Looking for some ideas on the best travel toys for toddlers on road trips or on the plane? As a mom of two, we’ve gone on many trips with the kiddos over the years and I’ve gathered a list of our all-time favorite travel toys here.
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Traveling long distances with little kids can be a challenge but if well prepared can make the whole trip a great experience. While you can’t plan or avoid meltdowns or tantrums, you can pack fun and entertaining toys that will keep your kids busy and occupied. My toddler loves to eat and play and so I make sure we always have enough snacks and a variety of toys on hand, that we can give to her.
Travel toys for toddlers are great to have on hand whenever you’re on the go. They should be compact and self-contained so that they are easy to pack away without losing little pieces along the way. Travel toys for toddlers are intended to be high-engagement toys that will buy you time, keep the little ones entertained when they need to be quiet and still, or just keep them busy at times.
This post is all about the best travel activities for toddlers
11 Best Travel Toys for Toddlers
When shopping specifically for travel toys I always make sure they fall in the following category:
- Quiet: Loud toys are an absolute no-go on a packed airplane. Avoid any toys that make noise or music (unless you bring headphones), some people are trying to sleep during flights, and trust me, you don’t want to hear baby shark on repeat either.
- Lightweight: Remember that you will be carrying the majority of the toys and sometimes your toddler as well, so make sure every toy that you bring is lightweight.
- Mess-free: We go through at least one outfit change per flight and that is usually from food or water spills. Playdough, slime, and watercolor are one of those messy activities that would require another outfit change for toddlers and therefore I would avoid it altogether.
- Can be used independently: It’s very hard trying to play or entertain a toddler in the car if you are not sitting next to them, so toys that can be played independently and give you a few moments to relax or do other things are for sure the best.
Here are the best travel toys for toddlers that you can bring on long car rides or on the plane:
1. Water WOW! Books
Water WOW Books are an absolute favorite activity with my kids. The books come with different coloring scenes and all you have to do is refill the water pen with water and your kids can start coloring in the pages, using only water. The great thing is that they can color the pages over and over again once the pages have been tried up. The chunky size water pen is easy to use for little hands and the books are very lightweight and mess-free!!
2. Busy Boards
Busy Boards are lightweight and easy to bring on the go. They keep my kids occupied for quite some time, opening zippers, buttons, and all the other fun things they have. I love that everything is attached to the board and nothing can get lost.
3. Drawing Pad
If your toddler loves to draw, then this drawing pad is another great mess-free option. The drawing pad is very lightweight and provides hours of entertainment. It will grow with your child, and can, later on, be used to practice letters and numbers.
4. WikkiStix Sensory Fidget Toy
Wikki Stix are bendable pieces of wax-coated string that can be shaped into letters, people, animals, and other fun figures. Toddlers love this sensory toy and have endless fun creating silly creatures. They are very affordable and easy to pack (super lightweight) and fit in any purse or diaper bag.
5. Take-Along Magnetic Puzzles
Puzzles are one of my toddler’s favorite activities but are very hard to bring on our travels, as they usually take up a lot of space. I was so happy to see Melissa & Doug came out with Magentic Take-Aong Jigsaw Puzzles that are easy to pack and bring on a trip. Great is that the puzzle pieces are magnetic and won’t easily fall off and get lost. This is great for toddlers 3 and older.
6. Puff Sticker Play Set
This portable and reusable Sticker Set comes with reusable stickers and also includes a convenient carrying handle which makes it useful for travel. Melissa & Doug offer different themed books, my kids really like the farm sticker book.
7. Pop Tube Sensory Toy
Have you seen these fun pop tube toys pop up everywhere on the internet? These are the best car entertainment for toddlers, and even keep me entertained. They are easy to fold down, very lightweight, and give your little ones freedom to explore designs and applications of their own. Toddlers can learn letters and shapes using the pop tube and it’s a great way for them to work on their motor skills.
8. Magnetic Drawing Board
One of the best car entertainment for toddlers is this magnetic drawing board. With only an 8.8″ x 7″ magnet board and a magnetic stylus pen, you can easily take this magnetic drawing board on a long drive, flight, or train ride without bulking the bag. Let your kids unleash their creative juices just by pointing the magnetic nib of the stylus on each hole to move the magnetic beads to the surface. To undo the design, just use the side of the pen to push them back down.
9. Wonder Wow Mess Free Coloring
Another mess-free coloring option for your toddler are these color wonder pages by Crayola. Markers appear only on special Color Wonder Paper, not on skin, clothing, or furniture. I love that the folder style packaging works as reusable storage for the coloring pages and markers.
10. Car Seat Tray
This kids’ travel tray is such a clever way to set up your toddlers, preschoolers, and even older kids for hours of fun during long car rides. Kids can easily eat, draw, make a puzzle on this tray, and play without making a mess. It provides a lot of space to organize everything little kids might need for a long car ride.
11. Melissa & Doug On Felt Sticker Craft Activity Set
This felt sticker set is easy for kids to learn, easy to create impressive results, and easy to store. It’s a great activity set for traveling. Your child can create fun fuzzy creatures that live in each setting. It’s quiet, creative, compact, and tidy; ideal for children 4 and up.
I hope this post was helpful and will make your next trip, whether it be in the car or on the plane, with your little ones a bit easier. If you have anything that needs to be added to this list, feel free to leave a comment below.
If you are looking for more travel tips with kids, check out these blog posts:
{ 7 helpful tips when flying with toddlers }
{ Tips when traveling to Santorini with a Baby }
{ 7 Must Have Toddler Essentials for a Road Trip }
This post was all about the 11 Best Travel Toys for toddlers.
