| How to keep the kids calm and parents peaceful this Bank Holiday |
|
ELSPA unveils top ten kids games to help parents keep children entertained in the car in Bank Holiday traffic London, United Kingdom - August 27, 2009 As Britain prepares to get behind the wheel for the busiest weekend of the year, ELSPA, UK videogames industry's trade body, is reminding parents of the best ways to keep kids entertained in and out of endless traffic jams. This weekend’s Bank Holiday traffic is expected to be the most chaotic of the year as families and holidaymakers head home after staycation breaks around Britain. An AA/Populus poll lists the ten favourite games for children to play during driving holidays. ELSPA partnered with parenting and motoring industry experts to come up with the definitive Top Ten car games. I-Spy topped the chart, followed closely by another perennial favourite, Hangman, and then the first of several handheld videogames proven to keep kids’ boredom thresholds high – Mario Kart DS. The panel explored a variety of games to suit all budgets - from the traditional to the technological. Here old favourites such as Hangman and Snap! rub shoulders with more modern pastimes including the videogames Mario Kart and Worms. To help parents avoid the inevitable chorus of "how much further?" here is the panel's Top 10:1) I Spy 2) Hangman 3) Mario Kart on Nintendo DS™ 4) Travel Monopoly from Parker 5) Bomberman on Nintendo DS™ 6) Travel Connect 4 from MB games 7) Snap/playing cards 8) 20 Questions 9) Worms on Nintendo DS™ 10) Lumines II on Sony PSP™ Michael Rawlinson, ELSPA Director General, said: “Most parents need a helping hand when it comes to keeping the kids entertained in the car and ELSPA is happy to help. Paul Watters, Head of Public Affairs at the AA, added: “With a clear rise in the number of holiday car journeys in the UK this summer, parents need to pack more than just clothes for their holidays! A variety of in-car games will make the journey go much faster for children and parents alike.” David Yarnton, General Manager, Nintendo UK, said: “It’s great that Mario Kart is the most popular handheld game for kids to play in the car – Mario has entertained generations of kids in the home so it’s only natural that he gets to be one of the kings of the road as well!” The panel is comprised of parenting, travel and videogame experts from: The Guardian, The Independent, The News of the World, Radio 1, www.parentingwithouttears, BA High Life and The AA. |
