Road Trip Games

Traveling by car with children is a real challenge. They are either bored stiff or they keep asking the question, "are we there yet?" This is nerve racking and annoying. However, when a family takes the road trip, the family has something that normally wouldn't be there: TIME! Time to make memories, time to get away from everyday living and time to reconnect with the family. Here are some ways to keep the parents sanity intake and make time fly by while riding in the car.

There are numerous websites where printable games are. Print out some bingo cards and with each passing car call out a number or letter. The first one who calls out "bingo" gets to choose the next game. Another game would be the license plate game. This game is simple, print out a map of the United States and when the family is traveling color in the states when you see that state's license plate. For instance, if you see a Georgia license plate, color in the Georgia state. Another version of the license plate game is to let someone call out the license plates numbers and try to come up with creative sayings using the license plates letters. For instance if the first letters on the plate is KEW, come up with a phrase that fits every letter within them letters (kissing every worm, etc.) and this continues until no one can think of anything else. Then you move on to the next plate.

Tell jokes or have a sing-along. Have the kids create their own knock-knock jokes. They may not make much sense but kids have a way of saying silly things to make their jokes funny. Have the kids come up with a couple of jokes and that will pass the time. However, with this idea you might have to stop more often as everyone will be laughing so hard they might have to go to the bathroom. Come up with songs that include the kids' names in them. Instead of singing Old McDonald, sing Old (Kids' name). This will make the songs personal and the kids will want to continue singing them.

Have the kids make a map of everywhere that they have been during the road trip. This is useful if you are going through several states. Print out a map of the United States and have the kids draw the route they are going. This will keep the kids interested and will also have some memories made for their "show and tell". Also, have them keep a travel journal, even if they cannot write, they can still draw pictures.

Remember, to stop at the weird stuff along the way. For instance, if you are passing through a state and it has a big acorn, etc. stop to see it. This will give the kids a chance to stretch their legs and the parents to get out of the car. Let them run and play for a few minutes. Once back in the car remind them they should put the big acorn in their travel journal.

It is not that hard to enjoy car road trips with the family. The key is to keep them busy so they don't hound you every five minutes with "are we there yet?" There are a lot of printable items on the web in today's world. Take advantage of them and create a memory that will both be pleasing to the child and to the parents.