Games to play in the car
Heading out in the car this summer and worried about keeping the kids amused during the drive?
A list of the nation's top 10 games to play in the car has been released.
The survey, completed by children for car finance broker Carfinance247, has seen classics I Spy and First One To See come top of the traditional family travel games list.
And according to the firm, which road tested the games on 25 children aged five to 10, more than 20 youngsters ranked them better than playing electronic games or watching a portable DVD player.
Amy Smith explained: "The route to a holiday destination should form part of the excitement and build up - helping to create memories that last a lifetime. Most of the favoured games are really simple – reinforcing lo-tech fun can be had by all.
"Not only that, but concentrating on technology, whilst in transit, can contribute to travel sickness, eye strain and headaches - so its sensible to limit screen time and get back to basics with some fun (and sometimes noisy) games that children will love."
The top 10 car games and how to play them:
1. I-Spy
Pick an object or person and give fellow players the first letter - then it's up to them to use their powers of deduction to find the answer.
2. First One to See
Apparent under many guises but the principal remains the same - the first one to spot a pre-defined object wins.
3. The Name Game
Name as many celebrities as possible. The next person’s answer must always start with the first letter of the surname of the previous player’s answer. For example Lewis Hamilton could be followed by Harry Styles. This game can be adapted according to a child’s age and interests – try naming Premier League footballers, pop stars, cartoon or Disney characters.
4. Little Lie Detectors
5. In-Car Tennis
Each player picks a colour– every time you overtake a car of that colour you score points as you would in a game of tennis. Game, set and match for the winner.
Tell a true story and tell a lie – the rest of your companions must guess which tale is genuine.
6. Story by Committee
This game tells a cumulative tale with everyone’s input. The first player starts with, ‘Once upon a time’, then each person in turn adds a new line to the story. It can be as silly, wacky and imaginative as you like.
7. Who Can Scream the Loudest
Proving this was a survey for children! An ear piercing and window shattering contest where volume is the only winning factor. Best saved for when the car is stationary such as in heavy traffic or service station stops (if your ears can take it).
8) Backseat Bingo
Give youngsters a ‘bingo’ card containing pictures of items they could see en-route: road signs, types of car, animals and landmarks. Arm them with a ‘dauber’ or something to cover the pictures when they spot them. Just as with traditional bingo, the first to cover all the images in a straight line wins a prize, and a full house wins a bigger prize. Creative parents could make their own, but there are lots of online resources that offer free printables.
9) Travel Treasure Hunt
Can take a little time and preparation but parents will reap the rewards. Ahead of the trip, research landmarks along the way and create a quiz themed around them. Kids can solve clues and riddles, answer general knowledge questions and could even win mystery prizes along the way.
10) Magic Markers
Unleash your kids’ creativity by giving them a chalk pen for the back windows. Non-toxic, odour free, and most importantly, something you can wipe clean from non-porous surfaces, the markers can be the perfect partner for a long ride, allowing little Picasso’s to create mini (and temporary) masterpieces as you drive. There are two rules: never colour in the full window and always wipe the windows clean straight away to save the decorative designs from impairing the driver’s vision!
