Traveling with young children is an experience. Keeping them entertained during long trips, whether by plane or car, or when you’re dining out, is a must if you want to save yourselves and the others around you. The right travel toys will keep your little ones busy, and make the experience a million times better for everyone. I put together a guide to the best travel toys for little kids and toddlers. These toys and activities are designed to keep younger children happy, occupied, and entertained throughout your journey.

 

The Best Travel Toys and Games for Toddlers and Little Kids

 

I’ve now traveled internationally with children ages 13 months, 2, 4, and 5. Earlier this year, we traveled (with the addition of our 1 year-old) to Sea Island, Georgia. It was a short flight, but having the right items to keep the kids busy made the trip a smooth one. The flight and hour-long drive to the resort couldn’t have gone better if you take out the protests, 2 hours to get to the airport, barely making our flight, my husband missing our flight, and waiting an hour for a rental car because my husband booked it and wasn’t present to get said rental. I took a solo trip to Paris with my oldest and let me tell you – 5 year-olds are the best little travel companions. 

Traveling with Kids

Over the years, I’ve learned a thing or two about how to travel with kids. And I love a project, so I channeled a lot of energy into making sure my kids had the right toys and snacks (don’t underestimate the power of snacks!) to keep them busy. Now that our youngest is down to one nap, we’ve been able to venture a little farther, taking trips downtown, and put together a car bin of toys to keep all the kids busy. So if you’re looking for toys that are great on-the-go, for the plane, a long car ride, or even dining out, I’ve got you covered. I did my research and packed every tiny thing and restaurant activity they love (and more). So here are our favorite travel toys.

 

 

Planning a family vacation with young kids is a lot of work. A long trip means spending too much time sitting still, and little kids are not the most patient travelers. Now that I’ve spent a collective 17 hours in the air with my two young children, I want to share the travel toys that worked for us. I had a large pouch with each of the girls names made for them, and they were great for the plane. 

iPad and Headphones

An iPad is the best thing you’ll bring on your long haul flight or road trip. I downloaded their favorite movies and shows on Disney+ and Amazon and each one is loaded with their favorite apps and games. You can see our full list of favorite apps for younger kids in this post, but my #1 is Sago Mini World. It keeps them busy forever. There are no screen time rules in our family on travel days, and few things make passing time in a car seat go by like an iPad.

LCD Writing Tablets

These were recommended by a friend and quickly became one of my kids’ favorites. It’s great for kids of all ages. Both my girls love it. They are mess-free, easy to use, and keep my kids quiet and busy. Children can draw, erase, and redraw to their heart’s content without the need for paper or crayons.

 

Stickers and Art Supplies

Stickers and art supplies are always a huge hit with my girls. I’ve shared the Melissa & Doug puffy stickers time and time again because they will keep little kids busy on long trips or at dinner. My kids play pretend with the sticker characters and when my younger daughter was 2, just peeling the stickers were a fun way to keep her busy. They’re puffy, so they’re perfect for little fingers. The Ooly pack is really fun, too. Lots of large puffy stickers, and sheets of regular stickers, too. Peeling stickers builds fine motor skills – these are great for small hands.

 

Small Toys and Games

Small toys, play sets, and figurines are great travel toys. We love figurines for imaginative play – my kids could play with them all day. These aren’t travel specific toys, but they’re small toys that I’ve found are great on the go.

 

Magnetic Toys

Small magnetic toys are an ideal choice for travel. They’re fun, mess-free, and stick together, making them easier to use and keep track of when you’re on the go. Among the most popular types are magnetic men, blocks, and dress-up play sets, each bringing unique advantages to on-the-go play.

 

Fidget Toys

 

What I brought that wasn’t a hit:

Some of the toys pictured weren’t must-haves, and I’m only planning on including the ones we loved most. The two Crayola pads got maybe 5-10 minutes of use the whole trip. I love busy books and I know kids love them, but they did not keep my kids busy. My kids don’t love water wow books, so I guess this shouldn’t surprise me – these things are just not ideal for my kids. I’d just bring a busy book instead next time. This one is great, but I didn’t bring it. We do have a really cute felt one. And the clay popsicle thing wasn’t great – it was so hard to close the little holder so I’d just opt for a regular (small) sensory jar. 

 

Choosing the right travel toys can transform an otherwise stressful journey into an enjoyable adventure for both kids and parents. Ok, so traveling with kids is still stressful, but the right toys will make it a much better experience. The key is to select toys that are compact, portable, and ones that reflect your toddler or child’s interest. From magnetic drawing boards to fidget toys and play sets, there are great options for all developmental stages. With the right travel toys in tow, you can ensure that your little ones remain happy and entertained.

 

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