Sometimes the thing that stops us taking holidays with our families is that we can foresee the torture of the long trip with our kids. Long journeys can be challenging for kids (it can be challenging for the parents, too), and keeping young children entertained during travel requires creativity and thoughtful planning.
Particularly since we also don’t want to be those parents, the ones who let their bored children shout and run around and get up to all kinds of mischief because we don’t know how to keep their brains occupied.
Thankfully, there are numerous fun and engaging games that parents can use to maintain their children’s interest throughout the trip, without being loud and disturbing other passengers.
These activities are easy to bring along and play quietly, ensuring an enjoyable travel experience for the whole family. From classic favourites to creative storytelling, this guide presents seven fantastic travel games that will keep your young kids entertained and make long trips pass by in a flash.
1. Travel Bingo
What You Need: Printable travel bingo cards or a small bingo set; pencils or markers.
How to Play: Travel Bingo helps keep your kids alert and in the moment, observant and engaged with their surroundings. Before you go for your trip, print out travel-themed bingo cards or purchase a small travel bingo set. These cards can have pictures or words representing things commonly seen on journeys, such as airplanes, different vehicle types, specific landmarks, or even types of weather.
Give each of your kids a card and a pencil or marker to cross out items as they spot them. The first child to complete a line—horizontal, vertical, or diagonal—shouts “Bingo!” (or, perhaps, calmly speaks ‘Bingo’) and wins.
For added fun, create different versions of bingo cards for different parts of the trip, such as city views, countryside, or sky views from an airplane.
Why It’s Great: This game keeps kids focused on the outside environment, making them less likely to get restless or bored. It’s quiet, doesn’t require electronic devices, and is suitable for any mode of transport where children can look out a window.
Variations: Make the game competitive by adding small prizes for winning rounds or make it a team effort where everyone collaborates to fill out the card. For longer trips, consider using multiple bingo cards to refresh interest.
Tips: Laminate the bingo cards for reuse or use a clipboard for a sturdy writing surface. You can even make your own cards with items relevant to your specific trip, adding a touch of customization and fun for the kids.
2. Hangman
What You Need: Paper and pen/pencil, or a small whiteboard with a dry-erase marker.
How to Play: Most people would have played hangman as kids. Hangman is a word-guessing game where one player thinks of a word and writes a series of blank spaces corresponding to the number of letters in the word. The other players take turns guessing letters. Correct guesses are filled in on the blanks, and incorrect guesses result in drawing a part of a “hangman” figure. The game continues until the word is complete or the drawing of the hangman is finished.
Why It’s Great: This game is not only entertaining but educational, helping children practice spelling and improve their vocabulary. It’s also highly portable as it requires minimal equipment.
Variations: To make the game easier or more challenging, modify the rules by adding or removing body parts from the drawing. For instance, you can use fewer parts for younger children or add parts (e.g., fingers and toes) for older kids who need an extra challenge.
Tips: If your child has a favourite topic (e.g., animals, movies, or sports), use that as the theme for words. This personalization helps maintain their interest and keeps the game fresh throughout long trips.
3. 20 Questions
What You Need: Imagination and basic knowledge of different objects or ideas.
How to Play: One player thinks of an object, person, or animal, and the other players take turns asking up to 20 yes-or-no questions to try to guess what it is. For example, “Is it bigger than a breadbox?” or “Can it fly?” The person answering the questions can only respond with “yes,” “no,” or “I don’t know.” If a player guesses correctly before the 20 questions are up, they win; if not, the original player reveals their answer.
Why It’s Great: 20 Questions encourages logical thinking and creative questioning. It’s highly adaptable for different age groups by varying the difficulty of the objects or concepts chosen.
Variations: Try themed rounds like “animals only” or “things in the sky” to narrow the focus and make it easier for younger players. You could also add a scoring system for guessing correctly with fewer questions.
Tips: Keep a list of potential items handy to make it easier for kids to think of something when it’s their turn. If you have multiple kids, encourage them to team up for a collaborative question-asking strategy.
4. Story Chain
What You Need: Imagination.
How to Play: In Story Chain, one person starts by saying the first sentence of a story, and then each participant adds one sentence at a time. For example, one might begin with, “Once upon a time, there was a magical cat.” The next player continues with, “The cat could speak in seven different languages and loved to tell jokes.” The story continues in this fashion, weaving a fun and often hilarious narrative.
Why It’s Great: This game enhances creativity and storytelling skills and is perfect for groups. Kids can explore their imagination while listening and contributing to a collaborative story.
Variations: Use a timer and set a 30-second limit for each participant’s sentence to keep the game moving and prevent long pauses. For an extra challenge, play “Rhyme Chain,” where each sentence must end with a word that rhymes with the previous sentence’s last word.
Tips: If the game stalls, prompt kids with cues like “Then suddenly…” or “Out of nowhere, a mysterious sound…” to keep the story flowing and entertaining.
5. I Spy
What You Need: A good view of your surroundings and creativity.
How to Play: One player starts by saying, “I spy with my little eye something…” followed by a clue, such as the colour of the object or its first letter. For example, “I spy with my little eye something green.” The other players look around and try to guess what the object is. If the answer is guessed correctly, the person who identified it takes the next turn.
Why It’s Great: I Spy is a great way to engage kids in their surroundings, helping them practice observational skills. It’s adaptable for various age groups, as clues can be simple or complex based on the children’s ages.
Variations: Try “I Spy with a Twist,” where players give non-colour-related clues, like “something that makes noise” or “something that is soft.” This can add an extra layer of fun and challenge to the game.
Tips: Encourage the use of objects outside the vehicle or inside your carry-on luggage to broaden the game’s scope and maintain interest over long trips.
6. Travel Journal and Drawing Game
What You Need: A travel journal or blank notebook, coloured pencils, and markers.
How to Play: Each child has their travel journal where they can write about what they see, draw pictures, or jot down their favourite memories from the trip. To make it more interactive, set challenges like, “Draw something you see out the window,” or “Write a story about your favourite travel moment.” Parents can participate by writing prompts or helping younger kids with ideas.
Why It’s Great: This activity fosters creativity and provides a way for children to reflect on their journey. It’s a quiet activity that keeps them engaged while giving them a keepsake to remember their trip.
Variations: Create a scavenger hunt where kids must draw or describe specific items they spot during the trip. For more structure, turn it into a “Passport Game” where they get stamps or stickers after completing each drawing or writing task.
Tips: Bring a variety of coloured pencils or markers to keep kids interested. Encourage them to create comic strips or fictional stories to make the game even more engaging.
7. Would You Rather?
What You Need: A list of questions or just your imagination.
How to Play: One player asks another, “Would you rather…?” followed by two choices. For example, “Would you rather be able to fly or be invisible?” The other player answers and explains why they made that choice. The game continues with new questions from each player or parent.
Why It’s Great: This game sparks interesting conversations and laughter. It’s perfect for passing the time while encouraging kids to think critically and express their preferences. It’s also an icebreaker that can lead to fun debates and shared stories.
Variations: Make the questions themed (e.g., “Would you rather explore a jungle or swim in the ocean?”) or tailor them to your destination (e.g., “Would you rather visit the zoo or an amusement park?”).
Tips: Prepare a list of fun or silly “Would you rather?” questions before the trip, or encourage kids to come up with their own. This preparation can ensure continuous fun without long pauses.
Conclusion
Traveling with kids can be enjoyable and stress-free when equipped with the right entertainment options. The seven travel games outlined here cater to children aged 8 to 12, keeping them engaged, happy, and entertained without disturbing other passengers. Whether it’s sparking creativity with Story Chain or fostering friendly competition with Travel Bingo, these activities are sure to make long journeys more enjoyable for both parents and kids. So, before your next trip, be prepared with these fun and portable games to ensure a smooth and fun-filled travel experience for your young adventurers.