6 Ideas to Try Right Now
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#1·10–15 min
20 Questions (Car Edition)
🛒Materials: None
- 1One person thinks of something (animal, place, food).
- 2Others ask yes/no questions to guess what it is.
- 3Maximum 20 questions — then they must guess!
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Start with easy categories for younger kids: 'I'm thinking of an animal.'
🎯
#2·30+ min
Travel Bingo
🛒Materials: Paper, pencil (or just call out items verbally)
- 1Before driving, write a 3×3 grid of things to spot: red car, bridge, cow, truck, etc.
- 2Cross off each item when you spot it from the window.
- 3First to get 3 in a row shouts 'BINGO!'
🔤
#3·20+ min
Licence Plate Alphabet Game
🛒Materials: None — just look out the window
- 1Start with the letter A.
- 2Spot a licence plate with that letter on it. Call it out!
- 3Move to B, then C — race to get through the whole alphabet.
👑
#4·10 min
Simon Says
🛒Materials: None
- 1One person is Simon.
- 2Simon gives instructions: 'Simon says jump!'
- 3Only follow if it starts with 'Simon says' — catch everyone out!
🐺
#5·10–15 min
Shadow Puppets
🛒Materials: A lamp (or phone torch)
- 1Darken the room and point a lamp at the wall.
- 2Use your hands to make animal shadows.
- 3Tell a story with shadow characters.
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#6·30–45 min
Write and Illustrate a Mini Book
🛒Materials: 5 sheets of paper, stapler or string, pencils
- 1Fold 5 sheets of paper in half and staple along the fold.
- 2Page 1: title and author's name (them!).
- 3Write and illustrate one scene per page — 4 pages of story.
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Ask: 'What's the twist at the end?' — 7–8 year olds love a plot twist.
