The best games for kids on a road trip
Most parents dread long car journeys with their children. Declarations of boredom, and cries of 'How much longer, mum?' are enough to drive even the most patient parents crazy.
But these great ideas to keep your kids entertained on a road trip should keep your children amused for hours, and ensure everyone in the car has a pleasant journey. They may even make those cries of 'Are we there yet?' a thing of the past.
Here are our favourite car games guaranteed to entertain kids:
'I spy'
A great game to play in the car, as it requires no props and involves the whole family. Road trips have the potential to be great family time, because you're all spending time together without the distraction of everyday life.
Spot the yellow car
This is an educational but fun game for children of all ages. Children must tell you as soon as they spot a yellow car, and the child who saw the most yellow cars is the winner. Younger children will develop their colour spotting skills, whilst older children are improving their maths skills.
Car bingo
Mums with time to prepare before the journey can keep their children entertained with car bingo. Make bingo cards with pictures (or words for older kids) of things you know you will pass on your journey. The first child to spot all of them will win a small prize.
The Cloud Game
Have your children spot clouds which look like funny shapes, then tell you what they think they look like. Great for building imagination and storytelling.
The Alphabet game
Start with the letter 'A' and find one on a sign, truck, building or number plate, say the word (or read the number plate) and then move on to the next letter. You can do this as a competition or together as a family for the younger beginner readers. The first one to get to the letter 'Z' is the winner!
Paper, Scissors, Stone
It's a classic game that kids will love because it gives them the chance to move and be active inside the car. Each child shakes their fist and shows the hand signal for either paper scissors or stone. The rules are simple: paper beats stone, scissors beats paper, stone beats scissors.
Card games
Carry a pack of cards in the car and you'll have entertained kids for hours. Simple games such as snap or card counting mean that even the youngest members of the family can join in, whilst older children can try their hands at pontoon.
