Create a Kids Road Trip Game Box

Before you begin, make sure you have these items:

• 1 metal cookie tin/gift box
• Penny tile
• Small pieces of project panel
• Water-based paint
• Small magnets
• Super glue
• Permanent markers/paint pens
• Duct tape
• Optional: spray paint to cover the box

We also used a fastener, adhesive vinyl, a silicon cutting mat and a utility knife.

Make sure to wear a mask, gloves and safety goggles for this step. Tape off the inside of the box and hold the spray paint can 12 to 18 inches away from the surface. Give the box a few light coats of spray paint for optimal coverage.

Protect your work area and paint the wooden pieces with paint. Adults can help smooth out any drips or excess paint.

The two games you'll make involve license plates and the alphabet. Write the letters of the alphabet with the paint pen or sharpies onto the penny tile.

Next, print out the two-letter state abbreviations for all 50 states as well as Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC and write each two letters
abbreviation onto each of the painted wooden pieces.

This step involves super glue, so if your kids are helping, be cautious. Put a small dot of superglue onto the back of the penny tiles and wooden shapes and place a small magnet onto the glue.

If you want, use a vinyl cutter to print out a label and afix to the box! Transfer the cut vinyl onto the lid of the box and smoothed it in place.

Make a couple of duct tape envelopes to keep the magnetic pieces organized. Start by placing a few 18-inch strips of duct tape, sticky side down, onto a silicon cutting mat. Carefully peel off this sheet of duct tape and flip it over so the sticky side is facing up. Repeat the same process, placing three more strips of duct tape on top so that the two adhesive sides are not facing each other.

Remember to go slow. Once the two sticky sides touch, there’s no pulling them apart. Trim the uneven ends of the tape. Using an envelope as a template, fold the duct tape sheet in thirds, and cut the ends at an angle to match the envelope. Cut two more strips of duct tape to seal either side of the envelope. Optional: Use a small piece of fastener on the point of the envelope to hold it closed.

License plate game: Spread out all the license plate squares onto the lid of the road trip box. When your kids see a license plate out the window, they'll find the two letter abbreviation (include a cheat sheet in the box), and put that piece back into the envelope.

Alphabet game: This one can be adjusted to accommodate kids of different ages. Younger kids are just looking to see the various letters of the alphabet. They’re looking on signs, license plates and more. For each letter they see, they can put the tile back into their bag. (For more fun, ask your kids to think of a word that starts with each letter as a little extra language arts practice!) Older kids are looking to find the letters of the alphabet in the right order. You can even make a couple more boxes so the kids can have their own and race!