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Young Child and Kindergartner

While your young child or kindergartner is captive in the car, talk about topics that interest her. Also use "car time" to expose her to letters and the printed word, whether it involves looking at letters in road signs or having her "read" a favorite book. Next time you take a take a car trip, consider these activities that can engage your child, while fostering her language and literacy development.

• Sing Along With Me
  Young children love to hear parents sing their favorite songs, whether it's the alphabet song, the Wheels on the Bus, or Puff the Magic Dragon. And if you're sitting in the passenger's seat, invite your child to do the hand motions along with you as he songs along. Some parents also make up songs about what they're doing and where they're going: "Now we're going to Grandma's house, Grandma's House, Grandma's house. Now we're going to Grandma's house to visit and to play." You might even bring along song tapes or make some of your own. Encourage your child to add rhymes and verses of her own.
• Storytime
  Young children and kindergartners love to hear stories. Use "car time" to retell your child's favorite stories. You can also invite your child to retell the story to you, or take turns retelling it together. Audio books are another way for you and your child to enjoy quality literature together. In addition, you and your child can make up stories together. For instance, some parents create sequels to their child's favorite stories and even add a new character, with their child as the star. Children also delight in hearing stories about when they (and their parents) were little.
• Talk Time
  Being in the car can be a special time for parents and their children, offering them opportunities to talk about things that they think and wonder about. Use "car time" to talk to your child about everyday activities and events, whether it's how leaves change color in the fall or what makes a good friend.
• Name That Category
  Take turns playing this game with your child. Name four objects, three of which are in the same category and one object that is different. Then ask your child to name the object that's different. For example, you might say, "Cat, dog, bear, and a shoe. What's different?" Make the game more challenging as your child gets older by encouraging her to think about finer distinctions such as herbivores vs. carnivores. Games such as these can help build your child's thinking and comprehension skills.
• Name That Number
  Make up simple word problems for your child to solve. For example, you might say, "You have two pieces of candy and you get two more. How many do you have now?" Make the problem more challenging as your child gets older. Games such as these can help build your child's listening and problem-solving skills.
• Alphabet Detective
  Invite your child to be an "alphabet detective" by finding all the letters of the alphabet. For example, your child might find an "a" in a road sign, the letter "b" on a license plate, the letter "c" on a billboard. How far can your child get? This is a good game for siblings to play together.
• Guessing Games
  Take turns with your child guessing what the other is thinking. For example, you might say, "I'm thinking about an animal." Your child can then ask, "Is it big or small?" or "Is it a reptile or a mammal?" When it's your turn to guess, model questions that build literacy skills, such as, "What sound does it begin with?" or "Does it rhyme with trunk?" Young children also love to play I Spy. Find an object inside or outside of the car. Invite your child to guess what you see by giving her hints. For example, if you spotted a bird, you might say, "I spy with my little eye an animal that sings." You can give harder clues as your child gets older.