by Laura Leigh Fields

Created on: November 09, 2008   Last Updated: November 16, 2008

Driving with kids in the vehicle isn't always easy. They have a tendency to get bored when they are just sitting and doing nothing. Be one step ahead of the plan the next time you are traveling by providing your child with games and fun things to do when you are on the road.

Pack a fun bag.

Before you leave the house, have your child help you pack a duffel bag with some of their favorite items. Include books to read, coloring books, crayons, word puzzles, and hand held games. Providing a variety of toys to occupy your child while driving will ensure that they have plenty of ways to entertain themselves.

Get musical.

There are many fun things to do when you involve music. Take turns with your child picking out fun songs that the two of you can sing together. You can even turn on the radio and play name that tune or sing along with the musician.

"What do you see?"

"What do you see?" is a very fun game for kids on the road. It also encourages them to pay attention to their surroundings. All you do to play this game is take turns describing something that you noticed as you were driving. This can be something inside your vehicle, the scenery, other cars, and anything else that your eyes notice. Take turns guessing what the object is. The winner gets to pick the next object to describe.

Play the alphabet game.

The alphabet game is a great way for kids to pass the time while traveling. Start with the letter "A" and find something on the road that has that letter in it. This can be on license plates, billboards, road signs, or businesses that you pass along the way. When the letter is found, move to the next one in the alphabet. Once "Z" is reached, start over at "A" but with a different theme. This time, find objects such as cars, colors, or animals along the roadside that start with that letter.

What are you taking on vacation?

This is another fun memory game that will occupy your kids while you are driving, hold their attention, and help them enrich their brainpower. Each person will take turns listing things in alphabetical order that they would take on vacation. For more fun, start each turn by saying, "I am going on vacation and I am taking". For advanced players, recite all the things that were said before hand. See how long the game will last before someone forgets an item that has been named.

There are so many questions and so little time.

Take this time on the road to get to know your kids. You can occupy your child while driving by asking them questions that will make them think. The questions can vary from trivia to imaginative play. Try a few of these or create some of your own.

* If you could have three wishes what would they be?

* How would you spend a million dollars?

* If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?

* Who is your hero?

* If you could be a color/an animal/ a car, what would you be?

Reward your child for their efforts.

As a reward for winning a game that is played, treat your child to a roadside adventure. Stop at an area attraction along your route and go explore it together. It doesn't matter if it is an ice cream shop, a little museum, or a park- kids will love the chance to get out and stretch their legs and burn off a little energy before heading on down the road.

The possibilities are endless when you are traveling with your kids. Use your imagination and you will be pleased with all the fun activities that you and your child will come up with to occupy them while traveling. Before you know it, you will be at your destination and your kids will be begging you to drive around the block a few more times so that they can keep playing all the fun games!

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