Many families hit the road during the holiday season, traveling at least an hour or more from their homes. Traveling is loved by many, and is an annoyance to others, depending on many factors. Traveling with children can be a bit of a challenge, especially when it comes to keeping them entertained. Sure, you could tote along lots of movies and hand held devices for the trip, without ever having to utter a word to your children, but reducing screen time has its benefits.

Playing some fun travel games in the car to pass the time while traveling has sort of become a thing of the past. Playing games encourages family conversation, interaction, and helps teach children how to observe their surroundings and pay attention to detail.

Try some of these fun car games on your next family trip:

I Spy

This game requires two or more players and is a lot of fun for the whole family. To play the game, one player starts with a simple declaration: "I spy something _____." The blank is filled in with any adjective (i.e., purple, fuzzy, tall, square). The opposite players must look around and try to guess the object that the other player has spied. Become the spy by being the first to guess the object correctly. For the player selecting the object to spy, stump the opposing players for as long as you can with obscure observations, and keep them guessing.

For older children: Two Truths and a Lie

This game is fun and silly for the whole family, but can be a fun way for older children to learn new things about their parents or siblings. At least two players take turns stating two facts and one lie about themselves. The other players will have to weed out the honest statements from the false one. 

Objects of the Alphabet

This game is suited for players of all ages, and multiple players can play at once. Start with the letter 'A,' and try to find something nearby that begins with  the letter 'A,' (such as an Applebee's restaurant). Move to each letter that follows, not moving forward until you have found an object that correponds with the letter you are on. Play until you have made it through the entire alphabet. Letters U, X, Y, and Z are usually stumpers!

License Plate Game

Make a list of all 50 states in the US. Have the family look for license plates of passing cars. Check each state off your list as you find a license plate that matches the state. For states already checked off, start a tally beside the state's name. Which state had the most tallies at the end of your trip!

Twenty Questions

One player secretly thinks of an animal or mineral, or vegetable. The other players then take turns asking yes-or-no questions, such as "Can it fly?" or "Does it grow in the ground?" After the players have asked 20 questions, each player gets a chance to make a guess.

Putting the screens away and playing these fun games will allow your family to connect with one another and truly enjoy your travel time.



Source: Arrigo Automotive