5 Great Games Kids Can Play on Long Trips

If you don't have a DVD player in your vehicle to entertain your kids on long road trips there are some gamed that they can play to pass the time and have fun while doing the games. These are great to keep them entertained for the long journeys.

1. Scavenger Hunt - Before going on the trip make a list of common things that will be seen on the way. Like Road signs with certain numbers on, animals that they may see on the way, colors of cars, license plate from different states. As the children see the items they cross it off the list. The one that get all the items found win a small prize that you pre-packed. You also can put a time limit on the game with the winner being the one that found the most items in the timeframe.

2. Car Bingo - Make Bingo cards on Card stock paper - this is easy to create with the computer use various states on each card so each state has its own bingo square. The game is played by looking for license plates from the various states. Each time they see a state on a plate they look for it on bingo card. To make it easier for them to keep up with the card, you can print several cards on one 8x10 sheet of card stock.

3. The Map Game - Print off a map of your destination. You can do this from Google Maps. Enlarge it big enough so that the kids can see the road numbers on the map. A few hours into the journey, hand them the map, and let them figure out where they are on the map using the road signs and other roads to help them figure it out. This works best if you don't tell them about this game before hand, so they will not pay attention to where they are.

4. The ABC game - Print out a list with the alphabet on and have the kids write in something they seen on the trip that begins with that letter. The winner is the first one that finishes their list.

5. Name the song game. On the radio scan till you find a song playing and then have the kids name the song - for adults naming the artist is a challenge also.

These games are not only fun but keep the kids entertained throughout the long journey. They can be played without buying expensive things and with a little preparation are ready to play. They are easy to pack and won't take up much room. If you print things out on paper, I would suggest using cardstock, it won't bend as easily. You can also pack clipboards for each child to make it easier for then to write.