Entertaining Kids on a Long Car Trip

If you have ever traveled with your kids, you are familiar with the ongoing refrain, “Are we there yet?” While cute at first, the refrain can start to drive parents crazy after a few hundred miles. Beyond giving my father’s favorite response, “Yes. Get out!” you may wonder how to keep your kids entertained. Before you load up the Certified Mercedes for your next trip, take a look at this list of easy to play family car games. Some of these games may work for you.

Family Games
My childhood was filled with frequent road trips. My parents always kept me entertained with timeless family games such as the Alphabet Game and I Am Going on a Picnic. As an adult, my roommates and I passed the hours from Orlando to New Orleans with the License Plate Game.

The Alphabet Game is quite simple. The goal is to find each letter in the alphabet in order on billboards, road signs and other vehicles. It can be played competitively, with each player keeping up with his or her own tally, or cooperatively, with all players working together to find each letter.

I Am Going on a Picnic is also based on the alphabet. The first player recites, “I am going on a picnic, and I am going to take…” and then selects an item that starts with “A.” The next player repeats the phrase, the first player’s item and then an item that starts with “B.” The game goes on until the players reach “Z” or someone forgets the list.

The License Plate Game is especially nice for children who are learning state names, although as mentioned above, it can be fun for adults as well. Before you leave, make a list of all the state names. Then watch the other cars go by. Mark down each state whose license plate you see. The goal is to find as many state license plates as possible. This can also be played either cooperatively or competitively.

These are just a few of the family car games that I loved as a kid. If you know of others, we would love to hear about them!

Filed Under: Certified Mercedes-Benz