In-Car Games For Kids This Summer
The summer is here, at last, and we’re looking forward to those ice creams on the beach, those days in the pool and endless exploring the great attractions that Britain has to offer.
But after the stress of packing the car, getting the kids comfortable and ready for the journey ahead, you’re just waiting for the first ‘Are we there yet?’ or ‘I’m bored’ to echo around the car.
Whilst Roadchef is here in 31 convenient locations across the UK for you to refresh with a family meal, recharge your electric vehicle and let your children blow off some steam with our Miles of Smiles play areas, we’re here on Motorway Matters to suggest great games for you to play on the road.
From reimagined classics to games that you’ll want to play time and time again, read on and keep your children away from their screens to create summer memories as you travel on the motorway with your children.
Rolling out the reimagined classics
We’re sure if you’re reading this, you’ll remember those endless hours before Instagram scrolling or Netflix series watching, where you were wedged between suitcases in the back of your dad's Ford Mondeo (or Rover if you’re older than 30!) on the way to the South Coast via the M5.
Those were the days, right?
Now that you’re doing the same to your own children, with an electric vehicle instead of a classic family car, it’s time to roll out the classic games to keep your kids entertained for miles and miles.
Why not start with the OG in-car classic, I-Spy?
Whilst you might quickly get bored with searching for something beginning with S (it’s probably sky) or C (yes, it’s car again), add a category element to it and make your little ones think harder about what they choose.
Mix it up and flip I-Spy on its head - choose an item that you might see on your journey, and the first person to spot it wins!
Another popular road trip game for kids to enjoy is 20 Questions.
Simply think of an item, a person, an animal, a food item or something related to your journey and let your other passengers test their will and interrogation to see if they can get what you’re thinking of.
It can be anything from a Chicken McNugget Happy Meal (obviously available at McDonald’s at 30 Roadchef locations) to your child’s favourite TV character, so ask those questions carefully!
Finally, and this one can go on for as long as your journey continues, the Licence Plate game combines imagination with letter and number recognition.
Simply spot a licence plate and make a short story from the three letters at the end of every licence plate.
ZXW, for example, could be ‘Zoos X-Ray Walruses’ (weird, we know) whilst RIG could be ‘Roadchef is Great’.
It’s easy to while away the miles as you search for sun this summer!
Interactive Audio Fun
Your car stereo is your best friend for fun with these games, mixing it up with audio cues, music and listening - it could even be an opportunity for a few quiet moments.
Grab the Aux cord (or connect to the Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto) and get ready for some musical games. Don’t worry if you’ve forgotten the tech, though, our WHSmith stores at Roadchef have chargers, batteries and more to keep this show on the road.
Our first game is the simple ‘Name that Tune’. Choose a song on your favourite streaming platform and see who can guess it first. Easy peasy!
Whilst our first game can be started easily, the second one will need a bit of preparation, but it is fantastic for little travellers who love story time.
Audiobook Bingo begins with some bingo cards with nine words on them that you can craft at home or get your contestants to pick on the move.
Then listen in closely to see which words come up. The person who gets all their words quickest or has the most words ticked off at the end of the game is the winner!
It also means a few moments of quiet whilst everyone listens to the story.
If you don’t have an audiobook app, why not pick up your next read from WHSmith with its wide range of books, magazines and newspapers to enjoy and read aloud?
Prepare with DIY Games
If you’re feeling hyper organised and have your packing completed mega early, then you might want to create your own magnetic board games or activity packs before you hit the road.
Don’t worry if you’re channelling your inner Art Attack or Blue Peter though.
WHSmith at Roadchef has hundreds of games, toys, activity packs and colouring books to choose from to keep little hands busy on the move.
Time to stop at Roadchef
If the games aren’t working, then it’s time to take a break at Roadchef in 31 great locations across the United Kingdom. We’ve got every journey supported with our family-friendly motorway services.
We’ve got a variety of children’s food options, starting from just £2.99, including all their favourites at Fresh Food Cafe, including sausage and chips or fish fingers and chips.
Of course, you can pick up the iconic travel treat - a Happy Meal from McDonald’s - or a range of healthy options at LEON at Roadchef in twelve select Roadchef locations.
When the sun does shine this summer, we’ve got spacious outdoor seating areas for some fresh air whilst our sites at Strensham Southbound on the M5, Pont Abraham on the M4 and Tibshelf on the M1 have our Miles of Smiles Children’s Play Areas to let youngsters burn off some energy before your journey continues.
If you arrive at our sites and your children are getting that much-needed nap, though, don’t worry!
You’ll find Costa Coffee Drive Thrus and McDonald’s Drive Thrus at Roadchef motorway services across the UK, allowing you to grab your favourite food and drinks without ever having to disturb your kids.
We know how important that moment of peace is!
Educational & Mind-Challenging Games
Whilst games are fun for all the family, your journey can be used to give your children an opportunity to keep learning and growing outside of the classroom.
Many experts say that continuing those learning opportunities throughout the summer, through active play or just simple mind exercises, can ease transition into the new school year and keep youngsters in the frame of mind to discover and grow.
For younger children, quick mental maths can help them with number usage and avoid the need for a calculator. Why not apply it to real-world situations?
Get your child to tell you how much change you’ll get when purchasing your Costa Coffee or figure out how many parking spaces there are at Sandbach Northbound.
Spelling can also be a fun educational task to get your youngster to practice!
For older children and those set to take GCSES, take the time to do some on-the-spot revision!
You can even reward children with McFlurries or a treat from Roadchef & Co-op stores for every right answer they get - giving young minds something to strive towards.
Let the games begin
A well-prepped car and a plan of action for you and your children makes sure that everyone is kept happy and calm.
Whilst games can make the journey fly by, planning in those all important Roadchef rest stops means everyone can be fed, rested, relaxed and relieved before your hit the road again.
Plan your journey ahead from home to your holiday with our smart journey planner and get ready to have fun, recharge and relax as a family this summer.