Long journeys have plenty of gaps to fill: waiting at the station, sitting through a traffic jam or wondering whether it is nearly lunchtime.
These five games need little more than paper, a pencil and people willing to join in. Choose the ones that suit your journey rather than trying to finish everything.
In a car, these are games for passengers. Let the driver concentrate on driving.
Game one: Travel spotting
Tick each thing when you spot it:
- ☐ A bridge.
- ☐ A bicycle.
- ☐ A bird.
- ☐ A red vehicle.
- ☐ A person carrying a bag.
- ☐ A tree.
- ☐ A sign with a number.
- ☐ Something yellow.
- ☐ Something that makes everyone smile.
Adapt the list for trains, airports or walking. You can work together instead of racing.
Game two: The alphabet hunt
Find a word beginning with A, then B, then C.
Look at signs, packaging or things around you. If a letter proves impossible, take a family vote and skip it. This game is meant to fill time, not become an argument about X.
Game three: Ridiculous packing
The first player says: “I’m going on holiday and I’m packing a pineapple.”
The next player repeats that item and adds another. Continue building the list.
For an easier version, everyone adds an item without repeating the whole list. For a harder version, add items in alphabetical order.
Game four: A story in turns
Start with:
“When we opened the suitcase, something inside sneezed.”
Each person adds one sentence. Keep going until you reach your stop or somebody finds a satisfying ending.
Game five: Would you rather?
Take turns choosing and explaining:
- Travel in a submarine or a hot-air balloon?
- Pack only purple clothes or only striped clothes?
- Visit a castle or explore a cave?
- Have a tiny dragon or a talking suitcase?
- Spend a rainy day in a museum or a cosy cabin?
There are no correct answers. The explanations are often the best bit.
A little preparation
Keep pencils and paper within reach, and choose spoken games if reading during travel makes someone uncomfortable. Nobody has to complete the pack: one good game may be enough.
