Games to Play in the Car

Anyone who has spent unstructured time in a car with kids knows how cumbersome the experience can be. There are lots of questions, frequent bathroom breaks, and too many conversations that begin with, “Are we there yet?”

But long(ish) drives don’t have to be dull; they can be fun and educational. Here are some games you can play with the kids that will keep them active and engaged (and maybe even tire them, so they’ll conk out for a while).

Name That Tune
This game comes from the TV show from the same name. One person in the car hums, whistles or sings part of a song - it could be a few notes or part of the chorus. The others try to be the first to identify the song.

The Count Who Loves to Count
Little kids like to count stuff. Turn their early math skills into a game. Have them count anything - telephone poles, rest stop signs, semi-trucks or cows. Put some sort of limit on the game (could be miles or minutes) so the kids can figure out who won, and everyone can start over again.

Name That TV Show
Have one person name a TV show. The person next in line has to name a TV show that begins with the last letter of the previous show. For example, the first show named could be “Dog With A Blog.” The next show must start with the letter G, and could be “Girl Meets World.”

I Spy
It’s likely that everyone has played some form of this game. The way it works is one person picks out an object he sees or has seen along the way, and says, "I spy with my little eye something that begins with the letter (pick one from the alphabet).” The other people take turns guessing to figure out the mystery object.

Source (YourMech).