‘Are We There Yet?’ If I had a dollar for every time my son has asked me “How many more minutes mom?”, I’d beat Bezos hollow! As much as I adore travel to new places, it’s the actual traveling that scares the socks off me. And without planning for many travel activities for kids, it would be downright crazy.
Sometimes I want to pull my hair out, at other times my eyes. But I go for the sigh loudly and answer route – “Trust me, I want to get there faster than you.” While writing this post on travel activities for kids including travel games, car activities, travel snacks for kids, every ‘Are we there yet’ moment came flooding back to haunt me!
I set out on the quest for sharing some tips and tricks to keep kids occupied during travel. It took careful dissection of the scariest parts of my travel memories to come up with answers. This post covers some of the travelling activities for kids that have kept my son and nephews and nieces entertained.
Disclaimer: This helpful post contains some Affiliate links. This means that if you click on any of the links in this post (AND make a purchase), I may receive a small commission at absolutely no cost to you. As such I thank you in advance should you decide to click & buy.
10 Travel Activities for Kids
A recent survey conducted in the UK suggested that up to 80% parents were willing to give their child an electronic device during travel to keep them occupied. I’m the last one to judge anyone on that. There are a few times when I am happy to put the Ipad in front of my son just so he can let me have quiet time. Especially when I have travelled alone with him on international trips. Here are some of the best tech-free kids’ travel activities to pack for your next road trip or a plane ride –
Sticker Activity Books
Journeys need not be boring if you pack vibrant sticker activity book for young children. It can keep them engaged strapped inn a car seat on a road trip or on a plane travel. Don’t take a tiny pad that gets done within minutes would be my suggestion. This Melissa & Doug Seek and Find Sticker Pad has worked well for us.
Colouring Books
Colouring books is always a great option, specially the kinds where you fill the pen with water. The Melissa & Doug Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pad comes in different themes – safari, dinosaurs, under the sea, jungle. It features reusable pages that come to life when wet.
Travel Journal
Kids travel journals are a great way for enabling children to record their adventures. You can get your kids excited about the upcoming trip and help them practise their skills in recording the journey. It makes for a great souvenir after the trip. There is a large variety of travel journals available online, but the Lonely Planet Kids Create Your Own Travel Journal stands out for older kids.
Wipe-off Activity Pad
There are numerous activity pads that focus on counting skills, reading practice, the alphabet, writing, and more. For young kids, this Write-On Wipe-Off Let’s Trace works well. A variety of activities, including dot-to-dots and finish-the-drawing features, will engage and entertain kids on the go.
Or you can also opt for a travel-size Erasable Doodle Pad for Kids. This will ensure hours of fun with no mess.
Wikki Stix
Wikki Stix are packaged in a fun bright travel case for easy on-the-go fun and creativity. These sticks are soft, pliable and easy to use, they can be used for car or air travel. Your kids can twist, bend, stick, create and be engaged for long. No preparation, no clean-up, no mess. These are amongst good travel toys to choose from for young kids.
Joke Books
Joke Books are perfect for reading aloud. When a child reads a joke book out loud, it creates fun and memorable moments with family. Funny jokes books are perfect for any long road trip, traveling or flying for a vacation. It will help make the kids laugh out load and help pass time.
Lego Travel Box
Which kid doesn’t enjoy a Lego set? Lego Travel Box has a storage case that makes it easy for you to bring the blocks anywhere you go! Lego is a great way to build your child’s fine motor, creativity, and problem solving skills. So the travel box gives you education and fun on the move.
Board Games or Card Games
The market is flooded with so many travel games for kids from uno to doggle. The best games for travel are easily portable and versatile. While card games are easier to engage kids during road trips or flights, board games are my favourite once you reach your vacation spot.
Rubik Cube
This is great for older kids. The best part of cubing is that you can literally practise it anywhere. Rubik’s Cube is an ideal toy for travel that fits in your pocket but also provides endless entertainment.
Crossword
Puzzles are great travel activities for kids of all ages. Crossword puzzles are a good way to keep older children entertained. Playing crossword puzzles not only helps improve concentration and patience in kids but also makes them feel relaxed during travel.
More Travel Tips with kids on the move
Everyone has their own way of dealing with kids during travel, but sometimes the most obvious eludes us in moments of anxiety. So being relaxed is the most important travel tips with kids.
If you are at the airport or train station, use the space to have your child wander and tire their little legs. Incase you’re on a road trip, use the flexibility to stop and stretch your feet as often as possible can and soon as you feel them getting angsty. Slip in a bit of sightseeing, or play some sort of car activity for kids like ‘what can you spot’ and take a little breather.
Travel Snacks
Never underestimate the power a snack holds. Whether or not you choose to bribe your way into silence with candy, but a well-timed travel snack for your kid is always welcome. And before you tch-tch me on the candy bit, remember that giving kids a small piece of candy to suck on will ensure the air pressure changes don’t bother them. So haha.
Also, remember that not every airline /train /ferry will cater to your child’s specific needs. Plus their meal service times might not coincide with your child’s meal times.
Carrying several zip lock bags of interesting snacks for travel is imperative also when you have a fussy eater (like mine). Apple slices, yogurt covered rasins, freeze dried fruit, juice boxes, goldfish, crackers, grapes, the list goes on.
Prep
Whatever your mode of travel be – air, car, train, ferry – be prepared. Have a checklist of what you need to pack from games to ipads, books, change of clothes, wipes, travel snacks for kids, medicines, everything but the kitchen sink! Make sure you have everything you might need for the apocalyptic tantrums you little one might throw. Here is my handy baby packing list.
I always carry a change of clothes because accidents and spills can happen. This is a great flying tip with babies and toddlers. Medicines are also imperative because you never know if you get your particular brand name type and what the availability is.
Timing
Whatever the time of your travel, plan nap times ahead and schedule meal times accordingly. Ofcourse you want your child to fall asleep the instant you get on the plane/train/car, but neither do you want to carry around a 20-kilo deadweight in addition to baggage.
No one is going to be immune to losing their cool when kids decide it’s their way or the highway, but remember we are all in the same boat. Go to your happy place, put on a brave face and say “We’ll be there so soon, you wont even know!”
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This is a guest post by Priyanka Chaudhery. Priyanka left the corporate world behind to raise her son and eventually pursue a career in wine. She now enjoys passions like travel, food and yoga.
[This post was originally posted in 2018, and last updated in March 2024.]
What is your best tip for keeping kids engaged during a long journey? Share with us in the comments below.
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