Child-tested car games when travelling

Even though it is not recommended by traffic experts to allow children to play inside a car while moving, children’s toy stores see it differently.

The former chief for the National Traffic Police, David Tembe, said children playing games in a moving car, may distract the driver.

“Children can throw the material or hit you with it at any time without warning,” said Tembe.

He said parents must always make sure they fasten their children with safety belts and when tired, they can stop and allow them to walk around a bit.

The Kidspot website says car games make family road trips more fun for children.

The BabyCentre says nothing derails a family road trip faster than bored backseat passengers.

It says there are child-tested car games to help you drive without meltdowns and log some serious kilometres in peace.

Minitime says there are many ways to keep children happily entertained and enjoying each other’s company.

Minitime listed the 10 best car games for children:

• Spy – “I spy with my little eye, something red.”

This easy-to-learn game is perfect for pre-schoolers and can keep them entertained for a long time.

• Road Trip Bingo

This fun game combines bingo with a scavenger hunt. Give each child a flat surface, such as a clipboard or hardcover book, to put on his or her lap. Each player gets a free printable bingo card and a zip-lock bag with 16 coins.

• Licence Plate Game

Armed with a pad of paper as you travel, tell them to write down the names of each town as they spot them.

•Tic Tac Toe

All you need are two players and a pencil to play this popular standby. Player one places an X on the grid, player two plots an O. They continue to take turns until one player has three across.

• I’m Going on a Picnic

This alphabet-based memory game is great for children aged five and up. You don’t need any materials. The game can be played with as few as two players. The first player says, “I’m going on a picnic and I’m bringing…” followed by something that begins with A, such as apples. The second player repeats what the first person said, but adds something that begins with B.

• 20 Questions

This easy-peasy game is great for younger children. Player one thinks of a person or a place. Everyone else takes turns asking questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.

• Connect the Dots

This “make a box” game works best when each player uses a different coloured pencil or crayon.

• Hangman

The first player thinks of a person, place, movie or book title. The second player guesses one letter at a time. If the mystery saying contains the letter, it is written in the correct place.

• The Preacher’s Cat

Alphabet-based memory game for school-age children. The game centers around a sentence in which only two words change.

• Spot the Car

This scavenger hunt is a fun alternate to the licence plate game. Instead of looking for different towns, you’re looking for different car models.

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