Dateline: 07/26/99
Taking a summer road trip? Need something to stay busy and keep out of trouble? Let's use the Internet and our own minds to find some cool game ideas to take on the road !
One of the best suggestions is to have a counting game. You can count all sorts of things you see on the side of the road, including....
Another fun way to play this game is to have your parents set the trip odometer to 0, and time you as you count objects you see. You could play a new game starting every 25 or 50 miles.
Also try the ABC game....as in, When I'm going on a trip I need to pack...
The ABC game is a favorite in our Kidsnetgames Chat Room, so it's sure to work in your car!
The Car Next Door is another good game - invent a story about the people in the car next to you. Other fun no-mess no-fuss game suggestions can be found at family.com.
One of my favorite car games is to plan the trip for my parents :) I get a map of where we're going and trace the route - plan out bathroom stops, scenic posts to take pictures. Bring a compass along so you can know exactly where you are if you take a wrong turn.
Make sure you bring some car-games you can play while riding....magnetized checkers and chess are great because you can't lose the pieces. Also try battleship, connect 4, and other pocket-sized games.
If you have one, pack a radio, CB radio, or pocket-sized television - just make sure you bring the headphones so you don't disturb anyone else in the car. Bring your favorite tapes, maybe Mom or Dad will play them on the car's cassette player. Of course if you have a Gameboy, laptop computer, or other portable gaming system, bring that too, along with extra batteries.
Bring balls, frisbees, catcher's mitts, and bats along as well - when you stop for gas or take a lunch break, running around will be a great time to stretch your legs.
Mom and Dad may not like this one, but when I was a kid I used to like breathing on the car windows so they become frosted, then drawing with my finger in the frost :) A better idea might be to bring paper and pens so you can draw some pretty pictures to hang from the car windows.
Get a disposable camera, and try taking some pictures from inside the car as you're traveling. They should come out ok, and they're pretty indestructible even for little kids.
Hope some of these suggestions make your next summer road trip a little bit better !!