What wouldn’t we give for 20 minutes of independent play on the plane? Or time to unpack and settle into your Airbnb on arrival? And a chance to chew on your grilled octopus before running after your Greek taverna-escaping child?
The perfect travel toy – get it right and transform how you holiday. Tiny, light and mighty, we suggest some multitasking and mess free travel companions that promise to banish boredom, and perhaps even foster a little creativity. Don’t forget the snacks – lots, and of all kinds.
- If I had to pick just one toy to bring, it would be a set of Iwako puzzle erasers. The Japanese brand makes eraser figurines that double up as 3D puzzles you can take apart and reassemble. They’ve also got something for every interest from fast food and safari animals to rainbow poop. I’m obsessed.
- Ooly stacking crayons – apart from being something to scribble with, connecting them is a whole other activity. Put this in a zip-up busy bag with other fun stuff e.g. Retractable lipstick eraser and colour changing pen.
- Crayola mini pip magnetic tiles – easier than Duplo and more compact than Magna-Tiles.
- Mess-free colouring – Melissa and Doug’s Water Wow and Colour Blast ranges are parent staples, along with a lightweight doodle board. Crayola also has a magical line of mess-free markers.
- Duplo farm or first car creations set.
- Reusable sticker sets – Melissa and Doug’s puffy stickers are easy for little fingers to work with.
- Books – mini board books (finger puppet books are twice the fun! or just bring finger puppets …), Indestructibles, and for road trips, song books. This Baby Shark one saved us from many a screaming fit, although it also nearly threw my husband into one of his own.
- 2 and 3-piece puzzles.
- Pocket Etch a Sketch – a cult drawing tool from the 60s, D draws maps to where we are going on these.
- Mini camera – we initially got the popular VTech kidizoom, but found it to be bulky and heavy for no reason. They also need a lot of batteries. These cheaper options from Amazon are small, adorable, and charges with a USB wire.
- Drawing tools are travel essentials. For kids good at sticking to paper, Ooly elevates the experience with a covetable range of colour changing and gel pens. Watercolour palettes are also easy to travel with and great for older kids.
- More puzzles – Goki has a beautiful range of nature-themed mini wood 24-piece puzzles. Mudpuppy’s also has a range of puzzles-to-go and other travel toys.
- Lego polybags – small-build projects full of fun with a bit of adult help.
- Books, including activity books – Yuval Zommer’s sticker books are a favourite. Usborne also has plenty, along with the cutest series of minis. The Under the Sea transfer activity book was a huge hit with D. We’ve also found that a small stack of origami paper goes a long way busying our 2 and 4-year old with endless folding fun. And for older kids, Paint by Sticker Kids is an ingenious product that helps them practice counting beyond 10.
- Ooly Play Again! mini on-the-go activity kits – includes board games and reusable stickers for the scene board.
- Temporary tattoos – a plane trip is a good time for beautifying, and Djeco’s gold foil jewellery tattoos are so pretty I don’t mind if D puts them all over me. Include in a zip bag with nail stickers and a tube of polish.
- Favourite figurines – Paw Patrol, Sesame Street, My Little Pony … whatever is the current obsession.
- Mini torch and projector – perfect for cramped interior spaces
