Travel Tips
What to take to Amuse Kids on a Family Trip |
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For Babies: * any obj  ect that's bright and new!* rattles of all sorts * music-makers * a few pieces of mega-blocks * magnetic stick-together blocks * toys of interesting shapes * pop-up toys * safe plastic mirror Older Babies and Toddlers * bubbles (to use in the airport, during flight changes) * balls (for rest areas during car trips) * nested containers * sets of things to put into containers * things that fit into other things * Busy Boxes with levers, bells, moving parts * board books * simple speaking toys: baby pushes button, toy speaks (not too loud!) * small wind-up toys * blanket, stuffed animal Pre-Schoolers * picture books * stickers and activity books * crayons (preferably square so they don't roll!), felt pens * lap-sized wipe-off easels * small mirrors * finger puppets * costume jewelry * pop-up books * post-it notes, scotch tape * masking tape! kids have fun just sticking it, unsticking it, etc. * paper punch, stapler (careful!) * wrapped presents, or snacks - even triple-wrapped * inexpensive sets of plastic figures (animals, dinosaurs, astronauts...) * magnetic letters & metal tin * miniature wind-up train and track (my son's all-time favorite) Pre-Schoolers to Grade 2's * activity books * tattoos that press on with a wet cloth * stick-on play sets * travel-size Magna- Doodle, Etch-a-Sketch * threading sets (pictures with yarn) * felt boards * Travel Desk sets * Leap Frog Leapster- fun games, and kids learn, too. * small magnetic puzzles * small wind-up toys * Go-Fish cards * silly putty * colored beeswax (to model with - won't stick to stuff) * slappy-hands (a sticky toy) * walkman, with story/ song audiocassettes * Pokemon cards and books * "micro-machines": really small cars, sometimes sold in portable sets * miniature worlds: little houses with figures, hand-sized playsets * yarn: finger knitting, or simple knitting * a "story bag" - write phrases on scraps of paper; pull one out of the bag, start a story, pull out another one... Older Kids' Fun Stuff * real books! * Archie comics (still the same, still popular) * activity kits by the creative Klutz Press, such as Glove Compartment Games * blank paper, for playing Hangman and Xs & Os * regular deck of cards * travel-size Monopoly, Sorry, Snakes'n' Ladders, Battleships * Speak'n'Spell * miniature chess * Mastermind: a great game for age seven and up-- travel-size available * card sets (such as medieval-style "Magic-- The Gathering" IF kids are into this) * small Lego sets (--store the pieces in Ziploc bags) * hand-held toys with the sound turned off * small 3D puzzle sets * Walkman and portable cassette or CD players * Game Boy-type handheld electronic games * BrainQuest Also for older kids: visit a good kids' bookstore, and check the non-book items: most children's bookstores these days have expanded their inventory to include high-quality games, such as card-based games or puzzle games that are perfect to tote along on a trip. Newer news items:
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