Games for toddlers while traveling

Are they counting quickly as they pass car after car on the highway? Is the counting consistently spread out, like they may be counting exit signs or traffic lights? The rest of the players have to figure out what they are counting. It sounds like a variation on I Spy , and I think my kids will love it! Make a list ahead of time, or check out this adorable card version of a classic scavenger hunt — taken on the road! Photo credit: Pixabay. The remaining players then have to wager how many items in the category they can name.

The opponent then has to do just that; you can decide whether to time the responses I suggest 5 seconds per attempted response. If the player is successful, award that person the same number of points as the number of responses they gave. If they fail to reach their goal, nobody receives any points!

Have a parent or other adult think of a number between 1 and Is it a multiple of 5? Is it greater than 50? Feel free to give them a paper and pen so they can keep track… but no calculators! There are other fun variations you can also try! To begin, one person says any letter. The next player adds a letter that does not make a 2-letter word, but is a fragment of an actual word.

Each person in turn adds a letter, being careful not to actually complete any word. We typically say that a three-letter word does not give a player a letter, but anything larger does. If a player cannot think of a letter that does not complete a word — or says a letter that the group agrees cannot be part of a valid word — that player loses the round and gets awarded a letter. Play continues until one champion is left standing.

The Rainbow Game Call out a color and they have to find something that color. Make the older kids find five things while the 2 year old looks for one. Pink and Purple are the hardest! Treasure Bottle Prepare this one ahead of time. Use a large soda bottle or a large clean peanut butter jar.

Keep a count of the items and write down the number of items on the outside of the bottle. Put the lid on tight super-glue it if necessary. Let the kids take turns rolling the bottle around in their hands until they find them all. Kids of all ages love this game.

Sometimes you can find them at department stores that sell child safety items. I found one online at Amazon that sells a really cute one that also doubles as a small pack for your child and is fun to wear. This is really great for airports and amusement parks! You can get tv-vcr combinations that will plug right into your car lighter. Put servings into small sandwich bags to be passed out at the appropriate times.

Cereal mix Mix ALL different kinds of cereal and package in individual zippy bags. Or just package individual kinds of cereal in bags. Pass them out for breakfast in the car.

This saves a lot of time over eating at a restaurant. Apple slices Dip slices in Sprite before you leave, and it helps keep them from turning brown.

Put them into individual baggies for snack time. Bottles of water This is the only drink my kids are allowed to have in the back of our van. All that sugar just gets them too hyper in the car anyway.

Juice boxes If you freeze these first, they help keep other stuff in the cooler cold on the road. Drink them as they thaw. We only get these out if we are having a picnic at a roadside rest stop. Fruit Roll ups Now they even have tattoo roll ups. Oh the fun you can have with food! Keep a box of baby wipes or travel wipes in the car — helps with everything. There are some nifty travel potty products available that fold up flat, and can even store toilet paper, wipes and extra liners.

Use a plastic leash for toys Keep toys and other stuff within reach with a child-safe plastic leash. You can also check out our guide to planning the ultimate road trip for more fun things to do in the car. See our suggestions below! The first person to name the artist or group when a song comes on the radio gets a point.

Keep playing until you reach your destination and whoever has the most points at arrival, wins. Need a great playlist? Check out our dance party tracks on Spotify here. The goal is to spot as many license plates from different states as you can. Whoever sees a plate first and calls it gets to color it in on their map.

The person with the most states colored in at the end, wins. Choose your first player and ask them to think of an item you can purchase at the grocery store. Everyone else in the car takes turns guessing what it might be by asking a question. Is it something you would find in the frozen food aisle, perhaps?

Guess again! Have the adults in the family list a bunch of things that are the same color. The more items you list, the better! Keep an eye out for road signs! Call them out as you drive by. First one who gets to Z, wins! See who can spot the most punch buggies, also known as the Volkswagen Beetle, on the road!

When you see one, shout it out and include the color of the car Yellow punch buggy! Those kinds of sightings are worth one point. Classic bugs are worth 2, and vans worth 5. Whoever has the most points by the time you reach your destination wins. It will for sure be challenging and also educational. Easily stored and sleek packing for packing in your carry on bag, diaper bag, or storing in the car. Barrel of Monkeys is a great game for small kids to play while waiting in an airport or riding in the car.

You may want to purchase two so they have more monkeys to play and link together! Travel Pictionary comes with over cards and a dry erase board and erasable pens. A great way to help kids pass time in the car is by doing a Travel Scavenger Hunt!

What travel games for kids do you enjoy playing? Share in the comments! Sharing is Caring! Our Top Pick. Leave this field empty. Recommended age: 7 years and up Number of Players: Checkers Recommended age: 5 years and up Number of Players: 2. Auto Bingo Recommended age: 5 years and up -. Mad Libs on the Road Recommended age: 8 - 12 years Paperback: 48 pages.