Today is National Scrabble Day! And we’re sharing our picks for great word games to play on the go, travel-friendly pocket versions of beloved vocab themed games, and much more! We love a good road trip car game that gets your ol’ noodle going! for everyone to enjoy. The best part about playing these games together is that they are silly, goofy, creative, and competitive and each one builds on each other to improve vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Who says learning can’t be fun?!
Free Word Games to Play With the Whole Family
Think Fast (No Purchases Required!)
One person begins by suggesting a category theme (ex: Food, Animal, Places. etc) and a second player will have until the count of 10 to say (or shout) the name of an item that corresponds with that theme. If the second player cannot think of something to name in the time it takes for a 10 count, they lose their turn and it passes to the next one. If they come up with a word, it’s their turn next to pick a category and count for the next player. For an added challenge you can use the rule of starting with alphabetical order “The Category is Flower, and you must use the letter A!” “Aster!” “The next category is Food and you must use the letter B!” “Blueberry” and so on until someone gives up, or you reach the end of the alphabet!
The Alphabet Game (No Purchases Required!)
Starting with the letter ‘A’, one passenger takes turns calling out a word that starts with that letter, and the next player’s turn responds with a word beginning with ‘B’ and so on and so forth until you get to the letter ‘Z’. If you’d like an extra challenge, subsequent rounds can have a theme such as “plants” or “animals” or “foods” to correspond with each letter.
Same Letter (No Purchases Required!)
Begin with a category, just as you would with “Think Fast,” except this does not involve a count timer. One category chooses a word that matches that category, and the following player must follow-up on that theme using the last letter of that word as the first letter of their next guess. For example: “The Category is Birds!” “Seagull” “Lark” “Kestrel” “Lovebird” “Duck” “Kingfisher!” “Robin!” and so on until the group gives up and someone is stumped.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (No Purchases Required!)
Another great game that can be played with all car passengers and requires quick thinking, sharp memory, and alphabetical challenges A through Z. The starting player will use the letter A, and will say the phrase “I’m going on a bear hunt, and I am bringing [any item that begins with the letter A.] The second passenger will follow by repeating the first item, and adding a second with the subsequent letter (in this case, ‘B’): I’m going on a bear hunt and I am bringing an avocado and a blueberry! The third player will repeat those and add the next letter, and so on and so forth until you reach a point where someone cannot remember anymore, or you reach the end of the alphabet! It’s great to play with small kids as well as adults.
Great RoadWorthy Games to Pack for the Car, The Beach, or Picnic Fun
Whether you choose to play them in the car, at a rest stop, at the beach, the campsite, or even at home for a quick game without a lot of mess, we’ve got some great suggestions for travel friendly versions of classic board games. These pint-sized versions of your favourite games are great for tossing in a purse, carseat pocket, or even your carry-on.
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Scrabble to Go (APP)
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Word Master (APP)
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Words with Friends (APP)
Hot Tips for Scrabble Points Using Automotive Themed Words
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Engine, 7pts
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Carburetor, 14pts
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Serpentine, 12pts
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Gasoline, 9pts
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Brakes, 12pts
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Transmission, 14pts
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Tires, 5pts
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Windshield, 18pts
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Antifreeze, 22pts
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Pedal, 8pts
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Gears, 6pts
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Bumper, 12pts
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Warranty, 14pts
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Insurance, 11pts
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Mechanic, 17pts
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Lease, 5pts
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Motor, 7pts
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Hoses, 8pts
