Travel Activities for Kids

Are you traveling during this holiday season? More importantly, are there kids in your traveling future? Today I am sharing some of our own ideas on how we keep our children entertained for those long car rides.

First, decide how and where you will put all their junk toys and activities.

These carriers have worked best for us:

• Backpacks-Child-size (backpacks work well if you will be walking a lot on your trip or if you are traveling by plane)
• Reusable Grocery bags (these sit nicely on an empty seat next to them or at their feet for easy access)
• Drawstring or zipper close bags (I liked using these when the kids were smaller. They had just a few small toys that they could carry around and often pack themselves.)
• Easy-to-open storage containers (like a plastic shoe box container or a small container with latches and a handle)

When choosing items to pack for your child remember their interests and don’t forget their favorite toys. But, also set aside toys, books, and travel activities that are reserved solely for road trips and time away from home. They will be like “new” toys for them and hopefully, will keep their interest longer.

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Find age-appropriate activities for each child ahead of time and pack them in their individual bags.

For your Baby:

• Board books, touch-and-feel books
• Teethers, baby rings and chains
• Rattles and other favorite baby toys
• Any toy that squeaks, rattles, or makes noises (great distracters)
• Pacifiers or anything that soothes your baby
• Baby essentials, bottles, and snacks

For your Toddler or  Preschooler:

• Board books, Busy books, touch-and-feel books
• Favorite stuffed animal or lovie
• Mini-photo albums (my little ones loved flipping through photo books and seeing familiar faces)
• Stickers and paper (foam stickers work well, too)
• Crayons, washable markers, coloring books
• a travel lap desk, clipboard, or flat tray for coloring/writing
• Magna-Doodle
• Magnetic dolls, magnetic letters, and a magnetic cookie tray
• Sewing Shapes
• Small dolls or toy cars (put in a drawstring bag or Ziploc bag to keep together)
• Small flannel board or felt piece with storytelling flannel pieces
• Dry-erase board with dry-erase markers

For your Older Child:

• Picture books and Chapter books, bookmarks

• Crayons, markers, colored pencils, papers
• Etch-a-Sketch
• Travel games (travel board games, peg board games, and magnetic games)
• Go Fish and other card games
• Wikki-Stix, Bendables, and pipe cleaners (to make different shapes and “building”)
• Magnetic paper dolls, magnetic words, and a magnetic cookie tray or board
• “I Spy” books, “How to Draw” books
• Coloring and Activity books

Electronics:

• Leap Pad, Leapster, or other learning game
• IPAD, IPOD (with downloaded Apps for children)
• DVD’s and Media or DVD player (pack children’s shows and animated movies that they have never seen or haven’t seen in awhile)
• DS or other handheld games (We don’t have these, but I know they are popular with other families!)

* *Don’t forget the extra games, batteries, and chargers

Other:

• Travel Pillow and Blanket
• Lovies or favorite toy
• Snacks and water, handwipes
• Tissues
• Trashbag or canvas bag (to hang from the seats for trash along the way)
• Puzzles, play-doh/mat, and other toys for hotel rooms
• Frisbee, jump rope, small ball, or other outside toy for rest stops

These are just a few ways to keep your sanity during the busy travel season. Have a safe and happy trip!