spy something…”(provide a description such as color, shape, or size). Everyone takes turns guessing what it is, and whoever guesses become the new spy!
Odd or Even: This game can keep several children busy, and can be educational as well! Have each child guess if there are more license plates that end in an odd or even number. (License plates ending in a letter do not count)
1. Give each child a blank sheet of paper and a pencil, or something to mark with.
2. Set a time limit, usually 10-15 minutes.
3. Have one child look for plates that end in an odd number, and the other look for an even number.
4. Have them mark down each car they find. (For extra learning, have them group the marks in sets of 5)
5. At the end of the time limit, have the children add up their marks. (Counting by 5’s if grouping was used)
A to Z: This game is fun and easy! Have the players search different signs on the road (exit signs, billboards, etc.) and find words beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Each player continues the alphabet, after “A”, go to “B…” and so on. Alternate the starting person at the start of a new game, so that everyone gets a chance with the challenging letters. (For younger players you may want to skip the difficult letters.)
What did I bring on my trip?: This game can get quite silly, especially with younger children! Begin the game by saying, “going on a trip and bringing…” The first player should name an item that starts with the letter “A”. After “A” , the next player will say the same thing but with the letter “B”, and so on. This is similar to the A to Z game, but easier for younger children.
License Plate: This one is perfect for children learning how to add. Simply call out the numbers on a license plate and see who can add them correctly. Switch it up with subtraction or even multiplication and division for older children! Another spin on this game is to write down the license plate number and see who can say the number without messing up!