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Stress-Free Journeys with Smart Entertainment Planning

We've all been there and experienced pre-trip chaos! Packing, organizing, and ensuring that everything is in place for a whole family can be overwhelming.But one of the secrets of success to easy family travel and one of our top hacks for a stress-free vacation is thoughtful planning for the journey.

It's easy to leave preparations for your carry-on until the last minute, focusing on the main packing, but we recommend taking the time to create a separate checklist for your hand luggage or car travel pack.

Carefully selecting the right items for during your journey can make a world of difference. By dedicating a few hours to thoughtful planning, you can ensure that everything you need is in place and ready, minimizing stress and maximizing the fun and relaxation during your travels.

In this blog post we focus on entertainment but search our content for recommendations on snacks and other travel tips.

Time Check your Journey

It can be tempting to overpack when it comes to children's travel essentials. However, before making your final packing decisions, pause for a moment and consider the total travel time. Take a deep breath, and honestly assess how many hours you typically engage in highly structured entertainment within that period.

Then, do a more structured calculation. Deduct time from the actual journey time for eating, drinking, toilet breaks, just observing the environment around them and being distracted by what is happening around them, snoozing, screen-time if applicable and for simple conversation.

If you are traveling by train, be confident in regularly walking up and down the aisles to ‘explore’ other carriages if you can do so safely. If you are traveling by plane, explore whether you can access a lounge in the airport with your ticket or memberships, or whether it makes sense for you to pay the small fee to access one. They often have free showers, water coolers, ‘spinning’ desk chairs or reclining lounge chairs, and TV’s – all of which can make a great source of short-term entertainment for kids!

Lastly, take a moment to recollect the last time you observed a child or toddler during a flight, train ride, or car journey. Chances are, you won’t recall seeing an unwieldy pile of toys and crafts spilling out from seats and bags with children shouting for more.

Using these three reflective exercises, we hope you already have a more manageable ‘time’ you’ll have to provide entertainment for in your mind and that a pared-down list of items could be the way to go!

5 Essential Travel Toy Categories to Entertain Toddlers & Children

We then recommend packing five age-appropriate items from the following five categories for every three hours of ‘entertainment time’ that you need.

1. Engaging Kids' Books including Holiday-themed Children's Books and Interactive Picture Books.

2. Affordable and Engaging Building Sets or Craft Toys for Children.

3. Something to draw on or with.

4. A familiar teddy or doll.

5. And a new toy.

Below, we provide specific recommendations for each category.

Practical Hand-Luggage Packing Tips for Family Travel

Put a storage box somewhere out of reach of little fingers and add items well in advance

We advocate packing items in sets of ten. This makes it super easy for all the family to count everything in and out of packs when you are traveling, reducing the risk of losing items during the trip. For example, 10 pencils, 10 farm animals, or 10 Playmobil pieces rather than varying numbers of everything. Also great for supporting kids counting!

Decant items into Ziplock bags or reusable silicone food storage bags. This allows you to quickly and easily take out and put back different items during your journey. It will also help you keep track of smaller pieces and keep craft or building sets together.

We LOVE this ToyBox for storing Lego and other small items, it works so well for car journeys as well as flights. No, it doesn't mean you won't lose any pieces, but at least you give yourself a fighting chance!

Consider giving your toddler their own bag or suitcase (see below) to take some of the items in. This is great for building independence and may both buy you more time as they open their own zips and find their own toys, but may also reduce the likelihood of tantrums if they are at an age where frustration over lack of independence is a trigger.

Some of our community members even take entertainment a step further and recommend wrapping individual items up. This not only extends the period of entertainment but also adds an element of surprise, buying you some extra time to enjoy a peaceful journey.

Tailoring Children's Entertainment to Your Travel Destination

One of the joys of travel is the unique experiences that come with each destination. To make the journey even more exciting for your child, we recommend tailoring their entertainment to the theme of your trip. For example, if you're traveling on buses, bring along a toy bus. If you're heading to the beach, consider a book about sea creatures. Planning a heritage tour? Pack a Lego castle to build.

These themed items can spark your child's interest, extend the entertainment time for any single item, and enhance their connection to the trip. It may also provide you with inspiration on how to discuss the trip and the experiences you’ll be having as a family with your little one. We all need this sometimes when we are tired or frazzled!

Budget-Friendly & Disposable

We strongly recommend not splurging heavily on any single item. While we all want our kids to have the best, it's a relief to know that if something is lost during the journey, it won't be a financial disaster that will cause more rather than less stress.

Equally, you may want to source items that can be given away to other travelers or local children, or otherwise disposed of after the journey. This is particularly helpful for backpacking where weight and space are at a premium.

Family Travel Safety & Practicalities

Remember to check craft and stationary packs to ensure they don't contain scissors, needles, scalpels or other sharp objects that may pose safety risks or will be confiscated by airport security.

And, check whether any craft packs need ‘extras’ such as glue to complete them before you travel, and consider substituting them for something that doesn’t require you to carry lots of additional items.

Safety is a top priority, and it's crucial to keep your child's age and developmental stage in mind when selecting toys and activities. Choking hazards can be a significant concern for many parents when traveling, so always ensure that toys are suitable for your child's developmental stage, and consider leaving anything that will heighten your stress levels and the risk to your little one.

Screen Time and Preparation

Many parents rely on screen time to keep their little ones entertained during long journeys. It's a strategy that can work wonders but can be even easier with a little prep! We recommend reducing screen time in the days leading up to the trip so that your child is even more eager to engage with digital devices during the journey.

Remember that even when you expect to have wifi on a journey, it is often not as robust when traveling so don't forget to download e-books, movies, or episodes of your child's favorite series. Having a selection of pre-downloaded content can be a game-changer in keeping your child engaged and content during the journey.

Get Your Child Involved

It sounds obvious, but ask your child or toddler to help you pack. You may be surprised at the things they pick, but it may also help them to relax into the trip if they know they have some of their favorite things with them.

To keep packing manageable, try the choice of two for little ones; 'Do you want to take this one or that one?' rather than offering an open-ended choice!

We also recommend keeping some surprises up your sleeve, particularly any new books and toys. This will allow you to change the energy on the journey at different points as well as the focus of the entertainment.

Remember the Return Journey

Don't forget about the return journey. If you anticipate difficulty in finding items or wish to avoid spending your holiday time on last-minute shopping, consider packing a duplicate set of essentials for the trip back. Be sure to pack this spare set in your main luggage, and resist the temptation to carry it all in your outbound journey's hand luggage. This foresight can save you both time and stress when you're heading back home.

Tricks with Clips for Easy Family Travel

Grab a few packs of these versatile stretchy colourful clips. They are perfect for securing items to bags and luggage, preventing them from vanishing into the unknown.

Encourage your child to clip belongings onto various surfaces during the journey, which will help keep them close instead of items being accidentally kicked down the aisle or vanishing beneath seats. Additionally, playing with the clips is fantastic for honing fine motor skills.

RECOMMENDED TRAVEL TOYS FROM OUR COMMUNITY

In the sections that follow, we provide specific toys that have been tried and tested by our travel community!

We recommend putting a storage box somewhere out of reach of little fingers and adding items to it well in advance of the trip. You’ll be surprised at how much this proactive planning and prep will reduce your own stress levels - this is supposed to be fun after all!

1. A new book.

2. Something to build or create.

3. Something to draw on or with.

4. A familiar teddy or doll - we will leave you to select your own!

5. And a new toy.

Finally, two of the items that regularly feature in conversation with our Family Travel Community are this Microscooter Suitcase and the Trunki Range which you can view here. Both are more expensive than a standard 'bag', but universally loved!

Embarking on journeys with children can be both an adventure and a challenge. Excitement is often blended with a hint of apprehension as you contemplate how to keep your little ones entertained and content during those long flights, car rides, or train journeys.

Among the most frequently discussed topics within our travel community is the subject of entertainment for children and toddlers during travel. Our members offer a diverse spectrum of views on the ideal quantity and type of amusement required.

For some, the mantra "less is more" holds true, as they believe that every new environment presents ample opportunities for natural entertainment. Others champion the use of digital devices—such as movies, games, and e-books—as the ultimate solution for effortless and stress-free journey times. Then there are those who advocate a multifaceted approach, suggesting a combination of different travel toys.

However, there's one unanimous consensus within our community: the perils of bored and restless children can quickly transform a promising adventure into a turbulent one. To counter this, we've compiled a wealth of valuable recommendations to assist you in crafting unforgettable, stress-free journeys that prioritize the safety and happiness of your young explorers on the go.

You didn’t come this far to stop.

Our Top Tips Summarised

1. Don't become overwhelmed by fixating on your total travel time - you won't and don't need to find structured entertainment for every minute of that!

2. Pack a couple of items across our 5 different categories.

3. Anticipate having no wifi or mobile data and do downloads in advance.

4. Choose toys or books linked to your holiday destination or travel theme.

5. Pack small items in packs of 10's.

Best Children's Books for Travel

Magnet books are great for reading with an activity. The magnets work well when travelling. Perfect for 1-3 years olds, - we love this classic story!

Hilarious and topical, we love this 'Where's the Poo' book that will keep your 4-8 year old entertained for hours as they search the pages!

We love a classic Usbourne sticker books for children up to around 5 or 6 years old. There is a whole range of titles to explore - something for everyone.

These interactive, problem solving books are fantastic for capturing the imaginations of young (c.6-10 year old) explorers.

Best kept reading secret - National Geographic books! Extensive titles covering animals, geographic formations and history, and a magical range for early readers!

Children love Julia Donaldson, and the 'Lift the Flap' editions are great entertainment. Top tip - draw a tiny kiss somewhere on each page for your little explorer to hunt down for longer-lasting fun!

Finally a shout out for Kindle Unlimited - you don't need a Kindle to access 'unlimited' children's books. We recommend blending books and e-books rather than one or the other. Click here for a free trial period & great cancellation options!

A beautiful book for children of all ages who may be missing someone - due to travel distance or through loss - and can be read many times to plant ideas or open discussion on different emotions.

Now with quick links so it is even easier to review items!

Something to Build or Create on the Move

A favourite with our Travel Community, these magnetic blocks are light and compact enough to pack, not too small to lose pieces and keep kids of a variety of ages entertained for ages!

Of course we all have a love - hate relationship with Lego as a travel toy. Nothing beats it as a construction toy, but the pieces can be a nightmare to keep control of on the move! We end up voting to take it, but stick to the smaller sets and take a lunch box with smaller sections to store it in!

Endless creative fun comes from bending and sticking these WikkiStix into different shapes. Non-toxic and reusable, they are loved by educators for kinesthetic learning play.

Older children, teens and adults will enjoy transforming these magnetic beads into different shapes! Remember to take a Ziplock bag for when everyone has finished building!

Now with quick links so it is even easier to review items!

Something to Draw On or With

Available in different colours, super-light and guaranteed to provide hours of creative fun as they reset with a simple click, we love these drawing boards. Top tip - get a stretchy clip (see above) to connect the 'pen' to the board!

No mess 'colour with water' books are great for travel art for younger children. Some of the ranges have mixed reviews, but we love this Galt one which works brilliantly.

For slightly older kids, the Crayola paint-sation is game changing. Easy to pack and with its no spill paint that defines gravity, this is great for relieving airport boredom!

Kids love opening new stationary - a new multi-coloured BIC pen, and a mess free Tipp-Ex which kids seem to love is great! Pair with a highlighter and a couple of Stick-It notes and children of all ages will be entertained!

Now with quick links so it is even easier to review items!

A New Toy for the Journey

These 'Tiny Worlds are Full of Big Surprises' according to the Polly Pocket adverts, and the different themed miniature worlds do seem to entertain children for hours! We love that each one comes in a tiny 'suitcase' to keep everything together!

Playmobil has been loved for generations for its robust, timeless designs that children of a range of ages can play with for hours. We recommend the smaller sets for travel, and taking a spare Ziplock to store them in.

Our Travel Community loves the range of puzzles and games available from Smart Games. Perfect for travel, most have between 60 to 120 'challenges; and can be played with by one player or to engage the family in problem solving.

Ride on Suitcases are loved by so many of our Travel Community, and we give a HUGE shout out for this lightweight MicroScooter ride on suitcase that has a drop down kickboard so kids can scoot easily through airports and transit areas.

Now with quick links so it is even easier to review items!

Stories from our Family Travel Community

We were travelling from New York to LA a few years ago when my normally calm 2-year-old, Timmy, disappeared. Like all those other parental moments when you think you are in control, one second he was helping me get bags ready to be checked by security and the next he was gone!

With the nimbleness of a ninja, he must have evaded the TSA agents like a pro as when I started to panic everyone assured me no one could possibly get through the checks undetected!

I had security checking the monitors at the same time as I dumped our bags and fought my way back through the line to the entrance for security, yelling. It was only minutes until thankfully a TSA agent wandered back to the security belt with him but it felt like forever.

Timmy just grinned, wearing his newfound independence like a badge of honor.

I used to scoff at the idea of baby reins, thinking them unnecessary, but now, looking back, I realize there's indeed a time and a place for them. An airport, I've decided, is most definitely that place!

SAFETY FIRST

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

We have made quality of our habit. It’s not something that we just strive for – we live by this principle every day.

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