Although traveling with kids looks a lot different now for our family than it did even just a few years ago, there’s no doubt that it’s a unique experience. Whether you’re traveling with infants and toddlers or teenagers, the experience can be challenging and overwhelming, but lots of fun at the same time.
Preparing enough activities to keep kids busy can help make family travel more manageable. But it’s hard to know where to start, or which activities would work best for kids on the go. So, today I’m sharing a round-up of fun activities kids can do when traveling!
10 Best Travel Activities For Kids: Fun Ideas to Keep Them Busy
Drawing Pad Or Coloring Books
If you have a child who loves to color or draw, you’re in luck! Drawing pads and coloring books are conveniently portable and perfect for entertaining kids of different ages. Grab a sketch pad and some pencils, or a pack of Crayola Crayons and some coloring books, like the Dinosaur Coloring Book Super Set or Disney My Little Pony Coloring Book Super Set.
Or, if mess-free coloring is more your style, the Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Bundle and Water Magic – Scented Reusable Water Reveal Activity Pads are total game-changers!
Activity Books
Activity books are another fantastic option, and with so many types to choose from, they’re great travel activities for kids of all ages. For younger kids, I love the Sticker Wow books and reusable sticker books. And for kids of all ages, there are a ton of dry-erase activity books that are perfect for travel, no matter whether you’re on an airplane, train, or in the car!
Travel Journal
For elementary-aged kids and older, consider getting them a travel journal. Not only will it help to keep them entertained on your way to your destination, but it also becomes a keepsake that they can use to look back on for years to come.
There are some great kids’ travel journals and even themed journals, like this one for anyone exploring the National Parks!
Tablet Or E-Reader
Like a lot of other moms, I would rather my kids not spend hours staring at a screen. However, if there’s ever a time to be lenient about screen time, it’s on a travel day. That said, I do try to encourage my kids to make the most of their screen time, whether they are reading a book on a Kindle or playing a fun learning app. I also find that it helps to limit screen time as much as possible before the trip so that they’re that much more enthralled by the opportunity to play on their gadget.
Wikki Stix
Wikki Stix are a must-have for plane rides or a road trip. They are the perfect mess-free travel activity for younger kids, but older kids often like to get in on the fun too!
Wikki Stix are little wax sticks that kiddos can bend and put together to make all kinds of shapes and figures. Stick a pack of them in your purse or carry-on and pull them out whenever your child needs something to keep them busy. They’re great for long waits at restaurants too!
Card Games
Travel-themed or not, card games are the perfect portable travel activity for kids. From Uno to Blink, card games are great for kids to play amongst themselves or for your whole family to enjoy together.
Travel-Sized Board Games
A lot of people don’t think about board games when they think of travel games, but you’d be surprised by how many classic board games come in travel-friendly packages. From the classic wooden memory board game to Scrabble and Trouble, these pint-sized games are perfect for fun on the go!
Origami
Origami sheets are another activity you might not have thought of for travel-friendly fun, but they’re perfect for kids and adults. No matter your destination or your mode of transportation, origami sheets are convenient, take up little room, and provide hours of entertainment. And, for an added bonus, they’re great for working on fine motor skills!
Popdarts
Both adults and kids love Popdarts! This relatively new game is already crazy popular and people of all ages can’t get enough of it. Each “dart” uses suction to stick to any smooth surface. You can play the game and keep score as outlined in the instructions or just have a blast tossing them to see where you can get them to stick!
Travel Toys
From fidget toys to pint-sized dolls and figurines, there are tons of toys you can stick in your purse, backpack, or carry-on for convenient and portable fun. Just be sure they’re made of plastic or a similar durable material, and if you’re bringing several of them, consider storing them in a bag or pouch to keep them together.
How to Travel with Kids: Essential Tips
Bring Plenty Of Snacks
Of all the travel hacks with kids I can offer, this one remains the best. Snacks are a must! Pack plenty of different types of snacks, then you won’t have to worry about anyone getting hangry and you won’t have to spend a fortune on snacks at the airport.
My favorite way to pack snacks for my kids on the go is to divide them up and put them into containers like these 4-Compartment Bento Lunch Boxes or these GoBe Kids Original Snack Spinners.
Pack All Your Must-Haves In Your Carry-On
This is especially important when traveling with infants or little ones who are still in diapers. Pack more than enough diapers and wipes, as well as at least two extra outfits in your carry-on bag. This way if you happen to get stuck somewhere without your luggage, you still have your essentials for the littlest one. Believe me, you don’t want to learn about the importance of this extra stash the hard way.
For road trips, pack these items in a backpack or bag that you can grab quickly and easily, without having to unload the car or dig through luggage.
Bring More Than You Think You Need, But Don’t Overdo It
This is kind of an add-on to the last one, but it’s worth mentioning when you’re traveling with kids. ALWAYS bring more than you think you might need. Diapers, wipes, clothes, blankets, bathing suits, socks, underwear, etc. You’d much rather have more than you need than not enough of it. Of course, there are plenty of people who argue that they can just buy something if they need it, but in my opinion, you’re better off already having what you need.
Be Realistic With You Expectations
Kids are kids. Even the most well-behaved child has off days. If you go into the trip expecting your child to be a fantastic traveler and perfectly behaved the whole time, you’re setting yourself up for some majorly stressful moments. Expect them to have their ups and downs, but know that overall, it’s going to be a wonderful and memorable experience that you’ll be grateful for in the long run.
What are your best secrets for traveling with kids?
What is the one travel hack that has made the biggest difference for you? Is there one tip you share with other parents every chance you get? Share in the comments below! Then, head over to the travel tab of my blog for more on my best travel tips!
