| How many of you find that travel or | | | | animals, places, television shows, |
| riding to or from an event, school or | | | | people, fruit, etc. Name something in |
| camp accounts for some of the quality | | | | your category. If you choose animals you |
| time you have with your children? | | | | might say "panda." The next player has |
| Instead of spending that time in silence | | | | to name an animal that starts with the |
| or frustrated because you are listening | | | | last letter of your animal. In this |
| to the same child-music CD for the 18th | | | | example, their animal would have to |
| time that day, try a fun car game. These | | | | start with the letter "A" such as |
| games often lead to laughter and | | | | "alligator." Play continues until |
| memorable moments. These are also great | | | | someone can't think of a word. They are |
| when trying to keep children entertained | | | | then eliminated. When you have only 1 |
| in lines, waiting rooms, etc.Here are a | | | | person left, they are the winner. You |
| few that I have learned over the years, | | | | cannot use any animal name twice. (If |
| heard about from friends, or created | | | | you are playing with real young |
| with my daughter.Guessing Games | | | | children, let them have the handicap of |
| Car Colors: Choose a time limit such as | | | | being able to use the same word |
| 10 minutes or 30 minutes - depending on | | | | twice).The Round Game: My daughter made |
| the length of the drive. Have each rider | | | | up this one and we have had great fun |
| make a guess about how many cars of a | | | | with it. Even my best friend who is |
| certain color will be spotted during | | | | single and childless enjoys this game |
| that time. The closest guesser wins. | | | | over dinner with us. We choose a topic |
| You can also do this in "sprint fashion" | | | | such as vegetables, board games, |
| by using 3 -minute intervals as your | | | | television shows, cities, types of |
| time limit. Whoever is closest gets a | | | | cereal, flowers, movies, etc. Then we |
| point for that time segment. The first | | | | name something within that category. For |
| one to 5 points wins.Odd or Even: Each | | | | example for cereal the first player |
| player makes a guess at how many of the | | | | might say "Cheerios." Then the next |
| next 20 license plates will end with an | | | | player names a cereal. Play continues |
| even number. The one who is closest | | | | until someone can't think of an item, |
| wins. It helps to have a little tally | | | | then they are "out." Play continues |
| chart to keep score. You can lengthen | | | | until there is only one person left. For |
| the game by increasing the number of | | | | young children, let them have three |
| license plates.Spy: You are probably | | | | "passes" as a handicap.The Rhyming |
| familiar with this one. One player | | | | Game:Someone picks a word to start with, |
| announces something that they see and | | | | such as "ball." The next player has to |
| the other players try to guess what it | | | | come up with a word that rhymes. Play |
| is by asking questions. The only trick | | | | continues until someone cannot think of |
| when doing this while driving is that | | | | a rhyming word. As always, give younger |
| it has to be something that won't go out | | | | players a hint or two. You make the game |
| of view - like the sky, the road, etc. | | | | more difficult for older kids by having |
| Someone announces that they "spy" | | | | each player recite the previous list of |
| something and gives a clue. Example: I | | | | words before adding their own.Tongue |
| spy something blue. The players then | | | | Twisters:Choose a person that you all |
| take turns guessing until some one gets | | | | know, example, "Sara." Then start with a |
| it. Whoever guesses correctly starts the | | | | phrase about that person that uses only |
| next spy-turn.20 Questions:One person | | | | the first letter of her name such as |
| thinks of a famous person, place or | | | | "Sara says strawberries..." take turns |
| thing. Everyone else is allowed to ask | | | | adding "S" words with as few |
| the player 20 questions which can only | | | | "connectors" as possible (a connector is |
| be answered 'yes' or 'no.' Whoever | | | | a word that doesn't start with S) to see |
| guesses correctly becomes the next | | | | how silly of a tongue twister you can |
| person to think of something. (We play | | | | create!Memory Games |
| this without a limit on the number of | | | | My father/mother owns a grocery |
| questions.)Observation Games | | | | store:One player begins the round by |
| The Alphabet Game: I am sure you know | | | | stating, "My father owns a grocery |
| this one! Each player sequentially works | | | | store, and in it he sells (something |
| through the alphabet looking for | | | | that begins with the letter A; e.g., ant |
| something that starts with a specific | | | | traps)." The next player states, "My |
| letter. For example: A might be apple | | | | father owns a grocery store, and in it |
| tree or a word on a sign. Once a player | | | | he sells ants traps and (something that |
| finds an A word, they move onto B. (Have | | | | begins with the letter B; e.g., |
| fun with Q, X and Z!) The first rider to | | | | bananas). "Play continues with each |
| work through the alphabet wins. | | | | player having to recite the current list |
| Variation: Use only letters found on | | | | and then add something that begins with |
| billboards, or letters on license | | | | the next sequential letter of the |
| plates.The Animal Game:If you are in | | | | alphabet. For young players, offer them |
| more rural areas where cars aren't | | | | "3 strikes" where you will help them if |
| abundant, try the animal game. Keep on | | | | they forget the list. Adults--sorry, no |
| the lookout for animals and when you see | | | | handicap for you!Variation: You can vary |
| one be the first to make the animal | | | | this game to match your interests or |
| sound. For example if you saw a cow you | | | | those of a child. Example:My mother owns |
| would say "moooo." The first person to | | | | a clothing store and in it she sells |
| make the animal sound wins a point. Play | | | | ____________My brother owns a music |
| to a designated number of points. You | | | | store and in it he sells |
| can make this game a bit more | | | | -______________My sister works as a |
| complicated for older kids by adding a | | | | producer and she has produced __________ |
| designated number of points depending on | | | | (insert television show)My father owns a |
| the commonality of the animal - i.e. | | | | bookstore and in it he sells |
| cows are 1 point, pigs are 2 points, | | | | _________________Just Plain Silly Games |
| etc.Find it First:Choose an item such as | | | | Laugh A Lot: Choose a player to keep a |
| Volkswagen bugs, farms, people taking | | | | straight face. The rest of the players |
| walks, silos, etc. Then choose a number | | | | choose a silly answer for the player to |
| like 5 or 20 depending on the length of | | | | use such as "My shoe." Then players take |
| your drive. See who can find the | | | | turns asking questions such as,What do |
| designated number of the chosen item | | | | you brush your hair with?What is your |
| first.Music Games | | | | favorite snack?Who is your hero?Where is |
| Hum-Along: One rider hums a song and | | | | your favorite vacation destination? |
| the other passengers try to guess. The | | | | The player keeping the straight face |
| person who guesses goes next. The first | | | | has to answer with "My shoe," while |
| one to guess 3 right wins.Radio Game | | | | trying to keep a straight face. If they |
| 1:Hit the "scan" button on your radio | | | | laugh then play passes to someone else |
| until it stops on a song. The first | | | | and a new phrase is established.Math |
| person to guess the artist wins.Radio | | | | Games |
| Game 2:This isn't so much a game but a | | | | Add-it-up: Call out the numbers on the |
| way not to fight over music! The first | | | | license plate and see who can add up the |
| person to take a turn goes through the | | | | numbers the quickest. For example |
| dial until they find a song they like. | | | | D572-43X - players would have to |
| You then listen to that song until | | | | calculate 5+7+2+4+3. Whoever answers |
| completed. Then the next rider does the | | | | correctly gets a point. The one who |
| same, etc., etc. The only rule is that | | | | reaches 5 points first is the winner. |
| if you go all the way through the dial | | | | (No calculators allowed.)Games that |
| without finding a song you like then you | | | | Require a Bit of Preparation |
| need to listen to the last song you land | | | | Travel Bingo:Make a bingo board with |
| on or lose a turn.Radio Game 3:While the | | | | color names in the squares. Print out |
| radio is off, each rider chooses a word. | | | | several on your home computer. As you |
| Turn the radio on. The winner is the | | | | drive, players place an X when they see |
| person whose word is spoken or sung | | | | a car of the specific color. You can add |
| first.Creative Thinking Games | | | | to the excitement by letting each car |
| Story-Telling:One passenger starts a | | | | only be used by the first person to |
| story with a single sentence. Then the | | | | "call it." Try 4 corners, blackout |
| next person adds a sentence. Continue | | | | (filing up the whole card) making an X |
| until you build a complete story.The | | | | on the card, etc.Variation: Make a |
| Question Game: Take turns asking open | | | | "mixed" car board and include different |
| and thoughtful questions and allowing | | | | types of items on the card such as:Fire |
| each person time to answer. Examples:If | | | | truckStop lightGrocery storeNational |
| you were on a deserted island and could | | | | Historic MonumentLake or PondFarmPolice |
| only take 3 things, what would you take | | | | CarBillboardSpeed Talking: (You will |
| and why?Who are your mentors/heroes and | | | | need either a timer or watch with a |
| why?If you won the lottery what you do | | | | second hand) |
| with it?If you could have lunch with a | | | | Choose a topic and then talk for 60 |
| famous person, who would you pick and | | | | seconds straight without repeating |
| why?Note: If you really get into this | | | | yourself or pausing. One point is |
| game, you can purchase small books | | | | awarded if you accomplish the goal. Take |
| called "The Book of Questions" at most | | | | turns playing to a designated number of |
| bookstores that give you a ton of | | | | points depending on the length of your |
| subjects to choose from!Word Games | | | | drive. |
| Word Sequence: Choose a topic such as | | | | |