Games for Traveling in the Car With Kids

 

We all know how hard it is to travel with kids in the backseat – although nowadays with video games and car DVD players it is much easier than when I was a child. But with my little ones, long car trips are still daunting and about 2 years ago I began to research fun car trip ideas and over the years I’ve collected them and tried out many of these – so since summer is here and you probably have some vacation plans – this might be useful!

My top 7 favorite games to play in the car:

1. The Ticket System:

Before my kids could read a clock or estimate how long – 7 hours is – I began a ticket system. Before we leave home I cut strips of paper – a different color for each child and put them in baggies. Then I give the baggies to the children once the drive has begun – and they are so excited to have their OWN bag.

Then every 30 minutes they give me a ticket. (So if we are going on a 7 hour car trip I put 14 tickets in their bag). I tell them when the bag is almost empty – we are almost there – and when the bag is empty – we are there! This is a fun way for them to keep track of the time passing and they don’t ask “are we there yet”?

2.Red Car/Yellow Car

Choose a color and watch for a car of that color. Whoever spots the right color car first calls out, “(Color) Car!” and then gets to choose a different color for the next car.

3.Alphabet Hunt

Using the alphabet, starting with A, watch out the window for road signs, billboards, store signs, etc. with the called out letter. Once you find an “A” move on to “B” and so on until you complete the alphabet. Then repeat!

4. Number Hunt

Similar to above but use numbers. Watch out the window for numbers from 1-9, in order.

5. Scavenger Hunt

Have the children look for these items – (since my children are little and can’t read I print up pictures of these items and we cross them off as we go.)

CITY LIST
Flashing red light
Bus
Dog
Grocery store
Railroad tracks
Playground
Billboard with child on it
Billboard with cat on it
Police officer

SUBURBS
School
Flashing traffic light
Grocery store
Person on a bicycle
Statue
Church
Playground
Flower garden/snowman
Children
Pickup truck

RURAL LIST
Silo
Railroad tracks
Post office or school
Cows
Dirt road
Pond or lake
Tractor
A fence
Gas station
Horses

TODDLER LIST
Tall building
Lake or pond
Person on a bicycle
Bridge
Red car
Animal
Truck
Stop sign
Store
Person wearing a hat

6. License Plate Game

See how many different license plates you can find. Keep track of what states, provinces or countries you see plates from. The person who finds the most plates wins!

You have to name an animal in alphabetical order. If a letter sounds like one, but really isn’t, you do the real letter. For letters like q,x,y, you don’t have to do, but you get an extra turn if you do.

Also, Momsminivan.com is an excellent resource for more fun travel tips.