OK so these days many modern cars come with inbuilt DVD players to entertain the kids on long drives but if you are after some good old family fun on the way to your destination and want the kids looking at, and appreciating the unfolding scenery, try some of these for fun. They may actually enjoy it! And let’s face it the more ideas you are armed with before a long driving trip the better.

As well as these games I would also print out or find some puzzles like find-a-word etc… and have a secret stash of snacks in the front seat which would get handed over at times when it was all getting a bit much.  Another great thing to do is to stop at great looking playgrounds and parks on the way.  Not only is this good for the kids but it ensures that the driver is having a rest stop to get out, stretch the legs, have a coffee and move on with a clear head again. Remember that getting to your destination in one piece is the goal!

Maps

Either the paper variety or digital are great to let the kids see where you are heading and what they can see on the way. This helps stop the “are we there yet?” syndrome. They can let you know how far to the next town and what places you’ll pass on the way. Believe me on long road trips in Australia you need something to look forward to when doing some very long distances.

Photos

Let the smaller members of the family use the camera, you will be amazed at their perspective of a holiday. See it through their eyes too. They are bound to take photos from different perspectives and points of view.  The things that are important to them and the memories they have of a holiday will be vastly different to yours.

 

Car cricket:

Modify the rules to suit but here is one version. Every person in the car takes a turn at batting and score the following way:1 run when a car passes you, 2 runs for a car with trailer, 4 runs for a truck, 6 runs for a semi-trailer. Batsmen are out when a red car passes. Then the next batsman takes the crease. The game can be played until a player reaches 100. The rules are very flexible and you can agree on other scoring methods. Here is another version: car 1 run, ute 2 runs, motorbike 3, caravan 4, bus 5 and truck OUT!

 

Good ol’ Spotto:

Make a list of things you know you’ll see on the way to your destination and attach points, highest score over a given distance is the winner. (e.g petrol station 10,  windmill 20, red car 2, horse 30)Make the lists to find age appropriate or for trickier Spotto go for things like car models. For real young ones make spotto all about the alphabet, they have to find something that starts with ‘A’ first then move on through the alphabet. When the letters get trickier they can look for signs with the letter in it.

And our family all-time favourite!

Hey Cow!

This is an hilarious game for country trips. When you are passing a farm with cows quickly put your window down and yell out “Hey Cow” as you drive by then count how many stop what they’re doing and look at you. The object of the game?  Nothing really except breaking monotony and giving everyone a laugh; the results are surprising! BUT…the winner is the person who turned the most heads, so count quickly!

 

Have fun

Glenys