Easy DIY Travel Activity Pack for Kids
While there are plenty of kids’ travel kits you can purchase online, I’ve found it’s just as easy to create my own travel activity pack for kids.
We’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit with our three boys since they were born. And now they’re 2, 5, and 7 years old, so I’ve done all sorts of trial and error over the years.
Whether we need an activity pack for long journeys on a plane or in a car…or, heck, even just to bring along to keep them busy at their brother’s basketball practice…this tried and true DIY travel activity pack always comes through for us.
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What Should I Put in My Kid’s Travel Activity Pack?
As my kids have gotten older, I don’t feel the need to pack as much in their kids’ travel pack. But whew, toddlers are busybodies (or at least mine are)! So, toddler travel activity packs definitely need some variety.
No matter how long our trip is, I always follow the same method: making sure to include at least one thing from each of these 5 categories. With longer trips, like the time we spent 2 weeks exploring the Christmas markets in Europe, more than one thing from these categories is usually included.
When creating your own DIY children’s travel activity packs, choose whatever your kids love most in each of these categories (but of course, I’ll give you some of our family’s favs below).
01. Something Creative
Not only do my boys love being creative, but it also keeps them busy and engaged. It’s something they do regularly at school, so it brings about a sense of familiarity in the craziness of a travel day.
Crayons, a sketchpad, mess-free markers, small crafts…you name it. Giving them a creative outlet (especially in the midst of long journeys or unexpected delays) always seems to be a hit.
Bonus points that as they get older, they may end up drawing something cool they saw on vacation, which creates a really cool souvenir! My oldest drew a bunch of pictures on our Portugal vacation that I love looking back on.
02. Something Fun
I mean, we’re talking about kids here, so don’t forget to bring along something fun that they enjoy.
I like to add in a couple of compact toys that I know will capture their attention. In my boys’ cases, small action figures, toy cars, window clings, or a fun travel-sized game usually do the trick.
This is also the perfect time to stick in toys related to your destination (ex. a Mickey plush if you’re heading to Disney).
03. Problem-Solving Activity
Tossing a problem-solving activity into my kid’s travel activity kit is my secret weapon to keep away the “I’m bored” whines.
Whether it’s a puzzle, shape-sorting game, or a brain teaser, it’s not just fun; it’s a sneaky way to keep those little minds buzzing. It’s a quiet source of entertainment, with the added satisfaction of their own small victories.
04. Fidget Toy
For those moments when little hands need constant motion, fidget toys are the answer. Stress balls or pop-it toys can be surprisingly effective in keeping them occupied.
And let’s be honest, sometimes it’s the littlest things that keep kiddos busy! For example, my boys’ current favorite thing when we travel? Silly putty. Yep…I can pack alllll the cool things, but the silly putty will win most of the time.
05. Technology
Let’s be real—at some point, all the activities in the world won’t keep them busy. In which case, it’s the tablet to the rescue! (I can’t blame them…I love to just relax and watch my tablet when we travel, too.)
Download fun shows and games (funny how those educational, problem-solving-type games got put on there! Ha!) ahead of time so you’re all set even if Wifi isn’t available.
The Best Travel Activities for Kids
Okay, let’s discuss some tried-and-true travel activities for kids.
I’ll break it down into the 5 categories I listed above to give you some examples of what I bring for each category. And I’ll make sure to cover activities that can be used for a variety of ages.
But first…
I’m not saying I bring all of these activities on all of our trips. I switch it up a bit each trip to keep things new(ish) and interesting.
It’s also good to note that the activities we use on our trips are strictly for travel (although we also pack a few in the diaper bag when we go out to a restaurant!).
That way it’s something special that they only get to use every so often instead of toys that they’re bored of. This also allows us to reuse activities during future trips instead of always buying new activities.
Ok, here we go:
Creative Travel Activities for Kids
Here are my top 3 creative travel activities for kids:
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Other options include:
- Peel & Press Foil Fun
- Wikki Stix Travel Fun Pack
- LCD Writing Tablet
- Coloring books
- Melissa & Doug Sketch Pad
- My First Scribble
- Connect the Dots Workbook
- How To Draw 101 Things Activity Book
Tip: Save room in your kids’ activity pack by ripping out pages of coloring and activity books and sticking them into a folder instead of bringing along several books. Also, consider purchasing a cheap pencil bag, so all the crayons and markers you pack stay together.
Fun Travel Toys for Kids
Here are my top 3 fun travel toys for kids:
Other options include:
- Travel Scavenger Hunt Cards
- Window Clings
- Magnetic Wooden Block Set
- Froogly Suction Toys
- Hot Wheels Cars
- Small Action Figures / Small Dolls
- Expressions Matching Block Game
Tip: Bring along new toys to keep your little one entertained. Steer clear of bringing a favorite toy from home in case it accidentally gets lost in the shuffle while traveling.
Problem-Solving Activities for Your Kids Travel Activity Pack
Here are my top 3 problem-solving travel activities for kids:
Other options include:
Tip: For sticker activities, it helps make it easier for little ones if you peel the backing off the sticker sheet ahead of time. I love a good fine motor skill activity, but a road trip when you’re not next to them to help if they get frustrated is not the time to whip that kind of activity out! Ha!
Fidget Toys for Kids when Traveling
Here are my top 3 fidget toys for kids:
Other options include:
- Mini Pop Tubes
- Suction Cup Spinner Toys
- Mickey Mouse Pop It
- Fat Brain Toys Dimpl
- Transformable Fidget Spinners
Tip: I’ve found that silly putty is MUCH less of a mess than Play-doh! Just make sure it ends up back in its case once your little one is done playing with it.
All the Tech You’ll Need for Traveling with Kids
Here are my top 3 tech activities for family travel:
Other options include:
Tip: Make sure to bring along a headphone cable. The last thing you want to have to stress out about while traveling is the batteries dying or the Bluetooth connection failing on their wireless headphones.
What Type of Travel Activity Bag for Kids Works Best?
My favorite type of travel activity bag for toddlers and kids is a good ol’ backpack. That way it can hold it all–activities, snacks, water bottle, etc.
Now, there are a couple of ways I’ve done this:
- Packing one bag with activities for all the kids.
- Packing a separate bag for each kid.
I think the answer really comes down to how you’ll be traveling (you’ll have all the space in the world in a car, but maybe not so much in a plane), how many kids you have, how old your kids are (can they carry their own bags or will you get stuck lugging them around?), and how many activities you plan to bring.
On our recent trips, I’ve packed a separate kid’s travel activity bag for each kiddo, and it’s worked out GREAT to be honest! No more fighting over who’s playing with what…no more reaching across each other to get the activity they want…you get the drift.
Each kid has their own backpack that they carry (for the most part–obviously my 2-year-old doesn’t really carry his), which allows me to personalize each kid’s backpack to make it their version of the best travel activity pack.
The Best Travel Backpacks for Kids
Before you choose, one important question to answer is this: what do you plan to pack in it?
I know those small travel backpacks for toddlers look cute and all, but they’re not too practical when they can’t even fit a tablet or coloring book inside.
Here are my top 3 travel backpacks for kids that can fit a good amount of stuff without being too big for little ones:
- The Arrow Pack from Walker Goods. While this is a more expensive option, they’re great quality. My boys have literally dragged them through airports, and they’ve held up without any issues. My only issue with them is that they don’t have a dedicated water bottle holder. (This is not an affiliate link by the way. I just personally love this brand so much that I had to share!)
- Kasqo 17″ Backpack. This affordable option comes with lots of pockets (can you ever have too many of those when trying to organize a travel activity pack?) and great reviews about the quality of the material.
- J World New York Sunrise Kids Rolling Backpack. This travel backpack is neat because it can be carried like a normal backpack -or- you can roll it similar to a suitcase. I love that it comes in a bunch of fun designs and has very functional pockets throughout.
What to Pack for Kids on a Road Trip vs. What to Pack for Kids on a Plane
And finally, one more thing I want to make sure to hit on: the difference between kids’ travel activity packs for road trips and kids’ travel activity packs for plane rides. These modes of transportation can really change what you bring along with you (or at the very least, the amount of what you bring along with you).
Generally, I keep it simple and stick to the 5 categories I talked about earlier in this article. In fact, I bring along a lot of the same types of activities no matter the mode of transportation.
But on a road trip, I’ll admit that I edit my choices WAY less. I figure I have much more space in a car (without any baggage fees!), so if I overpack a bit, I’m okay with that.
For example, on a road trip, maybe I’ll pack the whole coloring book. While if we’re taking the kids on a plane, I’ll bring along a folder with specific pages torn out of the coloring book.
Or on a road trip, I’ll pack a travel activity tray for their car seat since we obviously won’t have a seatback tray like we would on a plane.
Either way, though, I make sure to bring a variety of activities. And of course, I never forget the snacks!
Wrap-Up: Travel Activity Pack for Kids
If you’re headed out on vacation with your family and you’re looking for a travel activity pack for your little one, I highly recommend putting one together yourself. That way, you guarantee it includes things they love and keeps them busy on your travels.
For more travel tips with kids, check out the Travel Tips section of my blog! And thanks so much for being here! Happy travels!
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