So let's talk about car games. I mean, I don't particularly WANT to, you understand, but needs must. With a 2 hour trip to and from the Caravilla, as well as the intervening picnic expeditions, necessary measures must be employed to fend off boredom and the inevitable descent into bickering.'His arm's in my space. Tell him to move it into his own space!'
'Ugh, you stink. Mummy, he farted and he's deliberately wafting it over to me.'
Are we nearly there yet? How many more miles? (repeated every 5 miles)
I need the toilet. I DID go before we left but I REALLY have to go again right NOW!
'I'm STARVING. Can we have something to eat? But breakfast was AGES ago- can we stop at Mc Donald's? And on and on and on and on.
And yes, although the in car DVD player IS a godsend, it can't be on ALL the time, and anyway, the extensive negotiating and bargaining process preempting each film, must be endured first.
'If we have to watch The Incredibles again, then I get to watch Star Wars AND The Empire Strikes Back next time. That IS fair!' So it's definitely something of a double edged sword, and by the end of it, I often find that I'm losing the will to live.
In terms of car games, the most popular appear to be home made ones of questionable quality. For instance, at present, there's a 'musical performance' based game, whereby each person has to do their best rendition of the Axel F tune from Beverly Hills Cop, (I kid you not), and given marks out of 10 by Loverboy.
(On the very offchance you've managed to erase this awful tune from your memory and/or you want to relive those BHC glory days, here it is, just for you- enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le1z9HOY5Ss)
There's a great deal of throat clearing before each turn, because the main purpose of the game, is to make the sound as electronic as possible without sacrificing the tune completely. It just NEVER gets old...for them, and unfortunately, any attempts by me to introduce a new game, such as I Spy, are immediately and scornfully shot down.
And just so you know, we didn't introduce them to the decidedly inappropriate Beverly Hills Cop films, and nor is Axel F my guilty iPod pleasure. No, it seems we have both 'Monsters vs Aliens' (U cert), and that horrible singing Crazy Frog, to thank for introducing a whole new generation to Axel F's musical masterpiece.
But anyway, that's where you come in. If you have any innovative ideas for car games, I'd love to hear them. In fact, I NEED to hear them. Please, I'm begging you, I'll consider any thing. As long as there's not even the faintest whiff of Axel F....
Great tips x
ReplyDeleteMy boy just did a talent show version of axel f - so its well ingrained on my memory. I'm with you on the DVD blessing/curse thing too!
ReplyDeleteWhat IS it with Axel F? Just don't get it :-))
DeleteI always remember havin to go around one by one thinking of say an animal beginning with each letter of the alphabet always a challenge! Then there were lots of songs sung and a game called find me a... For example my dad would always say find me a manning a bike... It's like I spy really ! X
ReplyDeleteWe'll give it a whirl- thanks Hannah!! I'll try anything :-)
DeleteI spy, in the car or out of the car - i.e. S = seatbelt pin the car, or r -= road out of the car variation on a theme but works
ReplyDelete20 questions - the per on who is 'on' picks a celebrity or family member, extended family allowed - then each person takes it in turn to ask a question (IN TURN) male or female, american, family, Brown hair, etc and in the case of the parents when the kids are picking somebody from sum thing we never wathc 'would i know him/her' You lose a question to take a guess. Then the next person goes IN TURN so that everybody gets a go at being 'on it' and guessing. It is soooo funny some of the things that come up. After the 20 questions are asked the 'on it person allows everybody to shout out an answer. You can get the Child who loves recording things(ruairi?) to keep a written record.
I spy by color - something that is green -'grass? no, leaf? no. answer daddys socks etc
HOw many yellow , or other obscure color car can you see, or who sees it first. ( possible arguments no i saw it first, that's a lorry not a car...)
one person holds a deck of cards to their chest and each person has to try to guess it, so you are allowed to say its a name card - jack queen king, otherwise 4 hours later you're in donegal and have the dinner on and they are still guessing lol. Winner is the one with the most.
Who can be quietest the longest, and even after the first one speaks the rest are still in on it until the winner is declared, this is usually a h=short but pretty effective method of creating silence! Damain might want you to play this one Emma!! i know Desi does...
Bus stop big family favorite for IN the caravan - each person including mammy and daddy have a sheet of peer with the following titles - Girls name, boys name, city, country, shop food tv show(or personalize to the things you like e.g. sporstsperson etc THe youngest starts (cos the oldest is always going first and it's not fair mammy!) So Luke(e.g.) tis sitting and say Anna is to his left, she says "go" and in his head he recites the letters of the alphabet until she says BUSSTOP then he shouts out the letter "B" and everyone has to wirtite an aster to the questions with that letter. the first to complete shouts Busstop and everyone else HAS TO STOP THen Anna Asks luke his answers and goes around asking everyone theirs. If you are the only one with the name"brenda" you get ten points, if anyone else has it you all get 5.
Then person to Lukeys left (Anna) is the one who is 'on it'. In fairness we did teams when kids were younger and/or gave the younger ones 10 seconds longer once bus stop had been shouted. WE played this in Spain this year so its a big hit. one with the highest score wins. Added incentive a wee sweet every now and again for some reason to help the wee ones who aren't scoring to get a reward for effort - so thats lots of sweets for Loverboy!
Draw a picture unseen - so cormac gets an a4 page and does part of a drawing folds it so only bits are left for the next person, mammy, to add too, she does the same and so on, until the drawing is finally revealed by the last 'artist'.
From one mother of five to another, you get a money back guarantee if these don't work
xx
Brenda- absolutely fantastic! You are an absolute mine of information - thanks for taking the time to write all of this and I'll keep you posted how it goesxxxx
DeleteI found a website where u can create and print off free bingo games. Not boring old numbers but all sorts of different themes. The girls LUV them. Also audio CDs are a.nice.relaxing way to chill out. Mine luv 'My Naughty Little Sister' but there is a whole range of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas Laura- thank you. I'll source that website and the audiobooks are a must. We did have a Roald Dahl one but time to look for some more, I think!
DeleteFive - wow you deserve a medal ! Animal , vegetable, mineral always provides laughs for my 3! http://www.kidspot.com.au/kids-activities-and-games/Car-games+6/Animal-vegetable-or-mineral-game+11487.htm xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you for that- Will give it a go- its an oldie but a goodie!
ReplyDeleteOne of ours has the good sense to actually sleep most of the way to the caravan! Weird, but good ;)
ReplyDeleteHow very considerate- I wish I'd a few like that!
ReplyDeleteVery Interesting Article Your car games blog is so very good content nice one!
ReplyDeleteFor more online car games, visit
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