10 Best Travel Toys for Younger Kids

Planning a family road trip? Or will you be flying with a baby and kids? Be prepared with travel toys for younger kids to reduce the number of times your children say “Are we there yet?”

Be sure you have a road trip supplies checklist of items to pack, as well as a good organization system in the vehicle when traveling with kids.

10 travel toys for younger kids

I have four children of all ages, and we have traveled by airplane, car, train and boat. This list of toys has been tried and tested on our family vacations.

Here’s a list of my favorite travel toys that are worth packing for a trip with younger kids.

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Best Travel Toys for Younger Kids

Size matters when it comes to travel toys. When choosing toys to pack for travel, consider how much space they will take up versus how much time your kids will spend playing with them.

Doodle Toy

A travel size doodle toy is fun for anyone over age 1. The kids like to give ideas for mom and dad to draw, then laugh and erase it, and do it again.

You can use it for tic-tac-toe, Pictionary, practice letter writing, and more. The versatility of this toy makes it perfect for traveling.

→ AMAZON: Travel Doodlers

Magnetic Play Sets

Magnetic tins, paper dolls and play scenes allow kids to use their imagination to create a story.

Children can play with their favorite paper dolls or story scenes sitting in their seat with less mess since the magnets keep the pieces together. 

It’s the perfect travel toy because the small parts don’t get lost.

→ AMAZON: Magnetic Play Sets

Triangle Crayons and Sketch Pad

Triangle crayons are a MUST when traveling. They stay in place and don’t roll off the tray table on the plane or lap tray in the car.

One of the best uses of drawing pad paper while traveling is to draw a little “play place” for kids to use to play with their toy cars or animals.

Draw a farm or jungle scene for them to play with small animals, or draw some roads to drive cars on. This not only entertains the kids while they watch me draw, they can then play with it with their toys, and it can be left behind after.

If you have a pen in your purse, you can also do this on the back of a paper place mat in a restaurant. It’s a great way to entertain kids in a restaurant as well.

→ AMAZON: Drawing Pads and Crayons

Water Wow Pads

Yes, you can paint while traveling in an airplane or car! Kids love this no-mess painting water-reveal pads.

Simply use the pen to color, let the page dry to erase the pictures and color it again and again.

The chunky-sized water pen stores neatly in the front cover making these spiral-bound books the perfect travel activity for kids.

→ AMAZON: Water Wow Pads

Reusable Sticker Pad

Keep little fingers busy while traveling with stickers. Find a reusable sticker pad that can be used over and over.

The vinyl cling sticker material means no more peeling paper stickers off airplane tray tables, car seats and windows at the end of the ride!

→ AMAZON: Reusable Sticker Pads

Finger Puppets

Watch out! These smiling animal finger puppets will provide fun and imagination during a long car or airplane ride. And not just for your child!

→ AMAZON: Finger Puppets

Quiet Busy Book

A busy book is the perfect travel toy to keep kids entertained. Find one that fully zips closed so pieces don’t get lost.

→ AMAZON: Quiet busy books

Electronics and Headphones for Kids

Pack electronics, including a tablet, when flying with baby and toddlers
Sound Intone headphones are a must for flying with a baby and toddler

If your child is willing to be entertained by a DVD player or tablet, bring it.

You can easily get a cheap tablet under 100 dollars, or go up to $500 if the budget allows.

Let the novelty of being in the car or on the airplane work it’s magic before pulling out the electronics.

Consider buying a new movie or show because the novelty will last longer, even in a new setting. And make sure you have pre-downloaded everything in case there is no wi-fi.

You’ll also want to invest in kid-sized headphonesI recommend over-ear headphones for kids. The folding ones are very convenient for packing in a carryon.

Do NOT buy expensive headphones for young children. They won’t appreciate the sound quality, and trust me – the expensive ones break just as easily.

→ AMAZON: Electronics | Headphones

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6 Comments

  1. This is such a cool list! I wish we had these things when I was a kid to keep myself entertained for 12 hour flights. So colorful! Love this post, thanks for sharing!

  2. Great recommendations! Will really come in handy when I get to bring my daughter along with me when we travel.. 🙂 A happy kid makes the adventure more fun! ;).. I’d definitely agree on not buying expensive headphones (or any toy for that matter). Usually the quality is more or the less the same with inexpensive ones..

  3. Awesome list!! Whenever I travel with my young nephew I make sure to bring as many things to occupy him as possible. The water wow tool looks fun!

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