BLOGGING THE VIEW: Car games to keep your sanity
Those 7-hour car trips destined for the coast can get quite tiresome the first 10 minutes in, particularly when there are youngsters in the car, and while tablets and smart phones can keep them entertained for much of the time, nothing beats the old classic - car games
As Christmas approaches and holidays begin, it’s time to get geared up for those road trips on the horizon.
Those 7-hour car trips destined for the coast can get quite tiresome the first 10 minutes in, particularly when there are youngsters in the car, and while tablets and smart phones can keep them entertained for much of the time, nothing beats the old classic – car games.
Here is a list to refresh your memory and help you enjoy the holiday season that much more!
I spy
You can’t go wrong with this old favourite, and it can keep even the youngest ones entertained. Start with something relatively easy (road, lamp post, steering wheel) or adjust it slightly for the littlest and go according to colour (I spy with my little eye…something that is green). Take it a step further with ‘I hear with my little ear…’ if you want more of a challenge. You can certainly kill some road time while enhancing vocabulary!
Car cricket
There are many variations of this game involving number plates and the like, but at its most simple form, each player goes into ‘bat’ and scores according to the passing cars. White cars are 1 run, blue cars four runs, orange cars six runs and a red car is out. You can assign your own points system to cars/trucks/taxis such as dot balls – in fact, establishing the rules will take up some car time as well!
Car bingo
At the start of the journey, list everyday objects on a piece of paper (really try drag out the brainstorming) and everyone is encouraged to try spot these objects as the journey progresses. Whoever spots all the listed items can call ‘bingo!’.
Memory game
This is a great one to boost memory prowess while also shortening the road trip – theoretically of course. You can start with any generic line such as ‘I’m going on a picnic and bringing a blanket’, the next person says ‘I’m going on a picnic and bringing a blanket and some apples’, and so it goes until someone can’t remember all the items.
Alphabet race
Get the kids to write out the alphabet on a piece of paper (sing the alphabet song for further time killing joy) and then everyone has to look out the window and identify an item corresponding to the alphabet list. The first person to finish the list wins (this could take some time if there aren’t any xylophones or x-rays outdoors).
Twenty questions
This is a great game for every age! One player thinks of a person, place or thing (that is generally quite commonly known) and everyone else takes turns in asking ‘yes/no’ questions to gather clues on who, where or what it is. After 20 questions, there has to be a winner or the player reveals the answer and goes again!
Don’t say the word!
For those competitive tykes, this is a really great game. As you start on your journey, agree upon five words that nobody can say and, if someone says the word, they get a point (or put a coin in the jar) and the one with the least points (or coins) wins.
Now you are ready to get your holiday started, so get gaming and get going!
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