Travel With Kids – Five Stuff-free Games for Long Car Trips

It’s nearly the end of the school year, and, despite the soaring cost of gas, you likely have some travel in store for you and the family during the coming months. Here are five ideas you can keep at the back of your mind when the “how much longer?” questions begin coming fast and furious.

1. Twins and triplets - Use “twins” to have everyone study one thing that comes in twins. Think “mom and dad,” “soup and salad,” “stop and go.” When it’s your turn, you can shout out an answer. If the next mortal doesn’t have an answer in three seconds, the following mortal can fill in. Players keep score by how many they have come up with. It’s obviously simple at first, but gets harder after a few times around. “Triplets” is even more challenging.

2. Horse – The first player states a letter and the following players have to add letters until a word is formed. The player who adds a letter that forms any word loses. The trick is that players must have a word in mind that could be created as they add a letter. So spelling H-O-R and adding an S might lead to forming “Horse” for the next player unless they could form a word that starts with H-O-R-S but does not have an E next.

3. Which would you rather be? – Choose odd combinations of things to quiz people on their inner selves and true desires. “What would you rather be: a whale or a shark? A theater usher or a candy counter attendant? A professional singer or a librarian? A dog or a cat?” The list goes on and on, only limited by your imagination and curiosity. You might actually learn something about your children or spouse!

4. License plates – This is an old chestnut, but can keep children busy for a few minutes at least while they realize that license plates come on automobiles from all over the country. Some children move years before seeing one from Hawaii or Alaska.

5. Alphabet soup – I nearly hit a truck looking for an R during a current automobile trip so I’m cautious about this game. In this game, apiece player has to find letters of the alphabet in alphabetical order starting with A. Each player keeps track and tries to refrain cheating. Tiny children love to hunt for letters while they ride, and this game can be safely played from the back seat.

That should be enough to keep them at bay for at least ten miles. Long travel gives fathers the added concern of keeping children from getting bored on the journey. Read more about tips for fathers traveling with kids.

Travel With Children – Five Stuff-free Games for Long Automobile Trips