Vacations are great, but the kids can get frustrated on a long drive. Even traveling in a motorhome can be tiring for kids when they are cooped up for hours on end. Keep the kids entertained and sharpen their observation skills by playing a few games when you are on the road.
Details
Let the kids watch cars that are driving by. Pick a car that is near you for a short time, and ask the kids to make note of as many details as possible. Give them a minute to make their observations. Share the observations with each other to see how many different details you each noticed.
States
Have your kids watch the license plates that roll by and call out different states. Someone should write down the states as you go, so you can see how many you find along the way. Make it more challenging by putting a time limit on the game or asking them to only find states where you have friends.
Car Bingo
This one requires a little advance preparation, as the cards should be made up before you leave. Fill the cards with animals, businesses or sights you might see along the way. See who can hit bingo first. If you are making a very long trip, you might do a different bingo card for each state.
Story Time
Tell your kids a story. It can be something you make up, or you can share the story of something fun that happened when you were young. Ask them to repeat the story back at the end, sharing as many details as they remember. Check their accuracy to see if they were really listening and paying attention.
Matching Games
Memory matching games aren’t just for cards, you can also play them on a long drive to hone your children’s observation skills. Look for pairs or animals, matching cars or similar billboards. See how many matches you can find. If you are traveling with multiple children, have them work together to find matches or compete against each other to see who can find more.
Car rides can be boring, even if you are traveling in the luxury of a fully equipped motorhome. Spare yourself the cries of boredom and teach your kids how to pay attention to detail. These games are fun, engaging, easy and certain to help make your children more aware of their surroundings.
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