Because this telling time activity utilizes practical experience with train schedules, it's great for kids who love transportation. Use the excitement your child might have about attending an event to generate interest in learning how to tell time.

Telling Time Activity Materials

The preparation is very simple, but you'll want to plan your activity around an event or day trip. Then make a travel times worksheet.

Gather together:

• Sheet of paper
• Pen
• Quarter (coin), or other small round object

Telling Time Activity Instructions

On the left-hand side of your paper, list notable events and breaking points in your day trip. We chose going to theater as our event.

Our notable time intervals were:

• Leave apartment
• Arrive at train station
• Train arrives at station
• Train arrives at 42nd Street
• Show starts
• Show ends
• Time we meet dad at park
• Time we arrive at 42nd Street station
• Train arrival at 42nd Street station
• Train arrival at home station
• Time we arrive at home

We left the middle column of the worksheet blank. This is where you will write the time in number form (aka digital form), e.g. "4:42".

The right hand column consists blank clock faces. For each time, trace a circle around a quarter to make a clock face. Write in the numbers on the clock, but not the hands.

At each designated moment on our journey we noted the time both in the middle and right-hand columns. First write in the time in number format, then your child will draw the minute hand and hour hand in the correct position.

My son loved this activity! I was surprised to find out that he was able to accurately draw the clock hands! I don't remember teaching him that! His mind is like a sponge. Mine is like a sieve.

Our completed time telling activity worksheet:

The completed time travel activity worksheet is a visual aid to help kids develop a sense of how time passes and how the hands on a clock move. They will understand the meaning of the word, "clockwise," and the phrase "time flies when you are having fun!"

Variation: For a more advanced telling time activity, you could easily adapt this so kids make calculations about the time between each event.

Happy Time Travels!

Idea first published 2009, updated 2023.

The post Telling Time Activity Using Travel Times appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

One of my standby strategies is to fill our carry-on bags, or the car, with brand new games for the kids. The new-ness peaks the kids' interest, and the games keep them busy! I know these choices will inspire you to engage in a little old-fashioned, screen-free family time during your vacation travels!

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission; a few of the games were sent to us by the manufacturer. All opinions are my own, of course.

Kids Travel Games

As you go through this list you'll find selections for different ages. I've included the manufacturers' recommendations, but I tend to find that kids younger than the recommended age can also play.

Amaze!

Find it: Amazon

This clever single person brain teaser is 16 mazes in one. It just so happens that my 11 year old ADORES mazes and he picked up this nifty puzzle right away. The maze tray includes 4 sliders. You set the sliders in one of 16 arrangements (ranging in difficulty from easy to hard) and then use the pointer to make your way through the maze. Convenient for travel, the arrangements are printed on the back of the tray so you don't have to pack anything else. Recommended for ages 8 and up.

WordARound

Find it: Amazon

In WordARound, players race to read words spelled out in a continuous ring. It's harder than it sounds and lots of fun. The game is recommended for ages 10 and up, although when he was as young as 8, my older son beat me handily on several rounds. He was so proud of himself when he bested me, especially when he found the harder words before I did! I love how the game gave him confidence. WordARound is very portable but kids must be able to read in order to play. It's a nice game for adults, as well.

Spot It, Jr.

Find it: Amazon

Spot It has was one of those toys I slip into my purse as I headed out the door to a restaurant and it also served for many years as a much need distraction as early as when my son was 4 years old! There are lots of versions of this clever matching game. Among them, the Alphabet and Numbers and Shapes versions are great for early learning games for ages 3 and up and the Spot It! Basic Spanish looks fun for kids learning a foreign language. There are 5 different ways to play and the tin of cards is super-lightweight and easy to carry. Ages 4 and up.

Uno Card Game

Find it: Amazon

You all know about Uno, right? It's a classic and one of my favorite on-the-go games since both my sons, despite their 4 year age difference, can play it equally well. It packs up small and you don't need a large playing space. What's not to love? There is an interesting deck that is waterproof and durable, but unless you are playing in a mud puddle or going on some serious backpacking adventures, I think the original will serve you just fine. Ages 7 and up.

Magnetic Build-It Set

See all the options: Amazon

The brand Mudpuppy has a ton of these magnetic building and dress-up kits in a variety of themes, like dinos, trains, space and fairies, so you will be able to find a kit with just the right fit for your child. My kids adored using their imaginations to build their own scenes and the magnets prevent the frustration of a lost piece. Ages 3 and up.

Spirograph

See all the options: Amazon

Okay, this isn't actually a game. But I was sucked into buying this travel version because of the nostalgia factor! I adored Spirograph when I was a kid. I originally thought that my then-8 year old would prefer it and it would be too hard for my then-four year old, but it was the opposite. The younger brother was the one who was really into Spirograph, although he did need assistance. I think that's just more due to the interests of my kids, rather than the age. Obviously loads of older kids (and nostalgic parents) will enjoy the design fun of Spirograph. Ages 8 and up.

MORE TRAVEL GAME IDEAS FOR KIDS:

Packing a couple of dice opens up a whole new world of fun, especially if you play some of these best dice games for kids.

Just want to take a deck of cards? Clock solitaire will add a new twist to your child's solitary play.

The post Fantastic Travel Games for Kids appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

(Note: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

The award-winning SET card game was created by the same company that created Quiddler, which I featured previously in my game of the month series. It is a brain-busting card game that boosts all kinds of skills!

Visual tracking, logical thinking, patience, spatial perception skills are all hard at work in your kids' brains (and yours, too!) when they are playing SET. In fact, I love SET for kids so much that I put it on my list of our favorite single player logic games.

About SET Card Game

As a family game, SET is a game of speed. Twelve cards are dealt in a 3 by 4 array.

Please ignore the fact that I inadvertently photographed a 3 by 3 array instead! Perhaps I should increase my caffeine consumption.

Players race to find a set of three cards which share certain characteristics. Each card displays a design that has four elements: shape, quantity, color and shading. For three cards to make a set each feature on the three cards must be all the same or all different.

For example in the photo below, the green empty diamond, the striped green squiggles and the solid green ovals make up a set because: the color is all the same: the quantities are all different, the shadings are all different and the shapes are all different.

Players races to find as many sets as they can. He calls out "SET!" and picks up the three qualifying cards. When a set is removed from play, it is replaced with new cards, thus moving the game forward until the deck is used up, or the players call it quits. There are rules for collecting points, if you like your game play to be as competitive as possible.

If played solo, SET loses the speed element, but the game is just as entertaining. A player sets up the twelve cards and finds sets on his own. He can play until he runs out of steam!

Why Your Kids Should Play SET (Plus Tips)

As I said above, playing SET supports a whole host of skills important for academic achievement and critical thinking. Logical and spacial reasoning, seeing patterns are important for math and science learning. Visual perception boosts literacy and artistic discernment and patience is a skill kids can always use more of!

If your child has trouble with the speed element, or if younger children can't keep up, take turns finding a set. I recommend the game for ages 6 and up, but 6 year olds will most likely need help and/or more time than others.

Set is an excellent travel game to have on hand during family trips. We've been known to play at the dinner table. But I recommend ditching the speed element if food is involved!

We never play for points. Instead we play this as more of a cooperative game since each of our family members has very different visual perception skills.

Note: I first discovered SET years ago online in the New York Times. I didn't realize then that it was also a physical card game. I now much prefer the experience of playing without staring at a tiny screen!

More card games we love:

• Frog Juice
• Sleeping Queens
• Mille Bornes

The post Game of the Month: Set Card Game appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

The problem? It's one heck of a car ride.

So what, you'll just pull out the iPads, right?

Sure, it's easy to strap on the headphones and give each kid his or her own screen to watch what they want, but will it challenge their critical thinking skills, improve literacy, strengthen math skills, enhance family bonds?

What about instead of the packing screens, you take along a hefty arsenal of screen-free, old-school road trip games for kids? And what if they are car games that parents will like, too?

So, here's your challenge. Take at least one road trip without using screens (OK, GPS is fine.) and instead try some of these road trip games. You could even start with a shorter trip. Say, one hour in the car, all together. See how it goes. Promise a big bowl of ice cream if you all get to your destination in one piece. I bet you can do it!

Below I have two categories of games to play in the car: thinking games, which require just you and your brains, and hands-on games, for kids who like to have something to do with their hands.

Thinking Road Trip Games

These thinking games are super old-school and great road trip games. No props, necessary! If you have tried out my lists of 20 waiting games or 15 word games, then you will recognize a few of these. But, there are plenty of new ideas, here, too!

The addition game

The first person says a number. The second person says a second number and adds them together, declaring the sum. The next person says a third number, adds it to the sum declared by the second person and declares the sum of those! Continue on as long as you wish. Decide ahead of time if you will limit the game to single or double digit numbers.

Invent a song

One person chooses a theme. It can be any theme from apples to zebras. Another person has to invent and sing a song about that theme for at least one minute.

Word association

A classic game! One person says a word and the next person says the first word that comes to their mind. This goes back and forth until everyone is laughing themselves silly.

The alphabet game

Family members look out the windows and call out the letters in the alphabet in order as they spot them on road signs. The first person to get to Z wins!

Alphabet categories

One person chooses a category such as "fruits" or "animals". Players alternate calling out words from that category in alphabetical order. Alternative: players take turns doing the entire alphabet's worth of words in one category.

Tongue twisters

Learn a few tongue twisters and see who can repeat them the most times without messing up. Here are a few tongue twisters to learn.

Two truths and a lie

Everyone takes a turn making three statements. Two are true and one is not. Family members try to guess which is the lie.

How many can you name?

Name a category and your child has 10 seconds to name as many things in that category as possible. Make categories general ("animals") for young kids, and specific ("animals with no teeth") for older kids.

Silly sentences

One person chooses 5 random letters. Kids come up with sentences in which each word starts with the designated letter. For example, HRTB. Harry read three books.

Invent limericks

Try your hand at inventing limericks!  They lend themselves to lots of giggles.

Word chain

Choose a topic, such as food. The first person says a word, the second person says that word plus his own, the third person says the first two words plus her own, and so forth, continue until someone can no longer remember the word chain.

20 Questions

Animal, Vegetable or Mineral? One person thinks of a thing and everyone else gets to ask up to 20 yes or no questions in an effort to guess what it is! This is a classic car game for kids!

Hands-On Road Trip Games

We absolutely must have travel games to play, either single player or multi-player. I also have a list of travel games here, but I've included more favorite road trip games below! (Affiliate links included.)

Auto Bingo! We have a couple of these and we love them! Perfect for extra-long car rides.

I love Table Topics To Go to start conversations in the car that aren't about whether or not one sibling has moved across the invisible "territory" line.

I have written many times about my love for Mad Libs! Such a great game, and excellent for building literacy skills with humor!

All You Need Is a Pencil: The Stuck in a Car, Plane, or Train Activity Book: Games, Doodling, Puzzles, and More! This is a fun book of activities with no plug-in required. Don't forget to pack a pencil!

Magnetic travel games. We have a magnetic sudoku set that has gotten a lot of use and you can find loads of different magnetic travel games for road trips, like Sudoku or Tic Tac Toe, depending on your children's interests.

How about a classic Rubik's Cube? I've never been able to solve the darn thing...

Wherever your travels take you this summer, these screen-free road trip games for kids are essential to have. Screens in the car keep families from interacting with each other (okay, so that is not always a bad thing...), they discourage looking out at the world and kind of defeat the purpose of getting out of the house!

And, hey, if you really need the family to retreat to their own corner of the vehicle, put on an audiobook the whole family will love. I have just the list of audiobooks for family road trips that you need right here.

Happy (screen-free) travels!

The post Road Trip Games for Kids: Travel without the iPad! appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

Think about it, growing brains are working hard. They have a lot of new pathways to create, a lot of emotions to manage and new experiences to make sense of. I don't pretend to be a child development expert but I know that when my kids start to loose control I can often reign them in with a basic brain exercise like a memory game or a kids matching game.

Truly, these games are like crack sometimes. They can't get enough. And it distracts them from their antsy behavior. Win-win.

Simple memory games for kids are also a useful screen-free tool for parents. Not only are they brain-stretchers, but they are great boredom busters. Many of these memory games for kids can be added to your repertoire of waiting games. In case you missed it... my 20 waiting games for kids that can be played anywhere was an overnight sensation! (Okay, perhaps I exaggerate a wee bit. But it did strike a chord with a lot of parents!)

(Note: this post contains affiliate links.)

Memory Games for Preschoolers on up

These games are not just for preschoolers, they can all be adapted for different age groups. My 7 and 11 year old still enjoy playing these memory games with me.

Coin match.

Set up a line of coins. Start with 3 and work up to 10. Place the coins in a random pattern of heads or tails. Child stares at coins for 10 seconds. Parent removes coins and hands to child who attempts to arrange them in the same order. Make this more difficult by using different types of coins.

Three cups. 

Line up three paper cups. Place a small object under one cup. While child watches closely, switch the cups back and forth into new positions. Ask the child where the object is.

What did I change?

Have your child take stock of what you look like then close their eyes. Change one thing about your appearance, such as untie a shoe, take off one earring, etc. Child opens eyes and tries to identify what changed.

Pengoloo. This is a matching color game with wooden penguins. I first introduced it to you as a game of the month. I also recommend Froggie Boogie.

If you're tired of handing the kid your phone to "keep them quiet," Sign up to get a free printable of my waiting games that can be played anywhere.

Storytelling Memory Games

These games might not tell a literal story, but they are based on memorizing chains of events or images which are connected to how we process stories. These memory games are fantastic as on the go boredom busters. Pair them with my list of waiting games for kids and you will never hear "when is it going to be our turn??" again. (Well, maybe.)

Simon. I love watching my kids play this game. Not only does it bring back memories of playing it when I was a child, but I know they are working that brain of theirs. They think they are having screen-time, but I know differently! There are also small versions of Simon that hang from a carabiner clip, for on-the-go fun.

Retell a story.

There are several ways to approach this story game. When you are on the go, start to retell a favorite story. Variations include:

• Taking turns with sentences, or plot points.
• Omitting sections of the story and asking kids what you forgot.
• Have the child retell the story from memory.

Storytelling word by word.

Start a story with a single word. The next player says that word and builds the story with another word. The next player says the first two word and ads a third, and so on. Alternatively you can build sentence by sentence. Tip: keep sentences short.

Memorize a poem. 

There is little more satisfying in life that reciting a poem you have memorized. Take a small poetry book with you on the go to work on memorization while you are out. Or, memorize the poem at home and take turns reciting poems to entertain the world while you are standing in line at the grocery store. See tips for memorizing poems with kids, and classic poems kids can memorize.

Image Memory Story.

Stare at a image in a magazine for 10 seconds. The child makes up a story incorporating as many details from the image as she can. If she gets stuck, parent can ask prompts as questions, such as "what blue object did you see?"

Word chain.

Choose a topic, such as food. The first person says a word, the second person says that word plus his own, the third person says the first two words plus her own, and so forth, continue until someone can no longer remember the word chain.

Sound chain. 

One person starts a pattern using snaps or claps. The others must repeat the pattern. The first person then adds on to the pattern and the others must repeat this longer pattern. Play continues until no one can remember the pattern.

Memory Matching Games

DIY paper plate memory games. Make your own matching memory game with a inexpensive package of paper plates. Simply create matching pairs of plates. Ideas include:

• Letters. Draw an upper case letter on one plate and the corresponding lower case on another.
• Numbers. Draw sets of numbers. To make it more challenges draw the numeral on one plate and the quantity on another. So the numeral 4 would be matched to a plate with 4 dots, for example.
• Shapes. Paste on colored cutouts of shapes.
• Animals. Cut out photos from magazines. Photos don't necessarily have to match.
• Rhyming words and images. See it in action at Growing Book by Book

Classic Memory board game. Since the current version of the "original" memory card game doesn't look anything like the set I had as a kid, I will steer you towards this wonderful "I Never Forget a Face" version.

Nature matching game from Rhythms of Play. Gather objects from the natural world and small containers or caps to remember the beauty of a nature walk long after you returned home.

See also the printable memory games, below.

Memory Games for Toddlers

What's missing? 

Place 10 items from your purse on the table in front of you. Have kids try to memorize items for 10 seconds. While their eyes are closed remove 1-3 items. After opening their eyes, kids try to remember what is missing.

Heads, shoulders, knees and toes, or any other songs. Toddlers are natural singers and it is great practice for exercising their memory! So simple and entertaining.

Rhyming games. In the same way that singing songs is great memory practice, so is rhyming. There are lots of ways you can build their memorization skills at the same time you are getting in some high quality literacy learning. See these rhyming games for kids. Growing Book by Book is also an incredible resource for rhyming games for toddlers.

Matching pairs hide and seek sensory game from The Imagination Tree.

Match colors. Make a simple classic matching memory game for toddlers using bottle caps. Collect large caps and color the underside in pairs of matching colors. For toddlers I'd recommend 2-3 pairs to starts with.

Printable Memory Games

Free ocean creatures memory game from Simple Fun for Kids

Printable math facts memory game from Life over C's. Kim has several themed version of math facts memory game.

Back to school match from Playdough to Plato.

Transportation match from The Measured Mom.

Robot match from Brain Power Boy

Animal match up. There are several versions, depending on your child's interests.

Long "a" matching game from The Measured Mom. Practice phonics sounds by matching words to pictures.

More fun:

• Thinking games for kids
• Tongue twisters: the ultimate boredom buster
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get a free printable of my waiting games that can be played anywhere.
• Practice memorizing strategies with the triangle solitaire game (printable included), and Pentalpha.

The post Screen-Free Memory Games for Kids appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

I'm not kidding. They help you relax in a lot of sticky situations.

Such as family gatherings.

And when you have to play the waiting game.

I know you hate getting caught waiting in a long line with your kids without something to keep them (and you) from going crazy! Don't feel you have to resort to brain dulling screen time. You need some brain tickling waiting games! Keep the whole family laughing and having fun and keep these play anywhere games in your virtual back pocket.

Now that I have successfully brainwashed you to believe that brain teasers will improve your life tenfold, you will want to try all 20 of these waiting games for kids; they are great on-the-go games. (Note: this post contains affiliate links.)

So what are you waiting for? Give it a go! (<--- see what I did there?)

 20 Waiting Games for Kids on the Go

Guess what's in my purse! 

Each kid lists as many items as they can think of that might be inside your purse. The one who comes the closest wins!

In my purse is a story.

Choose three items from your purse and challenge kids to invent a story around those three items.

What's missing? 

Place 10 items from your purse on the table in front of you. Have kids try to memorize items for 10 seconds. While their eyes are closed remove 1-3 items. After opening their eyes, kids try to remember what is missing.

Two truths and a lie.

Everyone takes a turn making three statements. Two are true and one is not. Family members try to guess which is the lie.

Mirror mirror.

Kid and parent face each other. The child starts moving very slowly and the parent tries to mirror the movements as closely as possible. Or, two children can mirror each other and the parent tries to guess who is leading the movement.

How many can you name?

My older son loves this and actually requests it on our walks home from school! Name a category and your child has 10 seconds to name as many things in that category as possible. Make categories general ("animals") for young kids, and specific ("animals with no teeth") for older kids.

Magazine hunt.

When in a waiting room with magazines, turn the magazine into a scavenger hunt. Instruct kids to find certain items. "Find something purple that starts with a C," or "find a blue animal."

Penny drop.

Take out a penny and try to drop it so it lands on your shoe without falling off.

Scrap of paper drop. 

This is one of my favorite waiting games for kids. Seriously! Drop a small scrap of paper. Kids try to catch it with two fingers before it hits the ground.

Listen closely.

Determine a word or phrase to listen for. Everyone stays quiet until they hear someone else in the waiting area say that word or phrase.

Make me laugh.

Without touching the other person, make them laugh. Optional: make this a silent game.

Silly sentences.

One person chooses 5 random letters. Kids come up with sentences in which each word starts with the designated letter. For example, HRTB. Harry read three books.

Invent haiku.

My son and I used to "write" haiku on our walk to school. Learning about haiku was part of our poetry challenge, which you can read about here: haiku and hyperbole.

Invent limericks.

Now that we are talking about poetry, why not try your hand at limericks, too. They lend themselves to lots of giggles. Learn about limericks and get some ideas about how to start.

If you aren't convinced about using poetry as a waiting game, read about these 8 ways poetry calms kids!

Would you rather?

Ask each other questions which begin "would you rather"? The Measured Mom has 100 questions you can print out if you prefer to keep a supply in your bag.

Thumb war.

Despite the fact that I always win, my 7 year old never gets bored of challenging me to a thumb war.

Word chain.

Choose a topic, such as food. The first person says a word, the second person says that word plus his own, the third person says the first two words plus her own, and so forth, continue until someone can no longer remember the word chain.

Sound chain. 

One person starts a pattern using snaps or claps. The others must repeat the pattern. The first person then adds on to the pattern and the others must repeat this longer pattern. Play continues until no one can remember the pattern.

Sound ball. 

One person mimes throwing a ball at another person while making a silly sound. The other person "catches" the ball while making the same sound. He then "throws" the ball back with a new sound. The catcher then "catches" the ball making this new sound, and then "throws" it using a different sound.

20 questions.

It's a classic, don't forget about it!

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MORE WAITING GAMES:

• 5 fun thinking games
• Tongue twisters: instant boredom buster for kids
• 15 word games for kids
• Dots and boxes: pen and paper game for bored kids
• Land, sea and air: instant indoor active game
• Brain teasers for family gatherings

The post 20 Waiting Games For Kids That Will Tickle Your Brain appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.

I purchased a few great puzzle games to add to our arsenal of travel games for our flight across the country last week. They were big hits with with my son, so of course I thought of sharing them with you! (Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.)

First, of course, we must keep them from complaining and squirming during long waits for boarding to begin. I put together a very-not-fancy activity, which you can easily do at the last minute with a pen and some paper.

Airport Scavenger Hunt. I made a grid with different things he would see at the airport on the way to the plane like "rolling suitcase" "terminal 5" "luggage tag," etc. and he checked them off as he saw each one.

Then, when you get on the plane, plan on having one new game to open every hour at least (or half hour, if you can manage it).

Magnetic Sudoku (pictured in top photo). My son adores sudoku and this magnetic game is much lighter than toting around a big book of puzzles. I like that the 40 puzzles can be recycled over and over for different people. No need to erase!!

Yes, this is a terrible photo

Peg Game. (above left) Watch out! This old school game is highly addictive for grown-ups who feel they should be scoring at the "*WOW* Genius" level, but are only scoring "Just So-So". ... Um. ...  Er. ... Not that I know anyone like this.

Kanoodle (above right) is a challenging brain twister that can be played as a 2-D or 3-D puzzle. Super addictive, especially at the higher level puzzles.

And don't forget BOOKS!

We got him a couple of new books. Right now he loves the Stink series. They are just the right level early chapter book for him.  (He laughed out loud many times!)

I know a lot of people rely on DVDs and electronic games to keep their kids subdued during traveling. I'm not passing judgment because every family has different needs, but for me, electronic tranquilizers are the antithesis of traveling, which is a time to see new places and experience new things.

Also, the plane is certainly a place where parents are free from most other distractions and can focus on the kids. It's much more rewarding than staring at the TV screen on the back of the seat in front of you. However, Kiddo loved the map which showed the airplane's stats and its progress toward our destination.

How do you keep your kids busy and happy on the plane? 

Happy Travels!

P.S. These games would be great for restaurants, too.

The post Games for the Airplane to Keep Kids Busy on Long Trips appeared first on What Do We Do All Day.