Travel challenges

6 - 8 years
Everyday ways to help your child with literacy and numeracy
family travelling

Developed in partnership with Education Services Australia

Do you like to play games with your child when you are travelling? These travel games will help your child practise literacy and numeracy skills as they play. (Vary the rules as much as you like – just make sure that everyone knows what they are.)

  • Alphabet signs
    Spot a sign that begins with A, then one that begins with B, then ...
    Can you get through the alphabet before you reach your destination?
  • Number plate dictionary
    Spot a vehicle and note the letters on its number plate.
    Describe the vehicle with words that start with those letters. 
    That YNT981 car is yellow, noisy, and terrible. 
    For a change, choose a different theme, such as words to describe food.
    Dinner last night was yummy, nice, and tasty.
  • Number plate maths
    Pick a number plate, and turn the numbers on it into a sum.
    Announce the answer, and see if others can work out your sum.
    For example, for YNT981, the answer could be:
       0 (9-8-1) or 16 (9+8-1) or 2 (9-8+1).
  • Number plate patterns
    Decide on a letter or number pattern, and spot number plates that match it.
    Good letter patterns include alphabetical order, reverse alphabetical order, and letters from your child's name.
    Good number patterns include consecutive numbers, even numbers, and the numbers of your child’s birthday.
  • Transport tallies
    Choose a feature that is easy to spot and categorise, such as car colours, vehicle types, or fast food restaurants.
    Make predictions about how common the different categories will be.
    I think we'll see more red cars than black cars.
    Keep a tally of what you all see on the trip.
    See who made the most accurate predictions!
  • Car cricket
    Explain the scoring system: car = 1 run, motorbike = 2 runs, truck = 4 runs, bus = 6 runs.
    Start scoring runs for each vehicle that comes towards you.
    If you pass a red car, you’re out and it’s the next person’s turn.
    If you pass two red cars in a row, you score zero.
    See who gets the highest score.



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Last modified
7 April 2020