A simple fun-on-the-go kit can deliver hours of entertainment in the car. Pick a few things from the following list and throw them in an old backpack, briefcase, or large tote.
* Blank and lined paper
* Pencils and crayons
* Coloring pages (black-and-white maps work great!)
* A watch (for timed challenges)
* A Frisbee, jump rope, or inflatable ball for exercise at rest stops
* An empty scrapbook for gathering road-trip mementos
* A washable glue stick to post things in your scrapbook
* Any other fun stuff you'd like to take along!
Bored by the same old road signs? Pull out your paper and crayons and design your own! Here are some ideas to get you started: Snowmen Crossing, Skateboarding Ducks Ahead, and Grandparents Dancing Zone!
First, pick a travel-related category like things in the car, things in the gas station, or things by the side of the road. Have one person start by saying a word that fits the category. The next person says another word in the category that starts with the last letter of the previous word, and so on. How many words can you get in a row? How many can you get before the next town?
For this game, two "racers" in the car each pick an object that your car passes from time to time, like a barn, bicycle, gas station, or dog. When neither object is in sight, someone says "Go!" and the race is on to see which object the car passes first. After each race, change either the racers or the objects - and race again!
One person secretly chooses a friend or family member, and everyone else takes turns trying to guess who it is by asking questions about what that person would be if he or she were not a person. What kind of animal would Grandpa be? What type of car, shoe, or ice cream flavor? Try making your questions as outrageous as you can! The first person to guess the secret friend or family member correctly gets to think of the next secret name.
Write a list of things you expect to see out the car window on your trip. If you have little kids on board, draw pictures of roadside objects on a sheet of blank paper. If you're driving through the country, you could include cows, ponds, or tractors. Driving through the city? How about a bridge, a statue taller than your car, or a taxicab. As you go, tally the number of each item you see and count up the points at the end. What did you see most? What did you see least?
Create a road-trip scrapbook to record all the interesting things you see on your trip. Draw pictures of the places you visit, write the names of towns you pass through, and glue in pictures and small, flat mementos (like postcards, labels, ticket stubs, and tourist pamphlets). This way you'll be sure to remember your adventure long after you get back home!
|
