5 Fun Car Games to Play on the Way to School

In big Chinese cities, the ride to school can take half an hour or more, whether you go by car with the family driver, by metro or on foot. That time is a gift: no screens, no homework, just you and the children. These five games need nothing but your voices, and each one can be made easier or harder in seconds.

The 5 games

1. 1

   I Spy with colours

   Say “I spy with my little eye something red”. The children look out of the window and guess: a bus, a lantern, a taxi. For older kids, use first letters instead: “something beginning with B”.

2. 2

   The Alphabet Hunt

   Find something outside for every letter from A to Z: A for apartment, B for bike, C for car. Shop signs in English and car logos count. Can you reach Z before you arrive at school?

3. 3

   Would You Rather?

   Ask silly choices: “Would you rather be a panda or a tiger?” “Would you rather eat dumplings or pizza for a week?” The child answers with “I would rather… because…”, which builds full sentences.

4. 4

   Story Chain

   Start a story with one sentence, such as “One morning, a dragon got on the metro.” Each person adds the next sentence. Keep it fast and silly, and help with words when needed.

5. 5

   Twenty Questions

   Think of an animal, food or cartoon character. The children ask yes or no questions, like “Does it live in the sea?” or “Is it yellow?”, until they guess it. Then swap roles.

Why car games are perfect for English

Short, regular practice beats one long session every week. A ten-minute game on the way to school, five days a week, adds up to nearly an hour of relaxed English, and the children will hardly notice it is happening. There is no table, no textbook and no right answer to get wrong, so even shy children join in.

The school run is also a great time to learn about each other. What children notice out of the window, what they choose in “Would you rather?” and what happens in their stories tells you a lot about their day, their friends and what they love.

Making each game easier or harder

Game	For little ones (4–6)	For older kids (7–12)
I Spy	Colours only	First letters, or “something that rhymes with…”
Alphabet Hunt	Find five letters	Full A to Z, no repeats
Would You Rather?	Point or say one word	Answer with “because…”
Story Chain	You say most of it, they add one word	Each person adds two sentences
Twenty Questions	Animals only	Anything, but only 20 questions

Tips for the ride

• Read the mood. Some mornings children are sleepy or nervous about a test. A quiet ride is fine too. Afternoons, when school is over, are often the best time for games.
• Keep safety first. Games are for passengers. If you are walking or on the metro, play the talking games and save “I Spy” for when you are standing still.
• Bring in Chinese culture. Spot lanterns at Spring Festival, mooncake shops before Mid-Autumn or dragon boats in early summer, and ask the children to explain them to you in English.
• Include everyone. If a grandparent or the family driver is in the car, invite them to play in Mandarin while the children translate. Children love being the expert.
• Keep a weekly score. A tally in a notebook, with a small prize on Friday, like choosing the weekend snack, makes the games something to look forward to.

Tip: if the child answers in Chinese, do not stop the game. Say the English word back with a smile, “Oh, a bus!”, and carry on. They heard it, and that is what matters.

More ideas

When you get home and need to burn off energy, try our TPR movement games for shy kids. And if you want to make your own word cards for the next “I Spy” round, see how to create custom English flashcards with AI.

Planning a weekend outing with your host kids? Our city guides to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen list parks, museums and day trips children love.