What’s in your kid’s travel kit?
One of the biggest hurdles of traveling with kids is the process of getting to your destination. Planes, trains, or automobiles… it takes time, patience, and a bit of grit!
One of my go-to strategies is to put together a personalized kit to keep my kids entertained while traveling. This comes in handy not only during the plane or car ride, but also during down time throughout the trip. Here are a few tips for assembling yours:
Keep it compact and organized. Traveling is stressful enough without having to keep track of lots of little toys and knick-knacks! I use these mesh zip bags to provide a bit of structure and make it easy for my kids to pull out what they need (and then put it all back!).
Pick a theme. Part of the excitement of traveling with kids is the anticipation of your destination. Make it even more fun by selecting a few items that can be used on your trip. For instance, on our road trip to the national parks in Utah, I added a compass and binoculars, and when we traveled to Disneyland, I included a Mickey Mouse notebook for collecting autographs.
Choose a mix of items that can be reused or tossed. It’s nice to have a few small items you can use for multiple trips, such as these miniature magnetic tiles. On the other hand, it’s also helpful to have some items you can toss as you go, such as these Wiki Stix activity packs and coloring books.
Below is a list of items I pulled together for an upcoming trip. Of course, this is in addition to packing a tablet, headphones, and snacks - the true MVPs of travel!
Mesh zip bags to keep everything organized and accessible
Paint with water book and paintbrush
Notebook with blank pages for drawing and stickers - I like to buy small ones in bulk. You can easily toss them when full or save them as travel journals!
A fidget toy - check out the dollar section at Target or the seasonal collection at Hobby Lobby
Crayons
Various stickers (a few mountain/hiking themed; here are some fun travel stickers)
I love collecting ideas from other traveling parents on what they pack to keep their kids entertained. Leave your favorite items in the comments below!
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