9 classic car games for kids
“Are we there yet?” It’s a question every parent can expect to hear more than a few times on a long, or even short road trip.
With hours, or even days, to pass before you arrive at your destination – how do you keep boredom at bay? We have the answer.
Go retro and try livening up your next family drive with these family-friendly games suitable for kids of all ages.
1. My Bug!
This game works best in populated areas. The format is simple: see a Volkswagen in traffic and shout “My Bug!”
The person who spots the most VW Beetles or Kombis wins (just make sure you claim them before anyone else).
2. Road trip car-aoke
In the words of John Farnham, “You’re the voice!” Do you know the lyrics to your favourite song, or do you just make them up? Find out in this road trip singing competition.
Compile a playlist of catchy tunes. The front passenger is then tasked with pressing play and randomly hitting stop. The ‘contestant’ must belt out the next line word for word. Nail it to keep singing. Fluff a line and hand the hairbrush mic to the next superstar.
3. Shhhhh
How long can you stay quiet? It isn’t as easy as it sounds, especially if you’re sharing a tight space with a bunch of people (maybe even pets) or if you’re a motormouth.
The person who keeps their lips sealed for the longest period wins. No time limit. Parents have a distinct advantage if the kids are arguing in the back seat. Then again, maybe not.
4. Car bingo
This one requires a little homework.
Before hitting the road, make a bingo card jam-packed with objects and animals you might see during your journey. For example, if you’re travelling through the outback, you might include kangaroos, lizards and snakes – yikes!
Then it’s just like any old game of bingo. Cross off items as you see them until you have them all, then shout, “bingo!”
5. Cow poker
This isn’t a card game – it’s a counting game.
Divide the car into teams, each taking a side (left or right), and count how many cows you see on your side of the road. The team that sees the most cows wins the game.
Take the game to the next level by including other animals or objects. You could even include a points system to make it more interesting. Our handy scorecard below might be helpful.