Millions of people hit the road every summer for vacations, and some of the best family memories are made on road trips. Many parents, however, might dread these extended travels for good reason: it can be a frustrating experience trying to keep young children entertained for endless hours in the car. After all, there’s only so many times a parent can answer the question, “Are we there yet?” or keep their kids occupied with television shows or movies.
To help keep young ones busy during your time spent on the road this summer, consider playing road trip games. Games not only serve to entertain your kids but they can also help them learn valuable skills like math and vocabulary. Additionally, road trip games keep your whole family engaged with one another.
Road trip games can be modified to fit your children’s ages and personalities. Here are some suggestions to get started with:
- 20 Questions – The person who goes first comes up with an item or thing. The other people in the car have to guess what this item is by asking 20 questions such as “Is it an animal?” or “Does it bark?” Usually the questions have a “yes” or “no” answer, and the person who asks the question gets to guess at the end of their turn. Whoever guesses the correct answer wins the game.
- Road Trip Bingo – The rules are the same in this version of the classic game. Family members are given a bingo card and then mark off each object when spotted. Parents can use a number of pre-made bingo cards or make their own. It is recommended that kids use pennies or erasable markers on their cards. The first cover to all the squares in a straight line wins.
- I Spy – Another classic road trip game is that of I Spy. One person playing the game chooses an object that the other people have to guess by saying, “I spy with my little eye…” and then gives the object’s color, the first letter of its name, or another clue. The person who guesses the object goes next. This is the perfect road trip game for preschoolers in particular who can make the game last a long time.
- The Picnic Game – The first person in this game says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…” and then they choose something that begins with the letter A. The next person has to repeat what the first person said and then adds something that begins with the letter B. The game continues on down the alphabet until someone forgets an item. The last person who can correctly recount all the items on the list wins the game.
- The Alphabet Game – Each person goes up and down the alphabet picking out items that starts with each letter. The items must be visible from the car, and the game can be played individual or in teams.