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Providing activities for kids on long car journeys isn't just a matter of keeping them quiet. As a parent, you will want to keep them happy as well, and you might find that the long time cooped up together is actually a good time to get to know your children.

Some cars are fitted with back-seat video consoles and televisions. These are OK for short periods of time, but it seems a shame to miss all the lovely scenery you will be passing. I also think that it's a bit of a cop-out to plug your children into a machine to keep them quiet. With a bit of imagination you can all have a great time during the trip.

Here are a few ideas I've come up with over the years.

PENCIL AND PAPER

Depending on how old your children are, they can draw or write things. Those cushioned trays you can get for tv dinners work well in the car, giving a nice firm surface to work on. They could keep a visual or written diary of the places they pass, even writing poetry, to if they are moved by what they see. You could help them out here by talking about possible themes. This is your chance to write a poem too make it a family activity, not just a kids one.

Consequences is a fab game. Each person takes a long strip of paper and draws a face on it. They turn down the paper so the drawing can't be seen and pass it to the next person who draws a body. Cover and pass on for the legs, and then the feet. This can also be done with writing. You write down a name and then who they met, what they ate etc.

Alphabet sets. Pencil and paper at the ready, you decide on five or more categories eg animals, car makes, colors etc. Then someone chooses a letter and you have to write down one thing in each category beginning with that letter. Allocate points, with extras for good ideas.

Take some coloring books.

OUT OF THE WINDOW

This can be prepared in advance. Write out a list of all the emergency vehicles and the children tick them off the list when they see them.

Collect the alphabet from car number plates. They have to see all the alphabet in order.

Collect all the states (you'll need a list of these first) from number plates or road signs.

Think of a story for the things you see. Take it in turns to point out something and everyone has to help invent a story.

Eye-spy.

IN YOUR HEAD

Any word game is fun with all the family.

Fizz-buzz.

I went to the shops and I bought (each person remembering the whole list as you go round and adds something extra).

Fortunately/unfortunate ly. The story unfolds as each person tells the next

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