Nationwide Vehicle Contracts list the best car games for kids, guaranteed to keep them entertained
Planning a long road trip and dreading the thought of hearing, "Are we there yet?… Are we there yet?…". Here is a list of 10 best car games for kids guaranteed to keep them entertained on a road trip or just a short car ride perfect for any age.
Travelling with kids is not easy as most kids can be impatient while in the car, even if it only a short trip. So making sure the kids are entertained can make the journey feel so much quicker and bearable.
1. I Spy
A classic game of I Spy will definitely keep the kids amused for a while. One person begins by saying, "I spy with my little eye, something beginning with… A (or a different letter)" or "I spy with my little eye something… blue (or a different colour). Then, players take turns guessing until someone gets the correct answer. The first person to guess correctly gets the next turn and then chooses another object or colour. Simple but fun game for the trip.
2. Would You Rather?
Start a game of "Would You Rather?" with everyone taking turns asking creative or silly questions to the family. For example, would you rather eat cake or burgers for an entire day? Or would you rather have the power to become invisible or be able to fly? "Would You Rather?" is excellent for the whole family and can be hilarious when someone suggests a weird and wacky question.
3. Who am I?
This is a great game to get the kids thinking. It's a guessing game where players use yes or no questions to guess the identity of a famous person or animal. Players ask questions based upon the traits and characteristics of a person or animal everyone will be able to identify. For example, "Do you have a beard? Or How many legs do you have? The person who guesses the correct answer is the person who thinks of the next person or animal to guess.
4. Joker
Who doesn't love a good joke? The best way to make the family laugh is to go around the car telling your favourite funny jokes. Try some of your best Knock Knock jokes however, if your struggling, check out Laugh Factory funny family jokes for inspiration.
5. Singalong
Who doesn't enjoy singing in the car? If you love music, you can play a couple of games with the family in the car that involves singing. The first game is when one person singing a song, and everyone has to guess which song it is. The person who guesses correctly then has to pick a different song, and everyone else has to guess.
Another game you can play is where somebody starts by singing the lyrics of a song, and everyone else guesses it and sing along until it is finished, or until nobody knows the lyrics. Both fun games to play in the car if you love to sing.
6. Car colour game
This game might need some prep before the journey. Start by drawing columns on a piece of paper with colours at the top avoiding primary car colours like white, black, red, blue. Use colours such as yellow, purple, pink, orange, etc. Then as you drive along, make a tick every time you go past a car with that colour and try and see as many coloured cars as possible.
7. Memory Test
This game starts with the first person says "A is for …" filling in the blank with a word beginning with the letter A, for example, "apple." The second person comes up with a word for the letter B, for example, "ball," but must also repeat the "A" word: "A is for apple, B is for ball." Carry On through the alphabet, each person taking several turns and reciting more letters and words. Try and see how far down the alphabet you can go without someone forgetting.
8. Restaurant Race
Everyone in the car chooses a restaurant, for example, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, etc. Players earn points by spotting their chosen restaurant off the road, on a billboard, on exit markers, on Food/Fuel signs, or by hearing it mentioned on the radio. The game works best if you impose a time limit such as 20 minutes and then add up the total points.
9. Categories
Decide within the car a broad category, for example, movie titles, cities, dinner foods, sports teams etc. Then everyone in the car takes turns naming items within the chosen category in alphabetical order. For example, if you decide on cities, you could say Amsterdam, Bangkok, Chicago, Denver, Edinburgh, etc. If a player doesn't answer within 10 seconds or doesn't travel down the alphabet correctly, they automatically lose the game and are out.
10. Word Association
This game is perfect for quick thinking word masters. The first player says a random word aloud. Then, the next player quickly says another word, but it has to be associated with the first word. For example, barbecue, burger, hot dog, mustard, etc. The game ends if someone either takes too long to answer, provides an answer without a clear association, or repeats a word.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our comprehensive motoring and leasing blogs on everything from 10 Ways to Reduce Stress While Driving and Top 5 Car Themed Family Days Out. Or why not leave a comment below and let us know your favourite family-friendly games to play in the car?
