Ready to turn your next travel adventure into the ultimate journey for your little ones? Imagine the joy of family bonding, giggles, and the excitement of new learning experiences—all while on the go. Whether you’re in a car, on a plane, or riding the train, we’ve got eight super fun and educational travel games that will keep the kids entertained and help them pick up some new foreign language skills along the way. Buckle up and let’s make this journey as enriching as it is memorable!
1. License Plate Lingo
How to Play
Turn the mundane task of spotting license plates into an exciting language-learning game. Each player picks out a license plate, and using the letters comes up with words in the target language. For example, if the letters are “FTR,” they might say “flor” (flower) in Spanish.
You can keep a scorecard and award points for creativity and correct usage to add even more fun. The first person to reach ten points gets to choose a family treat, like an ice cream stop or a favorite story at bedtime.
Benefits
- Vocabulary Building: Your child expands their vocabulary by associating letters with words in the foreign language.
- Memory Enhancement: Recalling words based on random letters boosts memory skills.
2. Story Chain
How to Play
Start a story in your favorite language and let each person in the car add a sentence. The goal? Weave a tale as imaginative and coherent as possible while incorporating as many words from the target language as you can. For example, kick things off with, “Un día, una mariposa voló a la ciudad…” which means, “One day, a butterfly flew to the city…” If needed, alternate between English and the target language to ensure everyone can participate, especially those just starting to learn. Watch how the narrative unfolds, sentence by sentence until the story reaches its delightful conclusion or everyone runs out of ideas.
Benefits
- Creative Thinking: Encourages creativity as kids come up with new sentences.
- Listening skills: Enhances listening as the story unfolds.
3. Word Association
How to Play:
One player says a word in a foreign language, and the next player must respond with another word associated with the first one in the target language. For example, if the first word is “casa” (house in Spanish), the next word could be “la familia” (family), or “el gato” (cat) might be followed by “el ratón” (mouse).
Benefits
- Connections: Teaches kids how words relate to each other.
- Quick Thinking: Promotes faster recall of words.
4. Alphabet Categories
How to Play
Pick a category and go through the alphabet, naming items in that category in the target language. For example, animals: “ardilla” (squirrel), “burro” (donkey), “caballo” (horse).
Benefits
- Categorization: Helps kids learn to categorize items, a key language skill.
- Alphabet Familiarity: Reinforces the foreign alphabet and pronunciation.
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5. Synonym Rollercoaster
How to Play
One player starts by saying a word, and the next person must respond with a synonym for that word in a foreign language. For instance, if someone says “feliz” (happy in Spanish), the next player might say “content” (content). Or, if one person starts with “grande” (big in Spanish), the following player could say “enorme” (huge). Continue the game until no more synonyms for the word can be found. Once you’ve exhausted all options, switch to a new word and keep the fun going!
Benefits
- Vocabulary Depth: Expands understanding of words with similar meanings.
- Language Nuances: Teaches kids about subtle differences in word usage.
6. I Spy But Describe
How to Play
French: Instead of simply saying “Je vois avec mon petit oeil” (I spy with my little eye), describe the object in the target language. For example:
- “Je vois quelque chose qui est ‘rouge'” (red in French).
- “Je vois quelque chose qui est ‘petit'” (small in French).
German: Instead of simply saying “Ich sehe was, was du nicht siehst” (I see something you don’t see), describe the object in the target language. For example:
- “Ich sehe etwas, das ‘rot’ ist” (red in German).
- “Ich sehe etwas, das ‘klein’ ist” (small in German).
Italian: Instead of simply saying “Vedo, vedo…” (I see, I see), describe the object in the target language. For example:
- “Vedo qualcosa che è ‘rosso'” (red in Italian).
- “Vedo qualcosa che è ‘piccolo'” (small in Italian).
Spanish: Instead of saying “Veo, veo una cosita…” (I see, I see a thing), describe the object in the target language. For example:
- “Veo algo que es ‘rojo'” (red in Spanish).
- “Veo algo que es ‘pequeño'” (small in Spanish).
Benefits
- Descriptive Skills: Enhances ability to describe objects, improving overall communication.
- Comprehension: Improves understanding of adjectives and descriptive phrases.
7. Rhyme Time
How to Play
One player says a word in a foreign language, and the next player must find a word that rhymes with it. For example, in Spanish, “Casa” (house) could lead to “masa” (dough).
Benefits
- Phonemic Awareness: Helps kids understand sound patterns in a new language.
- Fun Learning: Makes learning enjoyable and less formal.
8. Twenty Questions
How to Play
Think of something and have others ask yes-or-no questions in the target language until they guess what it is. “¿Es un animal?” (Is it an animal?). They can ask up to twenty questions before they guess the object or you can adjust the number of questions based on the age of the children.
Benefits
- Critical Thinking: Promotes logical thinking and strategy.
- Question Formation: Improves skills in forming questions in the new language.
Incorporating these fun and educational games into your road trips can transform the journey into an enjoyable and productive adventure. They keep everyone entertained and offer a unique and practical way for your kids to learn a new language. So, remember to pack this list along, next time you hit the road with your snacks and travel essentials! Safe travels and happy learning!
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Choose a language
Our courses are available in French, Spanish, Italian and German.
Select a subscription
Choose between monthly or annual payment options.
Start learning
Receive your first audiobook and Story Box, and let the learning begin!.