Spelling and Punctuation Games You Can Play in the Car

My kids and I have a couple of games we like to play in the car. One strengthens spelling skills and the other strengthens punctuation skills. These games work well one on one; when you have one child in the car running and errand with you. They can also play it among themselves. Here is how you play it.

Car Schooling Spelling game: This game is very easy, and pretty much a no-brainier. It will greatly improve your child's spelling skills, and you child will not resist playing it if you keep it light and fun. It usually starts when my child says a word that impresses me and I respond, "Spell that!" They do, or at least try and I correct it. Then I suggest we play our spelling game.

Car Schooling Spelling game Rules:
1. Spell everything!
2. Whoever breaks the conversation loses!

Car Schooling Spelling game demonstration:

I say: H-O-W W-A-S Y-O-U-R B-R-E-A-K-F-A-S-T T-H-I-S M-O-R-N-I-N-G (spelling out each letter)

The child usually responds with G-O-O-D.

I say: W-H-A-T D-I-D Y-O-U E-A-T?

They say: B-A-C-ON, E-G-G-S, A-N-D T-O-A-S-T.

Then I ask another question. The key for the parent is to ask questions that will elicit more than a one-word answer. (try to squeeze in spelling corrections without breaking the flow of the game) What usually happens with us is the once the kid gets into it, they start asking questions too, and I eventually give up and lose the game.

Car Schooling Grammar Game:

I call our game "comma, period". It originated from "spell that". When my kids were having problems with punctuation marks, we played it often. I thought about our spelling game and made up these new rules:

Car Schooling punctuation game rules:
1. Say your punctuation marks at the end of every sentence, add commas too. (As they get good at this, they can add colons, and paragraph breaks into longer conversations.
2. Who ever quits loses.

Car Schooling punctuation game demonstration:

I say: "What did you buy at the store, QUESTION MARK? (Yes, we say the words question mark, period, comma, etcetera).
They answer: "Why, QUESTION MARK?
I Reply: Because I want to know, PERIOD.
They reply: I purchased a toy, COMMA, and some candy, COMMA, and a surprise, PERIOD.
I reply: What is the secret, QUESTION MARK?
They reply: None of your business, EXCLAMATION POINT!

Once again, the goal is to get to get them to give long answers so they will add more punctuation marks. If they make an error, correct it quickly then respond to their last reply. This game can go on for hours and can be played with more than one child if you like. I often get tired and lose this game as well.