8 Games To Entertain Children On Long Trips

Having opportunities to entertain children on long trips makes the experience much more enjoyable. This applies to both car trips and flights. The following games are great for the whole family!

If you are planning a car trip or have to travel by plane, you may be worried about your children getting bored. For that reason, we have selected the best games to entertain children on long trips.

So, be ready to kiss the boredom goodbye with these games for the whole family.

Games to entertain children on long trips

Before choosing games for your long trip,  you need to take into account the age and taste of your children, as well as the way you will transport yourself. 

Of course, if you travel by car, it means that you can use the Internet on phones and tablets. Meanwhile, planes often offer movies on board.

Nevertheless,  when the journeys last several hours, even the most tech-friendly kids will get tired of looking at the screen and they will want to do something else  (besides sleep). This is the time when parents need to use their imagination and find creative ways to entertain their children.

In this article, we will show you some games you can play with your kids on longer trips. These can be customized depending on their age and degree of boredom.

1. Color search

One participant says a color, and the other participants must name nearby objects that have that color. For example, if one player says red, then another can mention a “stop sign”, a red car, a red bag, etc.

2. Word search

This game is similar to the first one, but it’s a little more challenging. One player says a letter and the others have to list objects that start with that letter. For example, if one player says “B”, then another can respond “car”, “blouse”, “belt”, etc.

3. Family song to entertain children on long trips

If you drive a car, then a game that, for sure, will entertain your children will be singing. It can be performed as an a cappella or to sing along to the music from the radio.

You can even create a playlist of children’s songs on your mobile phone, or put your children’s favorite songs on a USB stick so you can listen to them via the car’s music system. Of course, you can always use YouTube videos for music support.

4. Guessing game

This is a classic game for long trips. One player asks the others to guess something that he or she is thinking about. He gives a clue, such as “it starts with A” or “it’s purple”. One can also guess characters, movies, foods or sports by giving revealing character traits as clues. It is really fun!

5. Count objects

To get your kids aware of the highway for an hour or more,  you can ask them to count objects or cars of a certain color or brand. It’s even more fun if they’s hard to find, such as yellow cars.

6. Teach children about traffic signs on long trips

Playing can be educational, even on long car journeys. Parents who are already familiar with traffic signs can start explaining them to their children. Next, they can ask the children questions about the meaning of the signs.

7. Coloring and drawing

It is not really a game, but it is an excellent activity for long flights, where you have to sit still for many hours at a time with few opportunities for entertainment.

Buy a bold coloring book or a notebook and some crayons. You may even be able to create your child’s artistic side without knowing it.

8. Tell stories to entertain children on long trips

The last activity to entertain children on long trips can be done in a myriad of ways. The classic version is to take a fairy tale book and read it from start to finish (or until the kids are asleep). 

Another option includes  inventing a story by using elements related to the trip,  or letting the children tell a fantasy story themselves.

As you can see, there are plenty of excellent entertainment options so that one can avoid boredom on long trips. It’s just about being a little creative and being aware of the needs of your children.