Speech & Language Games We Love to Play on Trips
Whether you're headed to the beach, the mountains, or Grandma’s house, these simple games make car time and travel meaningful—and fun. Safe travels and have fun connecting with each other!
Games to Boost Speech & Language Skills on Long Car Rides
Perfect for Memorial Day Weekend!
As families gear up for road trips this Memorial Day weekend, don’t forget that long car rides can be a great time to build speech and language skills, as well as connections with your family—no flashcards required! Encourage everyone to put down the devices, turn off the TV or radio, and enjoy each other’s company!
Here are a few simple, fun games that keep kids engaged while strengthening communication skills (and having fun) on the go:
🎯 1. I Spy (with a Language Twist)
“I spy with my little eye… something that starts with S!” or “I spy…something soft” (use describing words to build vocab)
This classic game is perfect for targeting vocabulary, sound awareness, and descriptive language. For older kids, add a challenge: use full sentences or category clues (“I spy something in the food category”).
🧠 2. 20 Questions
One person thinks of something (a person, place, or thing), and the others ask yes/no questions to figure it out. This builds critical thinking, reasoning, question formulation skills, and perspective-taking skills (*great for social skill building).
🗣️ 3. Story Chain
Take turns adding to a story, one sentence at a time:
“Once upon a time, there was a dog who…”
This encourages narrative structure, sequencing, working memory, and creativity.
🔤 4. Alphabet Categories
Pick a category (animals, foods, places) and go through the alphabet—“A is for apple, B is for banana…”
Great for vocabulary and category knowledge.
🎶 5. Rhyme Time
Pick a word and take turns coming up with rhymes: “cat… hat… bat…”
Rhyming helps develop phonological awareness, a key early literacy skill.
Whether you're headed to the beach, the mountains, or Grandma’s house, these simple games make car time and travel meaningful—and fun. Safe travels and have fun connecting with each other!
Need more ideas tailored to your child’s needs? We’d love to help—reach out to The Speech & Language Center!