Practical Toddler Activities for Travel

It is a good idea to pack activities when if you will be traveling with young children. A long flight or car ride can be challenging with younger toddlers if you are not prepared. As a family, we will be traveling across the United States from Minnesota to Texas. I know I need to pack some small activities for our twin toddlers while we are on our family vacation. In this post, you will find a list of the best toddler activities for travel to use on long car rides or flights. There are great options that will make your travel more fun for both you and your toddler. 

Doodle Boards

A doodle board is an easy activitiy for a child to use in their car seat. The drawing pen is attached to the board, which makes it a great travel activity. By pressing the button, the drawings clear and you have a fresh page. There is a feature to lock to doodle board so that you don’t accidentally delete something. It is lightweight and fits perfectly in a diaper bag, seat pocket, or in the door of a vehicle. A doodle board would be perfect for playing travel games with an older toddler like tic-tac-toe or Pictionary. I anticipate a lot of time being spent using this activity!

Busy Book

It is hard to imagine traveling with engaging activities that are compact and also entertaining. A busy book is a great fine motor activity that offers so many different activities and skills. It is perfect for a busy toddler or to learn new things like how to use a zipper or tie their shoe! All of these fasteners are perfect for little hands. Our twins have loved using their busy book while out at restaurants waiting for the meal to come. A busy board is a perfect way to bring lots of different toddler activities along for travel but compactly and conveniently.

Water Wow Books

A great way to offer engaging activities is with a water painting activity book. These Water Wow books by Melissa & Doug are the perfect combination of a coloring book and a painting activity but with absolutely no mess! Fill the water paintbrush with water and you now have a mess-free activity for family road trips or air travel. Magic painting books are a great activity for younger children. 

Pop Tubes

These Bunmo Pop Tubes are perfect for travel. They pop, crinkle, and stretch! The reviews confirmed that this is a must-have item for travel, which is why I picked up some for our 16-hour car ride to Texas. I’m going to store them in a travel zip-lock bag to keep things organized and convenient. 

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Animals

Having a travel bag with a few animals or other small toys is a great idea. The Schleich animals are durable figurines perfect for kids of all ages. You could create different themes of animals for your travel bag. Alternatively, some cars or other well-loved toys would be great to put together into a small travel bag.

Wikki Sticks

When it comes to travel activities, Wikki Stix is a perfect mess-free option. These wax-coated pieces of yarn are a great option for toddlers because they are made with non-toxic wax as you would find in bubble gum or lipstick. They are also fun for older kids. If you are traveling consider getting the travel pack for a simple quiet time activity. 

Pro Tips for Travel

Here are my top tips for successful travel with toddlers! It can be a lot to plan and prepare to keep your toddler engaged for hours while in a plane or car. These things should help make the process smoother. 

​Food and Water 

Make sure to bring a water bottle and lots of snacks for your travel. If all else fails, typically a snack is a good option. It is better to be over-prepared than to have to stop for an overpriced granola bar at a gas station. Depending on the length of your travels, consider packing some of your own food to cut down on travel costs. 

Vehicle Garbage Bag

To help make the travel go smoother, be prepared with a garbage bag for wrappers and other garbage along the way. There will already be enough items floating around the vehicle, you don’t need to add a bunch of garbage to the mix.

​Easily Accessible 

If you are driving, consider preparing a basket or bag with all of your toddler activities for travel. This way you can rotate through activities easily. Using storage bags or travel containers will help keep things simple and orderly. One of the best ways to make travel easier is to be organized and prepared for those moments when your toddler with need something engaging to do. 

​Fully Stocked Diaper Bag 

Make sure to have a fully stocked diaper bag with extra wipes and diapers. The last thing you want it to have to go digging through your suitcase to find a diaper. 

Plan to Stop 

Especially if you are driving, plan to stop every 2 to 3 hours. Going to a rest stop will likely allow opportunities for your child to run around which will be important. Sitting in a car for a long time can be challenging and taking stops along the way will help.

Favorite Toys

If there is a favorite toy or lovey that your child has, make sure to bring it along. It may be the best thing to have at a certain moment and you’ll be glad you packed it.