When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller
I never thought traveling in our family van would be one of my fond memories of childhood when I grew up. Being stuck in a car with four siblings for 4+ hours isn't exactly a day at the beach. Between the bickering and the every 5-minute check of "are we there yet?", I'm not sure how my parents didn't pull their hair out or pull over and let us hop on out and walk the rest of the way. However, I do remember all the popular car games we would play or even the ones we would make up. Do you remember I Spy, The License Plate game, Slug Bug, 20 Questions, Rock-Paper-Scissors, and all the others games to make time pass? Now the biggest bickering is between what video to put in the travel DVD player. I'm not ready to toss out the travel DVD player yet, but I am ready for some variety for the car rides.
My son isn't quite old enough for this one yet, but plenty of others will benefit from this Travel Magnetic Checkers & Tic-Tac-Toe game made from a Baking Pan!!! The best part is yet to come. If your kids are always in your hair while you're trying to get the family ready, have them make this themselves. It'll keep them occupied before and during your car trip! Plus, because of its magnetic playing pieces you'll be sure not to lose any pieces when you make that sharp turn. You probably thought I was done with the good news, but there's still more! You can create this magnetic game board from materials (mostly) purchased at the DollarTree!
MATERIALS:
8X8 Baking Pan
24 Magnetic Pieces
Paint
Ribbon
Photo Paper
Glue
Spray Finish
Circle stencil
Mesh or ziploc bag
Scissors, Ruler, Pencil
HOW-TO:
1. Turn your 8x8 baking pan upside down. Measure 1-inch squares vertically and horizantally so you have 64 1-inch squares. Pencil in the grid.
2. Paint every other square and then alternate the next row. Refer to a picture of a checkerboard if confused. Let dry.
3. While the game board is drying, size 12 pictures of each player to match the size of the magnet game pieces. Have game pieces for each player of the family or use different colors. Then choose 2 different types of crowns from clip art. Size 12 of each crown design to fit the magnet pieces. I was able to get them all onto one page. Print the paper and let dry.
4. Using your circle stencil that corresponds with the size of your magnetic game pieces, trace the circle around each picture and crown. Cut out all the pieces. You should have 12 Player 1, 12 Player 2, 12 Crown 1, and 12 Crown 2.
5. Using the glue apply the pictures of Player 1 to the first 12 magnetic pieces. Let dry. On the other side, apply the pictures of Crown 1. Repeat with the other 12 magnets for Player 2 and Crown 2. Let dry.
6. If your paint is dry apply a spray finish. Let dry.
7. Add any ribbon or embellishments to the outside of the baking pan.
8. Flip the baking pan right side up. Cut 4 equal pieces of ribbon. Glue on the ribbon in a Tic-Tac-Toe pattern. Use your picture pieces as game pieces for tic-tac-toe.
9. Glue on a mesh bag or ziploc bag to the inside side to store the pieces for safe keeping while not using.
Voila! You have a fun project and game for those car -rides that will keep your kids occupied and hopefully make a more enjoyable and carefree car ride. To test your older kids math skills, ask them how many squares are on a checkerboard....don't be too quick to answer!
Be inspired, get creative, and have fun!
