Hobbies And Interests
Name That Tune
While riding in the car on the way to the mall or to Grandma's house in a neighboring state, play Name That Tune. The person seated in the front passenger seat is the radio controller and one of the backseat passengers can keep score with a pencil and notepad. When all are ready to play, the radio controller presses the car radio's seek button and the game begins. When the radio reaches a tuned-in station, the first person to guess the name of the song heard receives one point. Anyone else in the car may chime in with the correct name of the artist for a bonus point. The person with the most of points by the first fuel stop or when you reach your destination is the winner. The game may be adapted for home use by pressing the seek button on a stereo or boom box.
Billboard Poetry
Another game to play to pass the time in the car revolves around billboards seen next to the highways. Each time someone in the car sees a billboard, he calls out one word from it until four words have been found. It is helpful to take turns in a round robin fashion and the next person uses the four words chosen to create a four-line, rhyming poem. Use only one billboard word per line. It may be helpful to have a paper and pencil to write down the words for use on longer stretches of highway with little advertisements. Change the game to use at home by searching for advertisements in magazine headings, choosing four words and constructing an advertisement poem.
Living Room Dance Contest
Sitting home with the family can be boring at times, so gather Mom and Dad in the living room to have a family dance contest. One person is "It" and stands in the open area of the living room. Another plays a musical instrument such as a child's keyboard or guitar. The musician does not have to be skilled as an inexperienced music creator makes the game more entertaining. The dancer interprets the music according to tempo and produces a sequence of her best moves. Create judging cards to hold up when she is finished, similar to those used in diving or gymnastics competitions.
Online Games
When you're home alone with nothing to do but the laundry, hop online and play some free games. Many Internet games require a flash player to be downloaded, which is often free. Timepassgames.com is one option for online time passing. Shooting games, puzzles, brain benders and maze-type games are just a few of the choices you might find when searching online. Use caution when allowing children or teens to play or search for games online due to any inappropriate material pop-ups.