Are we there yet? I have to go pee. I'm bored. As parents we've all heard the familiar chants from our children while driving in the car. Sometimes, even just a short trip to town can turn sour real quick. For most of us, leaving the kids home isn't an option. In light of this, here are a few fun games to play in the car with your kids.

The ABC Game

My siblings and I really enjoyed this game when we were youngsters. Starting with the letter A and working there way up to Z, have your children search for things or words along the way that start with that letter. A for animal, B for bicycle, C for car, and so on and so forth.

The I'm Thinking of an Animal

This game is always a winner with kids. Think of an animal. Have the kids take turns trying to guess which animal you're thinking of. Each child can ask one question at a time. The game continues until someone guesses the correct animal, which in a long car ride might be just what you need. Everyone can have a turn picking an animal.

Let's Make a Story

You or one of the children can start telling a story about anything you want. When they're done you or the next child adds to it. You never know where this game will lead you, but it's a great way for the children to use their imagination. It's also a great opportunity for Mom and Dad to interject a bit of over-the-kids-heads humor to make the trip a bit more fun for the two of you.

Let's go on a Scavenger Hunt

Don't worry you won't have to pull the car over for this one. Here's how it works. Make a list of things for the kids to look for as you're traveling along. A green car, a gas station etcetera. Give each child their own copy of the list. As they find the items they can check them off. (You can also use stickers to place beside each item to make it a little more fun)

A few additional ideas.

Buy a plastic tote and fill it with activity books, coloring books and a few regular reading books. A brand new blank note book or drawing pad and a set of colored pencils or crayons just might do the trick also.

Many game manufacturers offer an assortment of travel games including checkers, battle ship, tic-tac-toe and bingo. These games can also be stored in a plastic tote and can be a life saver on long car trips with the kids.

If all goes as planned, these games and activities should allow you to arrive at your intended destination with some hair left on your head.

Learn more about this author, Cyndi Li.
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