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Brain-Building Games to Play in the Car

By Courtney Axline, Director LearningRX May 21, 2015

A family road trip or even daily errands in the car can offer great opportunities to build cognitive skills. This list of fun, family-friendly, brain-building games to play in the car can help people of all ages strengthen cognitive skills, the underlying mental tools we need to think, reason, remember and learn. The key is to disguise the brain exercises as fun, just like the brain-building exercises at LearningRx.


Build a Story in the Car: This game starts with the phrase “In the car there was…” The first person fills in the blank with anything, such as “a French goat.” The next person repeats that and adds another object or phrase; “In the car there was a French goat cooking on a George Foreman Grill.” The game ends when one of the players forgets part of the story. Encourage kids to picture the scene and try to connect the story with vivid images.

What it helps: Builds the mental skills of long-term memory and divided attention.


I Spy a Sound: The first person begins with the phrase “I spy something that starts with the “S” sound.” The other players take turns guessing, and between each guess they get another sound clue, such as “I see something that starts with the “S” sound and is the color that starts with the “R” sound.”

What it helps: This revved-up version of the old favorite helps with logic and reasoning and promotes auditory processing skills.


Sing your own Song: Have a blast replacing the words to “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” with your own made-up version. Someone sings the first line, then the next person quickly comes up with and sings the next line, and so on until the song is finished. “Mom and I are in the car.” “Today we are going very far.” “On to Texas, the lone star state.” “It has cowboys, I think that’s great.” “Mom and I and are driving in the car.” “We’re having fun, yes we are.” Move on to other tunes after you’ve tackled this one.

What it helps: Strategy, rhyming, auditory processing, processing speed


Make a Mental Movie: Start with a subject like a puppy and then have your child help create what the puppy looks like; his size, shape, color, etc. Have your child talk about where the puppy is; next to a car, in the forest, etc. Then have your child add details such as the weather or what the dog is saying. By developing pictures with color, size, perception, sound, and background, kids learn how to develop a more complete picture.

What it helps: Attention, logic and reasoning, working memory


Stop-Watch: One fun brain-building game with a stop watch is something the brain-training experts at LearningRx call “Ten Things.” This game is wide open for variations and gives lots of laughs. One person simply times another as he quickly gives a list of ten things. The timer gives the category, then immediately says “go”. Examples include ten things that start with ‘B’, girls’ names, state capitals, foreign countries, things in Mom’s purse, things you see that are green, rock bands, sports, etc. The person who gives their list fastest wins.

What it helps: This builds processing speed, working memory, sustained attention and visual and auditory processing.


For a complete list of games to play in the car, please call LearningRx at 319-393-0067 or send an email to p.axline@learningrx.net.  Also mention Macaroni Kids and receive $100 OFF an initial cognitive skills assessment.

 

To learn more about Brain Training call LearningRx today at 319-393-0067.


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Courtney Axline

Center Director

LearningRx Cedar Rapids