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 1. Lamaze Freddie The Firefly

Freddie the Firefly is ready to crinkle, jingle, peek-a-boo (mirrors), and even soothe sore teething gums (the attached teether slips into a pocket when not in use).

This travel toy for babies easily links to a car seat strap or infant car seat handle as well as your stroller’s bumper bar, and is BPA and Phthalate free.

Recommended from birth and up. Find it at: Amazon

2. Manhattan Toy Farmyard Friends Soft Activity Book

Lead your finger-puppet farmer through five spreads of story scenes with flaps and pockets of possibility. The soft book can be attached with plastic toy links to car seat or stroller.

Recommended for ages 6 months +. Find it at: Amazon

3. ALEX Toys Artist Car Valet

This portable, fold-out art station for kids is perfect for road trips with your young artist or flights (it’s the perfect size for airplane tray tables..

Use the zipping center compartment to store drawing paper, pads, or coloring books. The two detachable zippered pockets (secured with Velcro) can be filled with crayons, markers, and surprises for creative traveler.

Recommended for ages 3  years +. Find it at: Amazon

4. Joey and Zoey Magnetic Dress-up Play Set

Dress them for any occasion! Sixty five pieces to play dress-up with this boy and girl set. Comes in a travel box to help keep pieces organized on the go.

Recommended for 3 years +. Find it at: Amazon

5. Lewo Wooden Educational Toys Magnetic Art Easel

So much possibility in such a small space–this 8.5″ x 11″ travel desk features both chalkboard and white board, which doubles as a magnetic art board for the dozens of figures and shapes inside.

Includes dry erase marker, chalk, eraser, and all things seen here. Note: You will want to use a rubber band to secure the lid to the box during travel.

Recommended for 3 years +. Find it at: Amazon

<– PSSST! These books make GREAT gifts!

For more help preparing for your family’s trip, follow these links to travel tips on Flying with Babies and Toddlers, Road Trips with Babies and Toddlers (and travel with car seats),  and other FAQs and Popular topics for traveling with babies and young children.

You might also like:

How to Travel with a Car Seat (without Losing Your Mind)

Flying with Babies and Toddlers Advice Index

How to Plan Your Best Vacation with Baby

Five great gifts for traveling families

Five Favorite Screen-Free Travel Toys

Need to Know: Flying American Airlines with a Baby or Toddler

Review of the CARES flight safety harness

Seven easy ways to get your car seat to the gate

Worldwide directory of baby gear rentals

Flying American Airlines with a baby or toddler

Five things you might not think to pack for travel with a baby or toddler

Find vacation inspiration at Family Travel 411!

St. John and St. Tomas with Kids – USVI Vacations

Six Great Mexico Family Vacation Destinations

Oaxaca with Kids – Mexico Family Vacation

The 411 on Quebec City with Kids

Ten Things You Should Always Pack for Travel

The 411 on NYC with Kids

The 411 on Bend, Oregon, with Kids

Have you subscribed to Travels with Baby Tips?

More tips and advice are on the way! For help for planning travel of every kind–with babies and children of every temperament–in Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

Note: An earlier version of this post first appeared December 14, 2017. It has since been updated.

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If you’re looking for screen-free alternatives to help keep your child entertained on an upcoming flight, road trip, camping trip, train ride, cruise (when wouldn’t these come in handy?!) … consider these favorite travel toys for young children. No charging cord or batteries required!

And better still, these travel toys will help keep your child’s imagination and hands busy in constructive–and tidy–ways.

This post contains affiliate links, which help support TravelswithBaby.com.

1. Tangrams

What are tangrams? Traditionally, a tangram is a Chinese geometric puzzle, starting with a square cut into 7 geometric shapes. These shapes can be used to create seemingly infinite representations of animals, numbers, letters, boats, buildings, flowers, and the list goes on!

This travel-friendly tangram set (for kids 3 years+) includes a booklet with 240 possible puzzles to create with the magnetic tiles on the fold-out work space. Of course, your child is free to improvise as well — imagination’s the limit!

While there are many kits or box sets available in travel-friendly sizes (see more here), my kids have most enjoyed having a baggie full of wooden tangram pieces and a booklet of animals to make. They follow the patterns as well as create their own imaginary scenes, sometimes laying the design flat (like this fox) and other times stacking them for a 3-D effect.

Click here to see more tangram puzzle sets.

2. Wikki Stix

If you haven’t yet added Wikki Stix (or similar product) to your travel toolbox, these can be a great activity with no mess or clean up required (just don’t let that cute Wikki Man melt into the dashboard of your rental car, ahem).

They are bendable, reusable, and can be used to make simple flat designs, or rolled and wrapped to make 3-dimensional objects. Most sets include idea cards that show simple ways to make a design.

This activity set is ideal for travel with a small board, set of wikki stix, and all pack into a travel pouch. Recommended for children 3 years and older. Click here to see more Wikki Stix sets.

3. Travel Doodle Pro (Tag Along).

Stamp-initiated drawings, freehand scribbles, your next round of tic-tac-toe? If you missed my ode to the travel-size Doodle Pro some years back, you can click here to read in detail (and rhyme) how it’s helped our family, saved my sanity, and yes, inspired poetry.  Just imagine what it might do for your family!

As you can see, it’s handy for even the youngest scribblers and is always ready for more. Click here to see the line-up of travel-size Doodle Pro drawing boards.

4. Log cabin art with coffee stir sticks

This kids craft travel kit is free, reusable, compostable, and so much fun that you’ll have a hard time not building one on your own fold-out airplane tray.

Just don’t forget to swipe a handful of complimentary wooden stir sticks from the airport cafe before your flight (with plenty of extras for yourself). Stash in the pocket of your purse or day pack and you’ll have an instant activity wherever you find yourselves waiting…

See more in your copy of Take-Along Travels with Baby or in this post.

5. Crayola Color Wonder activity kits

All the joy of marker madness with non of the marker mess! These marker tips distribute only CLEAR ink except where they come in contact with Crayola’s special papers. Genius?

This travel-friendly set includes a handy carrying case, makers, papers, and Crayola Color Wonder stamps for good measure. You can add to and switch out other Color Wonder products as you see fit.

For best results, don’t let your child use them at home in advance of your trip. Better yet, save the surprise until well into your flight, when the freedom to paint feels most unexpected–and appreciated!

Pack along a spiral drawing pad or just use airline-issue napkins. Click here to see this kit and additional Crayola Color Wonder products.

More screen-free alternatives to keep kids entertained during travel?

Want more screen-free alternatives to help keep your kids busy during travel? There are dozens of tips, ideas, and inspiration for the younger set in Take-Along Travels with Baby.

And for school-age kids, check out these screen-free and battery-free favorites on FamilyTravel411.com.

Here’s wishing you the best of luck on your next family adventure!

Safe journeys,

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure. An earlier version of this was first published in May 2012. It’s since been updated.

The post Five favorite screen-free travel toys and kits for young children appeared first on Travels With Baby.

When I board an airplane with my kids, it’s hard to know what I want to hit first with my antibacterial hand wipes: The safety belt buckles? The arm rests? Or the fold-out tray where our gadgets and goodies and snacks will inevitably end up?

The “Trayblecloth” goes one better than a wipe–at least where the fold-out tray is concerned. It not only provides a clean, alergen-free surface for kids but helps keep them organized and entertained throughout the flight.

Use the pockets to stash snacks, crayons, Wikki Stix and the like (click here to see more recommended Travel Toys and Five Screen-Free Favorites to Keep Kids Entertained During Long Flights), and the clear pocket to add any background your child might like to color, decorate, draw, or tic-tac-toe upon with dry erase markers (not included, so be sure to pick some up to go with it. The surface also wipes clean easily to remove any sticky snack residue.

Don’t like the duck fabric? There are four more patterns to choose from, including a very sporty soccer motif for older siblings. Click here to see them all.

In a hurry? Here’s a quick list of surprises you might like to load in your child’s Trayblecloth in advance of your next departure (check age appropriateness for your child):

Little Airport or other small reusable sticker activity book

Tangle Jr.

Wikki Stix or pipe cleaners

Deck of UNO cards

Dry erase markers

3-5 coloring book pages (they’ll be reusable if you use the dry erase marker surface)

Set of finger puppets

Goldfish crackers

Fruit gummy snacks

Clif Kid Z Bar

And in case you’re thinking it would be great to have a grown-up version of the Trayblecloth for yourself… yes, they’ve got that covered, too.

Thanks so much for helping to support this site with your click-throughs and purchases from Amazon. Also, you can click here for more Pack This! features for recommended gadgets and gear for travel with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

Previous post: Checklist for Travel with Babies and Toddlers: Checking-In Safety Checklist (with Printable)

Have you subscribed to Travels with Baby Tips?

More tips and advice are on the way! For help for planning travel of every kind–with babies and children of every temperament–in Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.

Have you seen the latest features at our sister site, Family Travel 411?

The 411 on Valencia, Spain, with Kids

The 411 on Boston with Kids

Ten Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Ireland with Kids

The 411 on Puerto Vallarta with Kids

The 411 on Traverse City with Kids

The 411 on Granada – Nicaragua with Kids

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

What?! Your kids aren’t babies anymore? Head over to Family Travel 411

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

The post Pack This! The “Trayblecloth” for Flying Toddlers & Preschoolers–and Ideas for What to Pack in It appeared first on Travels With Baby.

Trunki Ride-On Suitcase for Kids

It’s a kid-size suitcase, a ride-on toy, and the easiest way to carry-on kid + bag into an airplane (let them scoot themselves). The Trunki ride-on suitcase lets kids scoot through the airport (or even up and down long hallways in cruise ships!) with ease and includes a pull strap for parents (when needed or desired). It’s carry-on compatible for most airlines, fitting within the standard 20″ x 18″ x 10″ requirement, and will serve well for overnights and slumber parties as well. Click here to see all Trunki styles at Amazon (Thanks for supporting this site when you click through to shop!)

The Piggyback Rider

For the dad who has–or rather has to carry everything, including small people when they tire, the Piggyback Rider is a low-profile high-relief solution for the parent who always ends up carrying that kid who’s “too big for a stroller.” (Of course, when using the Piggyback Rider, we recommend you always wear pants.) Read more about the Piggyback Rider and see other recommendations in Best Child Carriers for Travel.

Schylling Scuttlebug Portable Ride-On Trike

Another one of those precious toys that is as useful at home as it is in the corridors of Heathrow during a 5-hour layover with an energetic toddler (yes, that’s saying something!). The Schylling Scuttlebug folds to almost flat for transport beneath your stroller or in the side of your carry-on and weighs just over 4 lbs. But when waiting time calls, it’s three wheels fold out to give children 12 months to 4 years a pusher, scooter, or ride-on trike to keep them occupied. Click here to see all Scuttlebugs at Amazon

The Mommy Hook Jumbo Carabiner Clip

Created with moms, strollers, and shopping bags in mind, the Mommy Hook finds endless applications during family travel. Use it to keep extra toys (with loops and links are perfect) in view of baby or within reach of your toddler in the stroller or car seat, secure your purse/diaper bag to your stroller, attach diaper bag to rolling carry on or daypack (or laptop case) to rolling suitcase, and the list goes on.  Made of heavy-duty aluminum with a foam grip for carrying sundry totes from car to hotel room or hotel room to beach. Click here to see all Mommy Hook colors at Amazon.

Canvas Photo Enlargements

What better way to remember the year’s adventures than with a large canvas print of your favorite family travel photos? Here is one of ours from Kauai. Better still, you can click here to get 85% off ALL SIZES of canvas prints from Canvas People for a limited time. Yes, that’s 85% off right now! And as my mother-in-law will tell you, they make GREAT GIFTS FOR GRANNIES!

Got the Ultimate Guidebook for Travel with Kids Under 5?

And don’t forget, the 400+ page “ultimate guidebook” for planning virtually every trip during your child’s first years makes a great gift for all travelers with young children! Camping, cruise vacations, urban escapes, overseas travel, air travel, road trips, train travel, the best all-inclusive resorts for babies and children, and then some! Click here to browse Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler and click here to see its pocket-size travel companion Take-Along Travels with Baby: Hundreds of Tips to help During Travel with Your Baby, Toddler, and Preschooler.

For more holiday gift ideas, see these features:

Recommended Travel Toys and Games for Children Under 5 (archives)

Screen-Free, Battery-Free Travel Games and Toys

Great Products & Gear for Travel with Babies & Young Children

Three Favorite Gifts for the Traveling Mom

The Best Travel Purse for a DSLR Camera I’ve Found

Review of the Lumix Waterproof, Dustproof Camera

Have you subscribed to Travels with Baby Tips?

More tips and advice are on the way!

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby and Take-Along Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

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The post Five Great Gifts for Traveling Families appeared first on Travels With Baby.

You may have many gift ideas in mind that will do well staying home, but how many gifts for your child will you also be glad to take along on your next trek? Consider these travel-friendly gifts for the littlest explorers in your life.

The best holiday gifts for travelers under 5 years:

The Schylling Scuttlebug Travel-Friendly Ride-On Toy

I first discovered this travel-friendly ride-on toy while spending a 7-hour layover at Heathrow with our three young children. Where had it been all our lives as parents so far? All three wheels fold up underneath so you can stow it in your tote bag or beneath your travel stroller. The Scuttlebug weighs just over 4 lbs., has no-scratch wheels, can be used indoors and out, and folds to 4.7”H x 19.3”L x 9.1”W. Better still, it has front-wheel steering for extra maneuverability. Recommended for children 12 months up to 3 years (or 33 lbs.). Click here to see all of its in carnations, including Ladybug and Dragonfly. Available at: Amazon.com

Skip Hop Zoo Rolling Luggage For Little Kids

Let your preschooler pack his own carry on full of fun for your next flight, or watch as she rolls her own suitcase with pride on arrival at Grandma’s house. And in case she gets tired of “towing the line,” a hidden shoulder strap is stored in the back, which enables Mom or Dad to carry the bag hands free if necessary. Back at home, it carries those all-important favorite toys to the next play date. The Skip Hop Zoo collection of rolling luggage for little kids includes a menagerie with monkey, owl, and more. Recommended for ages 3+. Click here to see all of the style options. Available at: Amazon.com

 Skip Hop Zoo Travel Blanket

The Skip Hop travel blanket unfolds to a generous 30″ x 40″ to keep your toddler or preschooler cozy on long flights, during wintery road trips, while snoozing in the stroller, or during a favorite TV show at home. It tucks into its own  pillow pouch, which has a very useful handle you might use to attach it to your carry-on bag or stroller (a carabiner clip always works well). In its compact form, the “travel pillow” Measures 9″ x 10″ x 3″ deep. Machine washable. Click here to see all of the Zoo travel blanket choices. Available at: Amazon.com

Star Kids Snack and Play Travel Tray

Load up the side pockets of this travel tray with a fresh set of markers, a notepad, a deck of Go Fish! playing cards, a starter box of animal or Goldfish crackers, and perhaps a travel-size Doodle Pro, and you are giving a gift that will keep on giving through road trip after road trip (trust me), long flights, and even trips across town. We’ve been using our Snack and Play travel tray for nearly 10 years, and it is still with us on the long migration north each year! Available at: Amazon.com.

Melissa & Doug Trunki Rolling Kids Luggage

The Trunki is another great carry-on luggage option for little kids with one definite advantage: They can actually ride it to the gate for their next flight, down the aisle the train on your rail adventure, or down the lengthy hall of your ship on your family cruise vacation. It’s stabilized for small passengers and includes a pull strap for parents plus a shoulder carrying strap. Holds up to 75 lbs. Optional accessories such as the saddle bag and suitcase stickers help personalize the Trunki, while the new Trunki Tote helps keep items organized within the Trunki (or can be used as an additional bag). Click here to see all Trunki options and accessories. Available at: Amazon.com

Skip Hop Giraffe Safari Puppet Activity Book

Save this one for the flight! This crinkly book for babies features built-in finger puppets that can pop through holes in the pages the help punctuate your animal tale. The multi-page book includes a teething toy for added interest and a Velcro strap that lets you attach it easily to the stroller or car seat strap. Available at: Amazon.com

LeapFrog LeapPad3 Learning Tablet

The WiFi-enabled LeapFrog LeapPad3 is recommended for children 3 to 9 years and comes loaded with ten apps, utility suite, and choice of one free LeapFrog download. When using the WiFi or LeapSearch features on this tablet, kids browse only web content that has been pre-screened and approved by learning experts. Additional parental controls are included if you want to do additional fine-tuning. More than 1,000 educator-approved games, ebooks, and apps are available for this tablet to match children’s interests as they grow (separate purchase). To make it truly travel friendly, be sure to include the padded LeapFrog headphones. Available at: Amazon.com 

For more gift ideas for travelers under 5 years–and their parents–click here to browse all Pack This! features and take a look at the recommended Great Products & Gear for travel with babies and young children.

Previous post: Ask Shelly: Travel stroller for international Florida vacation with a baby?

Recently at Family Travel 411: Matter of Perception: Visiting the San Francisco Exploratorium

Safe journeys,

Shelly Rivoli, author of the award-winning Travels with Baby guidebooks

Twitter     Facebook     Travels with Baby on Facebook     Pinterest

Curious about this content? See my editorial content disclosure.

The post Best Holiday Gifts for Travelers Under 5 Years appeared first on Travels With Baby.

Have you ever noticed your child getting grumpy and more demanding after playing games on your phone or tablet for an extended period of time (AKA during travel)? While I know that it is possible to help keep a kid quiet through a 5+ hour flight with just movies and video games alone, I know there will also be consequences for doing so.

Here’s another screen-free favorite you can add to the mix for your in-flight entertainment or for your family’s next camping trip. The “Tell Me a Story” card sets from eeBoo help pre-readers put their imaginations to work by sequencing scenes from the deck in a story all their own.

You can also take turns with your child, each drawing a card from the deck and narrating what happens next, which can be fun when the scene is very unexpected! And on a personal note, I can say it wouldn’t hurt to keep a deck of Tell Me a Story cards in your purse or daypack on a regular basis to help pass time in restaurants, waiting rooms, and while waiting to pick up older siblings.

Each deck contains 36 story cards with a slide-tray storage box, and they are recommended for children 3 years and up. Some of the other Tell Me a Story sets include Mystery in the Forest, Animal Village, Fairytale Mix-ups, Volcano Island, and more. Click here to see all of the Tell Me a Story card sets, including a couple of Story Collection 3-packs, which include a bonus.

For more screen-free recommendations to help keep kids entertained during travel, see my post Five screen-free favorites to keep kids entertained during long flights, and my very poetic post with the Ode to a Travel Doodle Pro. As always, you’ll find more sanity-saving products for travel with babies, toddlers, and little kids in the Pack This! features you can browse through this link.

Safe journeys,

The post Pack This! “Tell Me a Story” cards for travel with preschoolers appeared first on Travels With Baby.