Ever wondered how some parents cope so well on family holiday breaks - coming back smiling, relaxed and happy instead of ready to throttle their youngsters? We think we've found the secret: these top travel games for kids.

1) Noughts and Crosses

A simple classic for younger kids. Older back-seat travelers may tire of the opportunities to engineer stalemates. Cynical? Perhaps – but so is the mind of an angsty teen.

2) Hangman

A perennial favourite, any number of categories can be dreamed up depending on your kids’ interests. Beware of cheats who insist the 'hangman' be festooned with elaborate outfits to prolong their turn.

3) Travel Bingo

A little prep goes a long way: Print out a few sheets of A4 with various images on, preferably related to the journey ahead - like road signs, cows, or tractors for a countryside drive. They quickly become travel bingo cards. Get the kids to cross out images when spotted and yell when they fill a line. Reward with prizes.

4) 'Pub Legs'

Each player looksout for pub signs including 'legs'.The Queen’s Head has a score of two legs (referring to the Queen). The Hound and Hare (each have four) scores eight. The first player to spot the pub gets the points. Declare a finishing total at the start, the first to reach it/break it wins.

5) The Number Plate Game

Concentrating only on the last letter of any plate, try and get from A to B in alphabetical order. It’s pretty tough, so don’t make life harder by hunting for I and Q – they’re not used!

6) Word Association

This one’s driver-inclusive: Player One says a random word and Player Two responds with a related one. The Player Three then answers with a word related to that, and so on. You’re eliminated if you can’t make an association quickly enough. The game continues until everyone has been eliminated for this reason (or any others you care to invent): the last man standing is the victor.

7) Battleships

• Knock-up some 10x10 grids (two per player per game) numbering columns 1-10 and rows A-J.
• Leaving half blank, on the rest (home grids) randomly mark:
  • 1 x Battleship (5 squares long), Aircraft Carrier (4 squares), Cruiser (3 squares)
  • 2 x Destroyers and Submarines (2 squares long).
• In turns, each player “shoots” by calling out a list of coordinates (how many ships they have determines their go – eg if all five are left, there’s five “shots” available). Hits (X) or misses (/) are recorded by the caller on their blank grid, the receiver on their home grid.
• The other player follows with their “shots”, and so on, until one person’s navy is destroyed.

8) I-spy

Another driver-friendly game, simple as you like and everyone’s included. Simply try to guess the object that one player is thinking of, with one clue: the first letter of its name.

9) Foreign Lorry License Plate Game

Okay, so it’s not the catchiest title but this game rewards the eagle-eyed: make a list of country abbreviations appearing on lorry plates (eg. ‘F’ for France, ‘PL’ for Poland). Kids can keep a tally of how many of each they spot.

Related Articles

Original Family Holiday Breaks in the UK

Family Holiday Breaks in the Lake District

Tips on Travel Insurance for Family Holiday Breaks

Parent Support: Fun Half-Hour Activities