Summer holidays are around the corner which is the perfect opportunity to bundle up the family for a road trip adventure. Whether you’re planning to camp down the road or visit family in another province these December holidays, the prospect of travelling with kids can be quite daunting (cue “Are we there yet?” on repeat).
The road trip itself, let alone the holiday destination, can be a treasure trove of memory-making opportunities for you and your family if you choose to see it that way. Our family rule is no screens in the car so we have to be creative when it comes to passing the time. Over time, our kids have learnt to not even bother asking for devices!
Even if you do choose to allow screentime to pass the time you may still be keen to break it up with some road trip games. Here are seven of our favourites:
1. I Spy
This is the classic road trip game that I’m sure you’re all familiar with. The games works when you say: “I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter ….” and then other passengers must look for the thing that starts with the letter that you chose. We started this game with our kids when they were young and adapted it by saying, “I Spy something that is red” or “I spy something that is blue and has wheels”.
2. The Grocery Game
Choose your first player and ask them to think of an item you can purchase at the shops. Everyone else in the car takes turns guessing what it might be by asking a question. Is it something you would find in the freezer fridges, perhaps? No? Keep guessing!
3. Alphabet Game
Keep an eye out for road signs! The aim here is to find a word on each sign that you pass that begins with each letter of the alphabet, starting from the beginning eg A – ‘Antbear Lodge’. Call them out as you drive by. It’s a collaborative effort to get to Z as fast as possible.
4. Yellow Car Bzzzz
See who can spot the most yellow cars on the road! When you see one, shout it out and this earns you the right to ‘bzzzz’ your fellow passengers on the shoulder. For some reason, my kids LOVE this one and they know where all the neighbourhood yellow cars are parked along the route to school.
5. In My Suitcase
This is one to help you switch your brain back on! The first person starts by saying, “I’m going on holiday and I packed…” Finish the sentence with any item that begins with the letter A.
The next player must repeat the sentence said by the first player and add an item to the list beginning with the letter B. Keep going and see how many letters you can get through before someone forgets. I know this one sounds like hard work, but your kids will love it and you’re training their working memory (and yours!) at the same time.
6. Sing Along “Car-eoke’ Challenge
This game carries a little rhythm. To play, one person starts singing a line from a popular song. Passengers must pay attention to the last word sung. The next person to sing a line must make sure it begins with the same word that the previous song ended on. See how long it takes until someone gets stuck!
7. Sweet and sour
Sweet and sour is when you wave at someone through the window – if they wave back at you then they’re sweet and if they don’t, then they’re sour. The goal is to wave enthusiastically at other passengers, drivers or pedestrians until they acknowledge you and wave back. I remember playing this one as a kid and I’m sure you do too. Old school is cool!
*This post is sponsored by https://sani.co.za/