Let’s talk about the best travel toys for toddlers and preschoolers. Traveling with little kids can feel like a bit of a juggling act – but one that can be easier to handle with some key supplies. This post is full of travel toys to keep kids entertained out of the house.
What are the best travel toys for toddlers and preschoolers?
Leaving the house with toddlers and preschoolers might not require the same level of packing as a baby did (farewell, giant diaper bag), but it has it’s own unique challenges. These little travelers need support, and having a few travel toys at the ready can make a major peaceful difference.
Whether it’s a car ride, plane ride, hotel stay, long lines to wait in, or visit to a relatives house who doesn’t have kids… having a bag of go-to travel toys is a real life saver.
My criteria for travel toys is simple: they need to have a big age range (I get these kids are little, but I need years of use and a big kid crossover), have minimal mess, little or no noise, and don’t have a bunch of small parts to keep track of.
After 11 years of parenting, I know just the travel toys that fit the bill as the best of the best for toddlers and preschoolers.
RELATED: What else do I always pack on vacation? Here’s our list of favorite items for traveling with kids (to make life easier).
The categories of travel toys for toddlers and preschoolers
To keep things as organized as possible (hello, I am Monica Geller), I split this list into three categories:
- Travel toys and games
- Travel arts and crafts
- Travel books and workbooks
Please read this: You do not need to own everything on my lists.
Pick and choose what’s best for your kids. These are things that I’ve used over and accumulated over a decade of parenting – not all at once.
How to pack travel toys for kids
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The bags.
I use The Bags of Internet Fame to carry the items for my kids – all hail the bags. I typically pack up one kid-sized backpack with some of the toys in the list below for my kids in these bags.
It may seem hyper-organized, but putting items into the The Bags (rather than tossing it all in a backpack) makes it 1000x easier to find everything, get to work/play quickly, and to limit kids dumping everything out all at once when they’re on the hunt for that one thing they desperately need.
Travel Toys & Games
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Transformable Fidget Spinner
The absolute travel hit for my kids in 2024: these fidget bend, spin, twist, and can become imaginary creatures. The price is fantastic for a 4-pack that I genuinely wish I’d had when my kids were younger. These are it.
Number-Bots
Forever and ever and ever I will Stan this toy. The price is amazing (it’s not on Amazon, though) and they’re everything. They’re “transformers” for little kids. My son fell in love with these at age 2. He’s 8 now and still tosses them in his travel backpack.
Eye Found It!
I love this game so much. It’s perfect for littles and bigs and the adults traveling with them. No reading necessary. You are trying to find an object in an photo (like a fish, lamp, or hat).
Aqua Rings
I know how basic these look – I get it. I also know that of the house full of toys I live with, my preschool neighbor asked for these on such repeat that I bought him a set for his birthday. They’re adorable and perfect for littles.
Pop It Fidgets
My big kids fell in love with these as toddlers and they still play. They’re so easy to toss into a backpack and have quick access to any time we need them.
Dinosaurs
These dinosaurs live in a zipper bag in my car, and have forever. They’ve also traveled to other states and countries. My daughter loves having animals with her and these are the perfect size.
Carry Around Animal Town
This may be the greatest toy ever invented. It’s magical. It’s the perfect size for toddlers and preschoolers, but they’ll keep playing with it through elementary school.
MagMen
These are the coolest and they work for all ages. The only note is they do have magnets so know your child and supervise well. MagMen are so fun in the car, at tables, on a plane.
Magnetic Book
I think my favorite thing about this toy is that it all folds up and lives together in one nice little container.
Clixo
These might not seem like a standard travel toy but if you have a child who loves to build, these are flexible and magnetic – so think magnetic tile that will bend. They’re amazing and they store flat.
Animals
Go check the price of this 60-piece set. I’ll wait. We bring a baggie of these on vacation and have since my daughter was 3 years old. They’re just right for little hands.
Little Cars
If you have a kid who loves little cars, this can be your travel set to keep their beloved ones safe at home (check the price, you’ll see). This set is just the right size and absolutely perfect.
Mini Magnetic Tiles
Do you have a set of mini magnetic tiles yet? They are life. I recommend them to everyone as the perfect “trunk of car” or “bottom of stroller” toy. Such a genius size for toddlers and preschoolers.
Travel Arts and Crafts
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Paper Dolls
Paper dolls that aren’t actually paper: they’re fully reusable and they’re awesome. I bring these with me when I need to entertain my 4 and 5 year old friends and they love these. So do the middle schoolers.
Doodle Board
This LCD monochrome doodle board (say that 10x fast) gives kids a mess free space to create – and without the limits of paper. Kids gravitate to this – it’s just awesome.
Puffy Sticky Books
These bring back such good memories from my kids as toddlers and preschoolers. I’m so happy they’re still being made. They made for many a peaceful dinner.
“Wiky Sticks”
These are absolutely knock offs, but I love them and the price is fantastic. It’s too good to pass up and none of my kids have ever noticed a difference between this set of 500 sticks and the name brand.
Window Clings
Long car ride or plane ride? Window clings to the rescue. It’s a sticker than can be removed and keeps kids busy.
Water Wow!
The GOAT. The legend. The myth. There just isn’t a more iconic travel toy for littles. It lives up to the hype. I’m so glad they still have these around.
Travel Books & Workbooks
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Big Preschool Workbook
I have such fond memories of this workbook. I saved workbooks for travel so they were “special” to my kids and this one is huge. They used it for years.
Dry Erase Book
Preschoolers feel so fancy and professional with this dry erase workbook. It’s an easy one to pack and take with you when you need them to “work.”
Highlights Magazines
These are the best – and such a great pack of easy to do puzzles and games for preschoolers. This is a fun one to own and easy size to pack.
I-Spy Books
We love a good I-Spy book. These have picture clues so even non-readers can find what they are hunting for. They’re also way smaller than the traditional I-Spy book size and so, so good to take with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
That depends: depends on time you’ll be traveling, stuck in a hotel, sitting at dinners or homes of relatives, and number of kids you have. These kinds of factors contribute. I like to strike a good balance: 2 to 3 items from each of the above categories seems like the right number for my three kids.
Yes! I think there is a limit. Make sure kids can both find what they need and can build relationships with the objects you bring. This helps hold their attention better.
Absolutely! Use what you have! For us, aside from plane rides, I do like using toys, books, and conversation to occupy kids… plus we never have had 1:1 devices for our three kids so it’s just never been an option to have them on a screen in a car, at a restaurant, or a relative’s house.
Susie Allison, M. Ed
Owner, Creator
Susie Allison is the creator of Busy Toddler and has more than 2.3 million followers on Instagram. A former teacher and early childhood education advocate, Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon.
Brooke says
These are all so good!!!!