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