WE'RE all going on our summer holidays to get stuck in traffic jams, airport lounges, holiday homes in the rain...

Well, we hope not. But, unless you're pitching your tent in the back garden, there are bound to be boring bits on even the best journey. And once at your holiday home, there are always odd half hours when you long for the children to keep themselves amused. Unless you take the computer, video, bikes and entire contents of their bedrooms, it could be tricky.

Ford has just launched a new in-car entertainment system to keep the back seat passengers happy - computer screens that fit into head rests. Plug your kids in at the start of the journey and unplug them when you get there. Perhaps.

However, we were thinking of something a bit more affordable. So we've got our team of testers on the job. Seven-year-old Emma Peat and big brother, Josh, eight, have been trying some of the cheaper travel games on the market.

THE PROBLEMS

Cars make children sick. Games, books or distractions make it worse. The only answer here is the old looking-out-of-the-window favourites of pub sign cricket, I spy or count the caravans/Eddie Stobart wagons/red sports cars. Best of all are story tapes - stock up on them. I've known five tired, scratchy, argumentative little boys be transformed into thumb-sucking angels after a few of the Just William stories read by Martin Jarvis. If they're using individual Walkmans, make sure you have some spare batteries.

Fiddly bits. Travel versions of traditional board games tend to have little tiny pieces, easily lost under someone else's seat on the plane. If they need dice, they too can get lost or hurled into a stranger's whisky.

THE BEST

CHAD VALLEY 7 in 1 MAGNETIC GAMES, £3.99, Woolworths

Ludo, chess, draughts, Chinese chequers, backgammon, solitaire, snakes and ladders, with magnetic pieces all neatly packed into one small box. The tray is deep enough to throw dice without losing it. Ideal for airport or holiday home.

Distraction Time: Ten minutes to one hour.

FOUR IN A ROW, £4.00, Early Learning Centre

Everyone loved this one, good for children to outwit adults. Excellent packaging and carry case. Ideal for airport, plane, train and holiday home.

Distraction Time: 20-45 minutes.

HAPPY FAMILIES CARDS, £1.00, Early Learning Centre

Good old fashioned fun.

Distraction Time: 15 minutes-half an hour.

MAGNETIC SPACE SNAKES AND LADDERS, £4.00, Early Learning Centre

Modern twist on old favourite. No good on plane because of dice throwing but good when you get there.

Distraction Time: 15-25 minutes.

TRAVEL LUDO, £3.99, WH Smith

A pegged version in excellent packaging. Airport friendly.

Distraction Time: 15 minutes-half an hour.

MY COOL ACTIVITY BOOK, £3.00, Early Learning Centre

Nice QUIET solo entertainment.

Distraction Time: 30 minutes.

FIVE MINUTE FUN

POCKET SCRIBBLER, £3.00, Early Learning Centre

Tiny screen on elastic and cool belt clip. Looked promising, but too small to do much with.

HEXAGONAL PUZZLE, £1.00, Early Learning Centre

Different heads, bodies and feet that you twist round to make silly combinations.

COMPASS AND WHISTLE, £1.50, Early Learning Centre

Compass is fun for a little trailfinder, but we're not sure about that whistle...

YO YO BALL, £2.00, Early Learning Centre

Soft ball on piece of elastic fastened by Velcro round child's arm or ankle. Definitely NOT for the car or anywhere where there are people within ten yards. But you could always send them down to the bottom of the garden with it.

YOU'RE BETTER OFF PLAYING I SPY

MB TRAVEL GUESS WHO £4.99

Great game but terrible travel version. Fiddly, fragile and nowhere to store the cards.

CHAD VALLEY MINIMAGIC WRITER £1.99

Honeycomb grid on this made it impossible to draw or read the letters in hang man.

CONCLUSION

Better stock up on those tapes.

Published: 13/07/2001