Traveling with a toddler
A toddler’s attention span doesn’t last long. Being prepared with travel toys for toddlers will help reduce boredom and make the journey more bearable for you and your child. When you travel with a toddler you’ll constantly be switching from one activity to another. So it’s important to adjust your expectations of what will happen during the flight or road trip. Above all make sure you have plenty of different activities that your child can rotate between.
Your journey traveling with a toddler will include snacks, followed by activities such as toys, coloring and activity sets, stickers, screen time, books with a favorite stuffy or blanket, potty breaks and hopefully a nap, then rinse and repeat! In this post we highlight over 10 of the Best Travel Toys for Toddlers, and they’re all no-mess activities! Therefore, don’t leave home without these essential travel activities for your toddler. Also, if you’re flying then download our FREE Carry-on Packing List for Flying with a Toddler, available at the bottom of this post.
When our children were toddlers we took several flights from the U.S. to Europe and Canada, plus multiple 5+ hour family road trips to the beach. I personally find flying with a toddler more bearable than driving. Mostly because we can move around on the plane, but over time I’ve also learned how to simplify a road trip with kids and what to consider before traveling with a car seat. Also, in other posts I share about how to travel with a potty training toddler and surviving jet lag with your toddler or how to avoid motion sickness in kids.
What are the must-have Travel Toys for Toddlers?
Over the years and the many thousands of miles we have traveled with our children, there are certain items we won’t leave home without.
Must-have toddler travel activities include:
- Toys
- Coloring books and crayons
- Mess-free markers and water activity book
- Stickers
- Books (with plenty of picture you can talk about)
- iPad, Tablet or Device with Headphones and charger
The Essential Travel Toys for Toddlers
These are our favorite toddler travel toys. Firstly, here is a list of the essential no-mess activities that are lightweight and can easily be packed in your carry-on luggage. These are great options to entertain your toddler on an airplane or on a car ride. Secondly, there is an additional list of bulky and more noisy activities that would be more appropriate for use on a road trip.
1. Wooden Lacing Apple Threading Toy
The Wooden Lacing Big Apple Toy is a simple, pocket-sized travel toy for toddlers that’s sure to entertain your child while you’re on the go. They can push the caterpillar through the different holes in the wooden block of apple while the string wraps itself around. When they run out of string rope, they can unwind and play again!
2. Magnetic Travel Matching Game
The Purple Cow Magnetic Animal Homes Matching Puzzle is ideal for traveling. This simple matching game puzzle involving animals and their homes. Kids will have fun matching the pieces and assembling the correct pictures. This pocket-sized game comes in a compact high-quality metallic tin box. So it conveniently fits into any pocket, travel bag or backpack.
3. AiTuiTui Magnetic Drawing Board Mini Travel Doodle
AiTuiTui Magnetic Drawing Board Mini Travel Doodle is a colorful drawing screen that will inspire children to explore imagination and creativity. Likewise this mini size board is small enough for travel and easy to hold by children to take along on a trip due to its small size.
4. Dot to Dot for Tiny Tots Wipe Clean Activity Book
The Dot to Dot Wipe Clean Activity Book is full of simple dot-to-dot exercises and maze puzzles that are ideal for toddlers. This activity book helps young children develop their fine motor and problem-solving skills, as well as number recognition. The pages wipe clean and come with a dry erase marker so the activities can be completed again and again!
5. Buckle Toys – Bella Square
The Buckle Toys Bella Square is a playful bright plush with vibrant colored straps, and buckles to hold child’s attention. There are 6 child-friendly buckles in a variety of clasp styles. This helps toddlers develop fine motor skills, cognitive skills, hand eye coordination, and problem solving. The 6.5″ square if perfect for small hands and will clip to a car seat or diaper bag when you’re on the go.
6. Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad
The My Town Reusable Sticker Pad includes 5 colorful backgrounds and 200-plus cling-style, reusable stickers. This is an engaging option for screen-free entertainment that helps children develop strong fine motor skills and promotes creative play.
7. Playskool Classic Dressy Kids Plush Toy
Playskool Classic Dressy Kids Plush Toy is available in girl or boy stuffed toy. Your little adventurer can practice again and again with this dress toy for toddlers featuring 5 getting dressed activities including zip, tie, button, buckle and Velcro. Furthermore, this toddler travel toys is machine washable and comes in a toddler-friendly size with a carry-along clip, making her a great on-the-go activity for kids in the car or on a plane.
8. Peppa Pig Electronic Me Reader Jr
Peppa Pig Electronic Me Read Jr includes 8 illustrated board books and an electronic reader that reads each book aloud. Therefore, your child can choose a book, press buttons on the module, and hear the whole story, along with fun and surprising sounds! Following along in the book while listening to the narration is an important first step toward independent reading.
9. Crayola Twistables Crayons
Crayola Twistable Crayons are durable with plastic barrels to protect against breakage. They never need sharpening just twist to keep the color going! So these are great for younger children who tend to snap regular crayons.
10. Crayola Mess Free Coloring Set
Crayola Mess-Free Coloring Set with markers that only color on special paper. They won’t color on skin, furniture, or fabric so they’re great for on-the-go!