Summer Road Trips – Activities to Keep Kids Entertained

“Are we there yet?” If you’re a parent, you’ve undoubtedly heard that phrase countless times in car. Yes, long and short road trips can test your patience, but there are tricks to making the time spent in the car fly by if you plan things ahead of time to keep the kids amused wherever the road leads. Take a look at these inexpensive and fun games and activities that will distract the kids while you’re en route:

Alphabet Game

The Alphabet Game is a car classic. Players look for words beginning with each letter of the alphabet. If a player spots a sign with the words “Burger Lover,” the letters “B” or “L” can be used. The first player to get every letter of the alphabet in sequence wins.

I Spy

I Spy is another classic game that can keep kids occupied for quite a while. One player is designated as the “Spy.” This player carefully selects an object in sight and says: “I spy with my little eye something that starts with the letter, number…” The other players take turns trying to identify the object by asking questions about the object. Some popular questions include the following:

Is it bigger than a football?

Does it need batteries?

Is it alive?

The phrasing of the statement can change to “something blue” or “something that sounds like…” The player who answers correctly then becomes the “Spy.”

Cookie Sheet Play Station

Bringing a cookie sheet along for the ride is a better idea than you might think – they conveniently fit in seat back pockets and can double as a lap tray, providing a surface for coloring, activity books and even Play-Doh. The metallic surface is great for fun magnets, including word magnets that the kids can compose poems and stories out of. Bonus: It also doubles as a great snack tray.

License Plate Game

The license plate game involves spotting the different plates from all 50 states while you’re on the road – this can take a long time as Hawaii and Alaska plates are sometimes scarce in the lower 48. Players can work together in teams or compete against one another. To make things more interesting, you can encourage the kids to add the capitals to earn bonus points.

Twenty Questions

One player picks an object or subject while others take turns asking 20 simple “yes” or “no” questions to reveal the answer. The trick is to be selective and strategic with the questions. Whoever guesses correctly gets to pick the object in the next round.

The next time you’re on a long road trip with the family, try out some of these activities to keep your kids entertained. This will make for a smooth ride for everyone and also help the time pass faster…and before you know it you’ll be at your destination.

Your friends at Apollo Insurance Services wish you happy travels! Wherever you’re going, we’ve got you covered! Call us at 800.426.1088 for all of your insurance needs.