Gas prices may be high, but many families are still  making roadtrips. No doubt boredom and complaining will make an appearance, but BradentonHearld.com offers some suggestions for warding off boredom and encouraging family learning time without resorting to electronic entertainment.

From Lisa Church’s book Everyday Creative Play, here are some suggestions for engaging kids in learning during car trips:

Borrow books on tape from the library or friends and listen as a family.

Tell a collaborative story. Let one person start with a line, and have other family members continue.

Count cars, dogs, churches – you name it. Choose a category, and count how many items you see that fit that category.

Play measurement games by deciding which is bigger – a rhino or an elephant? Which is farther away – Grandmother’s house or Aunt Nancy’s? Discuss what we measure and why.

Take the measurement game farther by playing money games. Get the children to point out places where people spend money, how much things cost, and what has greater value.

Talk about where you’re going, what road you’ll take, and what you’ll pass on the way. Turn this into a running travelogue.

Bring along magnetic games; many games are now designed specifically for travel and have magnetic boards that allow for play while moving.

Play “look and see” games. There are many variations, like looking for different shapes, or letters of the alphabet.

Build in “quiet time” when everyone is just silent and still. This may be hard, so start of with short periods of time, and make this time part of the daily routine.

Car trips can encourage interaction between family members and can provide lots of learning time if creativity and patience are employed.