License Plate Tag

There are so many games to play to keep young children entertained on road trips. It shouldn't be too hard to keep the kids happy when you have a few games to play. Games such as license plate tag are also a great way to teach kids about different states.

With license plate tag, there are several versions. One is to watch for all license plates and point out a new state as you drive. The person that finds the most different states wins. Or you can count how many times a certain state is found. Chose a state other than the one that you are in! Another version is to take the first letter of the license plate and go through the ABC's. Choosing which version works best for your family may depend on your child's ability.

While you are playing this game, it might be a great time to learn about the states you see. Have guide books or Internet print outs with information on each state will help you point out interesting tidbits about that state. Name off a few things about the state as the license plate comes up. Things to point out could be the name of the state capital, state bird, state tree or flower, something the state is known for, etc. If you want to get even more elaborate you could identify famous people that were from the state.

Having this information available is a great way to teach your children new things without them realizing they are learning. You can also talk about a state as you are driving through it. Then after you are out of the state, have a contest to see who remembers the most. Offer cute little prizes as an incentive to keep the kids interested.

Road trips are great when you are prepared with a great game of license plate tag. Of course there are many more games that you can play as well. Learning about different states has never been easier. The adults may even learn a few things!