By H&H Admin

Long-distance trips can be tiring and arduous, particularly when some of your passengers are young and restless; but more often than not, playing car games can be the answer and will help you maintain your sanity. 

Road trips with your children don’t have to be difficult ordeals punctuated with a repeated “Are we there yet?” Here are some car game suggestions which might keep your restless passengers entertained long enough for them not to notice the distance you are travelling. 

1. The Grocery Game

The first player is tasked with thinking of an item that can be purchased at a grocery store. Thereafter, all the other passengers must take turns guessing what that item might be by asking a question. Is it something you would find in the frozen food section? Is it edible? No? Guess again!

2. I Spy

This is a well-known game, so it won’t take a lot of instruction to learn how to play. The first person selects something either on the road or in the car without revealing what it is to the rest of the players in the car. Then they must repeat the phrase, “I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter …” as it relates to the answer.

The other passengers then try to guess what it might be. 

3. Song humming game

Take it in turns to hum your favorite song. This could be a song for a TV show or one from your favorite artist.  The other passengers then take turns guessing the song as fast as possible! Whoever guesses correctly gets to hum the next tune!

4. Family storytime

This game begins with one of the players saying a sentence to begin an imaginary story. This could be something like “There was once an elephant named Tshepo”. The next player then continues with their own sentence, and so the story continues. This is a great way to let the kid’s imaginations run wild and see what they come up with!

5. Fortunately/unfortunately

This continuous story game involves each person adding a phrase one at a time. Each phrase must start with either the word fortunately or unfortunately. The aim is to make the story entertaining and funny story.  Example: Unfortunately Johan’s car broke down at the side of the road… fortunately his friend Mark was driving past… etc.

6. Monotone song lyrics

Say the lyrics of one of your favorite songs but with no tune or melody. The other passengers must try and guess the song from the words alone!

7. In my suitcase

The first player states the phrase “I’m going on holiday and I’m taking …” followed by an item (toothbrush, suitcase, etc). The next person must repeat the phrase, including the previous person’s item, then add an item of their own.  Keep going and see how many letters you can get through before someone forgets!

8. The quiet game

This is a great game when attempting to restore order in a car full of squabbling siblings. An adult simply challenges the kids by asking ‘Who can stay quiet the longest?’ Just like that, your car will become a haven of peace and tranquillity.  Be warned, the silence may not last for as long as you might like it to in which case offering a ‘reward’ may be a worthwhile consideration.

9. Sing-a-long

The first player starts by singing a few lines of a song. The next person jumps in to connect the lyrics with another song starting with the last word from the previous player’s song, i.e., the last lyrics of player one’s song should be the first lyrics for player two sings). Here’s an example: “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you….” “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy…” “Happy birthday to you!”

We are confident one or more of these games will help maintain order as you make your way to your destination and make your travels more pleasant and memorable.