HT Games
Categories
Similar to the popular game Scattergories, this game is great for people of all ages. As Today's Parent describes, each player writes the alphabet down the left side of a piece of paper. Then, specify a category, like plants or places to go on vacation. Each person tries to write at least one word beginning with each letter for each category, and they get a point if it's accurate and no one else has chosen it. Keep it simple with younger children, sticking to concepts they know, like colors and animals. Use other categories with older kids, like singers and bands.
Fortune Telling
Show kids how to make a paper "fortune teller" by cutting a sheet of paper into a nine-inch square, as shown on the Family Education website. Fold the paper as described on the website, writing fortunes in the triangle-shaped folds, and writing numbers and the names of colors on the tops of the folds. One person then places the fortune teller over her fingers and asks another player to choose a color, which the first player spells out as she opens and closes the fortune teller's flaps. For example, for the word "yellow," she opens and closes the fortune teller six times as she spells the word aloud. She then asks the second player to pick a number, and spells out the number as she opens and closes the flaps. The second player then picks another number that determines the triangle that will reveal his fortune.
Paper Airplanes
Turn this activity into a fun-filled challenge in which players each try to create the best flying plane. Experiment with different folding techniques to create aerodynamic paper airplanes. Talk about what makes a plane soar and spin as you experiment together. See Origami-Kids.com for instructions on how to make great paper airplanes.
Origami
Other origami crafts are also a hit with kids. Visit the Origami Club website for directions on how to make many different types of origami animals, plants, and more. Kids can even make dollhouse furniture, holiday decorations, functional items like boxes and photo stands, and larger sculptures.
Hangman
In this game, one player thinks of a word and counts the number of letters in it, then marks that number of blank spaces on a piece of paper. Another player tries to guess the letters in the word. If she gets one right, the first player writes it in the appropriate blank. If not, she sketches one body part of the hangman, starting with the head. The object to guess all the letters of the word before the hangman is complete.
Fold-Overs
Create hilarious collaborative drawings to pass the time with this game. Fold a piece of paper horizontally into at least three sections, so one person can draw the head of a character, the next can draw the body, and the third can draw the legs without seeing what the other people drew, says Today's Parent. Then, unfold the paper to see the strange creature you've created.
Paper Dolls
Cut out paper dolls from sheets of paper, after drawing their outlines. Then have kids color on clothing, faces and hair. Their new toys will help them to stay quietly occupied on a road trip, in a restaurant or anywhere else.
Bingo
Create bingo cards freehand or on a computer before a road trip. As you drive, kids check off the words or pictures on their cards when they see them along the road.
Tic-Tac-Toe
In Tic-Tac-Toe, two players each try to place three marks in a row on a grid of nine squares. They can also play with a larger grid, such as a 25-square grid in which they each try to place fives X's or O's.
Printable Games
Print many different games from websites such as PrintActivities.com. You'll find bingo games, word scrambles and more. Tuck them into a purse or bag to counteract boredom anytime and anywhere.