Travel Games
Keep Kids Entertained in Transit
Getting to your destination can sometimes involve a lot of idle time. Travel games can help keep your kids focused and engaged in positive play instead of causing stressful disruption.
We’ve had a lot of downtime in transit with our kids - layovers, long flights, car rides, overnight trains or ferries. Waiting to make a connection can be the perfect time to connect with your kids with games. We have developed, through trial and error, compact survival kits to satisfy our little ones.
We pre-make activity packs for the kids and use them even locally when we go out to restaurants. We always start with a magnetic drawing board or crayons and coloring books. We prefer Twiddlers mini coloring and activity books as they are small - about the size of a passport - and pack up easily. We also bring plenty of party favor toys and dole them out throughout the trip. We especially like ones that require assembly or involve a brain teaser, like a roller ball maze or Rubik’s cube. Stickers, stamps, and decorative tape, paired with a notebook to put them in, are typically a hit. Even temporary tattoos can provide temporary distraction. These tiny toys and mini books are put into small zipper pouches, like the ones airlines give you for free, that can be easily tossed into a purse or backpack. We make one for each kid so there’s no squabbling over who gets what. These activity packs can be modified to be age appropriate.
We have mini versions of board games, like “Candy Land” that can be taken to go, and a simple deck of cards goes a long way. This summer, a friend taught us the card game “Trash”, and it was an easy, fun game that both our kids, 4 and 6 years old, could play - and mom and dad could easily lose (wink, wink) to ensure no meltdowns. If you forget to plan ahead, don’t worry. There are plenty of non-disruptive games that don’t require a thing. “I Spy” has become a staple of long car rides, and some version of “20 Questions” can get you through a long line without long faces.
Sometimes after a long travel day or even after a challenging day of sightseeing, you may find that you need a little time to decompress at the hotel while your kids still need to burn some energy off. Glowstick bracelets and light-up balloons make for great distractions and pack up small. Let the kids have a “Mini Disco” in your hotel room while you kick back in bed. Inflatible pool balls also pack small and can be kicked around in the grass at parks. We love our collapsible beach bucket from Hape and have used it at beaches and sandpits all over the world. If your kid has a favorite stuffed animal, buy multiples and secret an extra one with you on the trip. You never know when your kid may drop and dirty it, or even lose it! With the backup, you can switch them out and avoid any tears. Cap the night off with a small book for a good night story.
We do avoid any toy that makes noise or launches a projectile. It just creates a lot of stress for us to ensure they don’t disturb - or land! - on the people around us. We’ve also found a good set of over-the-ears headphones work well when we do deploy screens, and a jack-splitter allows our two kids to enjoy the same movie and laugh together.
No matter how well you prepare, there are always going to be challenging moments with your kids in these in-between moments, going from one place to the next or waiting in line or for some food. Think back to all the times you wished it was socially acceptable to tantrum in public and dig deep for your patience during this time while it still is - at least a little bit - for them. And if all else fails, well at least this time the tantrums will come with a view when you reach your destination! What are your go-to travel games or survival tips? Share and leave a comment to help other parents!