How many of you find that trip or riding to or from an event, school or camp accounts for some of the potential time you have with your children? Instead of spending that time in silence or frustrated because you are listening to the same child-music Cd for the 18th time that day, try a fun car game. These games often lead to laughter and memorable moments. These are also great when trying to keep children entertained in lines, waiting rooms, etc.
Here are a few that I have learned over the years, heard about from friends, or created with my daughter.
Games
Guessing Games
Car Colors: select a time limit such as 10 minutes or 30 minutes - depending on the distance of the drive. Have each rider make a guess about how many cars of a unavoidable color will be spotted during that time. The closest guesser wins. You can also do this in "sprint fashion" by using 3 -minute intervals as your time limit. Whoever is closest gets a point for that time segment. The first one to 5 points wins.
Odd or Even: Each player makes a guess at how many of the next 20 license plates will end with an even number. The one who is closest wins. It helps to have a puny tally chart to keep score. You can lengthen the game by addition the amount of license plates.
Spy: You are probably familiar with this one. One player announces something that they see and the other players try to guess what it is by request questions. The only trick when doing this while driving is that it has to be something that won't go out of view - like the sky, the road, etc. Person announces that they "spy" something and gives a clue. Example: I spy something blue. The players then take turns guessing until some one gets it. Whoever guesses correctly starts the next spy-turn.
20 Questions:One Person thinks of a predominant person, place or thing. Every person else is allowed to ask the player 20 questions which can only be answered 'yes' or 'no.' Whoever guesses correctly becomes the next Person to think of something. (We play this without a limit on the amount of questions.)
Observation Games
The Alphabet Game: I am sure you know this one! Each player sequentially works straight through the alphabet looking for something that starts with a definite letter. For example: A might be apple tree or a word on a sign. Once a player finds an A word, they move onto B. (Have fun with Q, X and Z!) The first rider to work straight through the alphabet wins. Variation: Use only letters found on billboards, or letters on license plates.
The Animal Game:If you are in more rural areas where cars aren't abundant, try the animal game. Keep on the guard for animals and when you see one be the first to make the animal sound. For example if you saw a cow you would say "moooo." The first Person to make the animal sound wins a point. Play to a designated amount of points. You can make this game a bit more complicated for older kids by adding a designated amount of points depending on the commonality of the animal - i.e. Cows are 1 point, pigs are 2 points, etc.
Find it First:Choose an item such as Volkswagen bugs, farms, citizen taking walks, silos, etc. Then select a amount like 5 or 20 depending on the distance of your drive. See who can find the designated amount of the chosen item first.
Music Games
Hum-Along: One rider hums a song and the other passengers try to guess. The Person who guesses goes next. The first one to guess 3 right wins.
Radio Game 1:Hit the "scan" button on your radio until it stops on a song. The first Person to guess the artist wins.
Radio Game 2:This isn't so much a game but a way not to fight over music! The first Person to take a turn goes straight through the dial until they find a song they like. You then listen to that song until completed. Then the next rider does the same, etc., etc. The only rule is that if you go all the way straight through the dial without looking a song you like then you need to listen to the last song you land on or lose a turn.
Radio Game 3:While the radio is off, each rider chooses a word. Turn the radio on. The winner is the Person whose word is spoken or sung first.
Creative reasoning Games
Story-Telling:One passenger starts a story with a singular sentence. Then the next Person adds a sentence. Continue until you build a complete story.
The examine Game: Take turns request open and thoughtful questions and allowing each Person time to answer. Examples:
If you were on a deserted island and could only take 3 things, what would you take and why?
Who are your mentors/heroes and why?
If you won the lottery what you do with it?
If you could have lunch with a predominant person, who would you pick and why?
Note: If you authentically get into this game, you can buy small books called "The Book of Questions" at most bookstores that give you a ton of subjects to select from!
Word Games
Word Sequence: select a topic such as animals, places, television shows, people, fruit, etc. Name something in your category. If you select animals you might say "panda." The next player has to name an animal that starts with the last letter of your animal. In this example, their animal would have to start with the letter "A" such as "alligator." Play continues until Person can't think of a word. They are then eliminated. When you have only 1 Person left, they are the winner. You cannot use any animal name twice. (If you are playing with real young children, let them have the handicap of being able to use the same word twice).
The Round Game: My daughter made up this one and we have had great fun with it. Even my best friend who is singular and childless enjoys this game over evening meal with us. We select a topic such as vegetables, board games, television shows, cities, types of cereal, flowers, movies, etc. Then we name something within that category. For example for cereal the first player might say "Cheerios." Then the next player names a cereal. Play continues until Person can't think of an item, then they are "out." Play continues until there is only one Person left. For young children, let them have three "passes" as a handicap.
The Rhyming Game:Someone picks a word to start with, such as "ball." The next player has to come up with a word that rhymes. Play continues until Person cannot think of a rhyming word. As always, give younger players a hint or two. You make the game more difficult for older kids by having each player describe the former list of words before adding their own.
Tongue Twisters:Choose a Person that you all know, example, "Sara." Then start with a phrase about that Person that uses only the first letter of her name such as "Sara says strawberries..." take turns adding "S" words with as few "connectors" as potential (a connector is a word that doesn't start with S) to see how silly of a tongue twister you can create!
Memory Games
My father/mother owns a grocery store:One player begins the round by stating, "My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells (something that begins with the letter A; e.g., ant traps)." The next player states, "My father owns a grocery store, and in it he sells ants traps and (something that begins with the letter B; e.g., bananas). "Play continues with each player having to describe the current list and then add something that begins with the next sequential letter of the alphabet. For young players, offer them "3 strikes" where you will help them if they forget the list. Adults--sorry, no handicap for you!
Variation: You can vary this game to match your interests or those of a child. Example:
My mum owns a clothing store and in it she sells ____________
My brother owns a music store and in it he sells -______________
My sister works as a producer and she has produced __________ (insert television show)
My father owns a bookstore and in it he sells _________________
Just Plain Silly Games
Laugh A Lot: select a player to keep a straight face. The rest of the players select a silly write back for the player to use such as "My shoe." Then players take turns request questions such as,
What do you brush your hair with?
What is your popular snack?
Who is your hero?
Where is your popular vacation destination?
The player keeping the straight face has to write back with "My shoe," while trying to keep a straight face. If they laugh then play passes to Person else and a new phrase is established.
Math Games
Add-it-up: Call out the numbers on the license plate and see who can add up the numbers the quickest. For example D572-43X - players would have to intuit 5+7+2+4+3. Whoever answers correctly gets a point. The one who reaches 5 points first is the winner. (No calculators allowed.)
Games that wish a Bit of Preparation
Travel Bingo:Make a bingo board with color names in the squares. Print out several on your home computer. As you drive, players place an X when they see a car of the definite color. You can add to the excitement by letting each car only be used by the first Person to "call it." Try 4 corners, blackout (filing up the whole card) making an X on the card, etc.
Variation: Make a "mixed" car board and comprise separate types of items on the card such as:
Fire truck
Stop light
Grocery store
National Historic Monument
Lake or Pond
Farm
Police Car
Billboard
Speed Talking: (You will need either a timer or watch with a second hand)
Choose a topic and then talk for 60 seconds straight without repeating yourself or pausing. One point is awarded if you perform the goal. Take turns playing to a designated amount of points depending on the distance of your drive. If Person makes it 30 seconds, award them ½ a point.
Game for a Tired Driver
Statue:On a long trip and need some quiet time? Play a round of statue. The Person who can stay still and quiet the longest wins!
Print a copy of this record and store it in your glove compartment! Whenever kids are bored or restless in the car, you'll be equipped with fun ideas to turn long road trips into magical memories!
23 Games to Play in the Car (or Anywhere!)
