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