Kids can have such a hard time on road trips. You can't blame them. Having to sit for long stretches is rough when you have so much energy. These days, everyone has the ability to set up tablets and phones so that they can watch a movie or play games. That only goes so far and sometimes, you really are cut off and unable to pick up signals.
When my kids were smaller, I would visit the dollar sections at stores and pick up various coloring/activity books, crayons, travel games, Play-Doh, anything that would keep their hands busy. It was usually good to have a mix of everything, since they would still manage to get bored. Road trip games are everlasting and bring up different experiences every time. Here are a few games that can help keep the "Are we there yet" at bay.
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1. The classic License Plate game
Whoever sees another state gets to claim it. Print out some blank states maps and each person can color in the state they found. Whoever has the most at the end of the trip wins. This works great for longer trips. The more states you see, the better.
2. Alphabet Game
One person selects a category, like animals. Moving clockwise through the car, each person picks something in that category that starts with each letter of the alphabet, in order. So, the person could pick Ape, the next ones picks Bear, Cat, Dog, and so on. This one can kill a lot of time.
3. Costar Game (for movie buffs)
Start with one Actor/Actress, the next person picks a movie and a costar of that actor. The next person picks another movie with the costar and names a new costar. Example: Kevin Bacon (obviously) was in A Few Good Men with Jack Nicholson. The next person says Jack Nicholson was in Batman with Michael Keaton. The next one uses Michael Keaton. The game continues until one is stumped. Younger kids will have a hard time with this not knowing actors.
4. I Spy
This is great for little kids. Pick an object in the car (you can pick something outside if you'll be there awhile, like a traffic jam) and say "I Spy with my little eye, something starting with the letter..." Each person asks a question, such as "Is it red?" to try and figure out what the item is.
5. 20 Questions
A similar game to I Spy. Someone thinks of a person, place or thing and each question is a "yes" or "no" to clarify what that person is thinking of. The answer must be guessed in 20 questions. If you feel like adding extra rounds, make it 40 questions.
6. Punch Buggy (or Tesla)
It was always Volkswagen Beetles or Bugs but the kids nowadays use Teslas, which are everywhere so it can make this game a little dangerous. Whoever spots a Bug or a Tesla gets to punch the person next to them. Again, monitor your kids level, mine get really competitive so I've had to downgrade them to just tapping.
7. Storyteller
Someone starts a line of a story. Each person adds a new line in the story. Make sure to write it down to retell later once the story is completed.
8. Don't Say It
This one is popular at baby showers. Everyone usually has a necklace and every time someone says baby, they get their necklace stolen. This can work in the car. At the beginning of the trip, a forbidden word is selected. Every time someone uses the forbidden word, they get called out, a'la Pee Wee's Playhouse (you may want to avoid screaming though and not scare the driver). You can track it in a number of ways. Use snacks or candy to get taken, small toys or keep with the necklaces. You can keep a simple tally mark list. Whoever has the most at the end of the trip loses.
On top of these type of freeform games, you can always print out some road trip BINGO cards or get a book of Mad Libs. Card games travel well and there are travel versions of most board games that use magnets.
The point is to have as much fun getting to the vacation as the vacation itself. The kids may even come to look forward to the car-part of the trip. The car can be one of the best memory-makers for your family.
Have a Great Trip!
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