Activity Kits for Travel with Toddlers and Preschoolers

Airplane and car travel with toddlers and preschoolers can be a challenge. Packing a variety of snacks and drinks as well as putting together an activity kit can make a huge difference in the number of gray hairs you’ll gain by the time you reach your destination. Designate a carry-on or backpack and fill it up a few days before you depart. Consider some of these favorites:

Printable activities—Do an internet search for “printables” and print out a bunch of pages in a variety of themes, attach to a clipboard with a plastic ziptop bag of age-appropriate crayons, colored pencils, and markers for a large, inexpensive supply of “work” for your older toddler or preschooler. Coloring pages, mazes, and other activities are readily available and can be selected for their relevance to your trip.
Klutz books—Look for these activity kits and books at Border’s, Michael’s, Amazon.com, toy stores and all sorts of other places around town. The books come with different types of activities and the materials necessary for them. Look for the Chicken Socks label for the books for smaller kids. Don’t forget to check the packaging and cut any fasteners before tossing them in your bag and be sure to throw an extra ziptop bag or two in with the books to collect any extra loose pieces quickly.
Crayola Model Magic—This modeling clay product comes in very small foil packages, has less of an odor than Playdough, and isn’t as sticky. Pick up a variety pack, open one or two packs at a time and just toss when finished. Model Magic hardens in about a day, so it is not good for a long time, but it is great for limited use.
Chenille Stems—Good old pipe cleaners are a super light, versatile addition to your travel activity kit. They can be made into all sorts of things, cost very little, and weigh almost nothing. If you find that the ends are a little sharp for small hands, simply fold over and twist a few times to secure the end of the wire.
Wikki Stix—Oddly entertaining, Wikki Stix are wax covered string that are moldable and stick to some surfaces. Use them to make animals, letters, and three dimensional creations. You can usually find them at craft stores.
Magnetic Drawing Boards—The mini Magna Doodle and Etch-a-Sketch models are nice, small additions to your bag, create no mess, and are infinitely reusable.

Pack up a variety of things when little eyes aren’t looking and bring them out one at time, saving the best, most novel items for as long as possible. If you are feeling up to it, package the items in small treat bags or lunch bags so that unwrapping the surprises can be part of the fun.

Happy Traveling!