Keeping your kids entertained on long car journeys is always a challenge.
Of course there are a lot of gadgets such as games consoles and DVD players that can help time pass more easily, but some families might prefer a more sociable solution.
Car games that mum and dad can play with their kids have a long tradition in Britain – so we’ve tracked down 10 of the best to help you stave off boredom on those long trips.
1. Yellow convertible mini
This game can be played with all sorts of different variants, but the general rule is this: A point for spotting a yellow car, a point for a mini and a point for a convertible. Any combination of the two (eg: a yellow mini) will get you 5 points, and a whopping 10 points for the Holy Grail – a yellow convertible mini!
2. Three for a pig
If you’re driving in more rural areas, you can play this animal game. Get the kids to spot animals and award three points for each pig spotted, a point for other animals but lose 10 points if you see a horse.
3. I spy
A good version of this game to play with smaller children is to list 10 items you’re likely to see on the next stage of your journey – a police car, say, or a bridge – and challenge the kids to spot them first.
4. Alphabet game
Add an educational flavour by asking the children to look out for consecutive letters of the alphabet on road signs or licence plates.
5. I went to the shops
Another popular alphabet-linked game: the first player starts with “I went to the shops and bought…” something beginning with the letter A. The second player repeats the first sentence, and adds an item that starts with B, and so on. Other players can help younger ones.
6. Map reading
Older children might appreciate being given the chance to follow the route you are taking on a map – you can encourage them to look out for things like service stations, motorway junctions or villages and churches.
7. What can you do with…?
Think of an everyday object – for example a brick or a wooden spoon – and players have to take it in turns to think up possible uses for it. These can be as bizarre as you like: in this game children are encouraged to use their imaginations.
8. 20 questions
Players take it in turns to think of a famous person or a household object, and the others ask them yes/no questions before guessing who or what they are.
9. Count the cars
Children have to look out for cars of a particular colour, and whoever manages to spot, say, 30 first is the winner. You could alter this to use number plates – for example one child has to look for “06” registrations, and the other “56” registrations.
10. Sleeping lions
The Holy Grail for worn-out parents: can you convince your children that trying to keep quiet for as long as possible is a game? Certainly worth a try for a few minutes’ peace.
