Young children often have obsessions – whether it be blocks, dinosaurs, dolls or the latest cartoon. Cars are another item toddlers often get fixated on – whether it is making car noises, watching car shows on the TV or zooming toy cars around the house.

If you are keen to mix things up and ignite some creativity in your little ones day, try some of these kids car racing games for toddlers and see who can make it to the finish line first.

Kids car racing games to play at home

Toilet Paper Roll Cars

Ever wondered what to do with the never-ending supply of empty toilet paper rolls (other than recycle them out of course)? Why not make your very own race cars. All you’ll need is toilet rolls, paint/textas, cardboard, pens and fasteners. The kids can even help decorate the cars. After you’ve had fun making them you can have even more fun racing them.

Brick Racing Cars

Use your imagination (or some help from the internet) to make racing cars from your favourite construction blocks (LEGO, Duplo etc). Don’t stop with the cars – why not make a start and finishing line, tunnels, bridges, barriers using your bricks. Then race your cars through the racetrack to see who gets the chequered flag.

Rainbow Painting with Racing Cars

For a slightly messier car racing game for toddlers, try dipping the wheels of a toy car in some paint. Grabbing some big paper (or tape smaller bits of paper together) race the cars over the paper to make a wonderful, rainbow artwork.

Obstacle Racecourse

Setting up an indoors obstacle racecourse is a perfect activity for kids to enjoy on a rainy day. Using household items, such as chairs, tables, cushions, blankets and clothes airers, make a fun and challenging obstacle course to race your cars through. You could even time who is the quickest!

Cardboard Box Car

Children can enjoy hours of fun having car races in their very own cardboard box race cars, but first they will need to make their own car. Cardboard box cars can be as complicated or simple as you like. Chances are you already have the items you need to construct one lying around the house, so pull out the craft supplies, cardboard boxes and get creating.

Zig-Zag kids’ car racing games

This car racing game for toddlers can develop their fine motor skills while having fun racing cars. Use some tape to mark out a long zig-zag path on the floor (or draw one with pen on some butcher’s paper if you don’t have tape). A track like this allows the kids to have fun pretending to be race car drivers and helps them to practice fine motor skills while manoeuvring within the lines.

Slip and Slide Car Racing

Head outside with your slip and slide or some plastic, turn on the water and watch your cars race along the wet track as they slip and slide their way to the end. To make them go faster add some soap or put the track on a slant/hill.  

Driveway Racetrack

A super quick and easy way to create a racetrack for kids of all ages is to turn your own driveway into a fully-fledged racetrack.  All you need is some chalk and a bit of imagination. The kids can enjoy hours of fun with matchbox cars or cardboard box cars and when they’re done it can be hosed off.

Pool Noodle Racetracks

Turn a simple pool noodle and toy cars into an awesome car racing game for toddlers. For added thrills, set up multiple pool noodles side-by-side so the kids can have drag races to see whose car is the fastest. Adults can carefully cut the noodles in half to make the track, or get creative taping two or more noodles together.

For more fun activities to do with budding car enthusiasts visit our post about popular transport attractions for kids.