Ways to Keep Toddlers Busy while Traveling

The links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking my link.

Summer is always a great time to travel as a family.  Although we have yet to bring our kids on an airplane (I am too scared of keeping my 1.5 year old busy long enough) we do go on long car trips to NH.  It’s a great vacation spot and has a ton of things to do with the kids.  My 3 year old could definitely watch TV while we were driving, but I am trying to stay away from technology in the car as long as possible.  Plus my youngest is still rear facing and although her attention span is 5 minutes for TV and I never let her watch it anyway, she would be upset if she couldn’t see it too.  That leaves me to get as creative as possible to keep my active toddlers occupied long enough to drive the 3 hours without stopping too many times.

Tips + Tricks

• try to schedule flights and car trips around nap/sleeptime :  we find it easier to leave post dinner so they will sleep the whole time.  If not possible, then I go to plan B,C, and D.
• be prepared for anything : diaper blow outs, potty training, hunger, boredom, freak outs, you name it, I am prepared.
• stay organized and keep a small trash bag ready to collect all of the trash that accumulates on longer trips.  That will make it easier to keep your car from looking like a tornado hit it.  I also keep each kids’ activities and books in their own bags, my daughters love their North Face backpacks.
• ask your kids if there are any specific toys, stuffed animals, art supplies (within reason) they want to bring.  It’s always easier to bring the things they actually like.  This is also a great time to give them a new craft or small toy when they are starting to get antsy.
• Create a great playlist your kids will like and everyone can sing to.

Ideas

• diaper blow-outs : I always keep a packed and stocked diaper bag within arms reach, nothing is worse than realizing all of your extra clothes and diapers are packed in the cargo carrier at the top of the car or at the bottom of the trunk.
• potty training : I keep this travel potty in my car at all times and highly recommend for any parents with young kids.
• hunger : Snacks, snacks, and more snacks are easily available.  I make sure to get ones that are easy for my little ones to eat without making too much of a crazy mess.  I also always worry about choking so I tend to stick to puffs, pouches (get these to prevent those little hands from squeezing the puree EVERYWHERE), raisins, and soft granola bars.  I always give my kids healthy snacks while we are at home, such as cut up fruit, etc. but it can be challenging to keep stuff like that cold while traveling.  As they get older and do not need everything cut up I can give them whole apples, bananas, etc.

How to keep kids occupied and fight off the boredom:

• Melissa and Doug On the Go activities are AMAZING!  The ones we are currently loving are Surprize Ink + Water Wow.  These two are even great for the younger toddlers since they do not create a mess.  I stay away from markers and sharp pencils for my 1.5 year old.  The scratch art is great for the older toddlers.  On the Go activities also have a place to store all of the markers, water pens, and scratch sticks so you can easily pack them away for future use.
• Coloring books with crayons : I like to use these little travel packs since they have a coloring book, crayons, and stickers all in one and are easy to reseal.  I also have regular coloring books with a zipper pouch filled with crayons to stay as organized as possible.  Usually I put the jumbo crayons in there so it makes it easier for those little fingers to hold and it makes them easier to find underneath the seats!  I have a travel desk I keep in the car so my kids will have a flat surface.  You could also use an over-sized book.
• Wipe-clean activity books :  these are perfect for trips as well as at home.  They are an amazing teaching tool and can be reused over and over again.  This Getting Ready for School Activity pack has four small wipe-clean books, a dry erase marker and comes in a carrying case.  I love this for the older toddlers, 3+.  100 Things for Little Children to do on a Trip is a set of wipe-clean flash cards and has tons of things to keep your child busy.  It is geared towards older kids, but can be fun for a toddler to trace or scribble.  I also bought an eraser so my daughter can erase herself.  I think she has more fun erasing than actually writing.
• Sticker books :  What kid doesn’t love stickers?!? With all of the sticker activity books out there, it is a super easy and an inexpensive way to keep your toddler happy for a while.  I really like the Usborne First Sticker Books.  I give these to my 3 year old now that she understands the concept of putting stickers onto certain pages to create a specific scene.
• Noise books :  These work great for those younger toddlers and even babies.  They can push the buttons over and over while learning about cause & effect.  I have learned to completely tune out these types of books so the sound doesn’t bother me and as long as they are not crying I will do just about anything to keep them happy!  Over the years we have acquired several Disney princess sound books, but these Usborne ones are nice as well, like this Baby’s Very First Noisy Book : Farm.
• Mini books :  Mini books are great for little fingers.  My newest favorites are the Usborne 9 Books for Little People because they come in a larger box so they can be stored in there when the kids are done.
• Touch + Feel, Slide + See, Lift the Flap Books :  The touch + feel and slide + see books are really good for the younger toddlers while the lift the flap books are perfect for older toddlers who won’t rip the flaps.  These types of books are interactive and do not require you to read it to your children while driving.
• Compact Toys : VTech toys and their interactive Touch & Teach books might make a lot of noise, but they are geared toward teaching and with all of the buttons and interaction your child is guaranteed to stay occupied for a while.

These are some of the many different ways I keep my kids busy while traveling and I am sure this will evolve as they continue to grow and their interests change.  What are some of the different ways you keep your kids busy on long trips?