What's your favorite travel toy?

[nicdanh]

We are starting to run out of ideas for our DD5, DDS2 & DD10 months. We are flying into Orlando on Nov 22, and our usual stuff I bring for our children is.

Magna doodles
crayons & paper
snacks
Hot wheels
small craft
stickers

There is probably more, but we travel alot and I wanted to maybe get some ideas on new things to do to keep the kids busy. We are thinking of bringing a portable DVD player.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks!
Michelle

 

[P-Dust]

I save my DD's (5&6) Happy Meal toys and give them out on the plane. When they are done they trade. If they lose them, who cares! They're disposable. Or give them to other kids on the plane. We win all the way around.

 

[OhioTony]

20 Questions Ball

 

[fanofdisney]

Barrel of monkeys! My ds4 loved them on the plane!

 

[JMC Disney Bound]

We are traveling to WDW in Oct. I have purchaced a story book that has magnet pieces that work like stickes in it for our 3yr DD I bought it at TJ Max but I'm sure you can find them at Wal Mart, Target, etc. Good Luck!! Have a wonderful trip!!

 

[candmforever]

My daughter (4.5) played w/ her Colorwonder markers the whole time we were on the plane last time, 4 hours! DS (2.5) loved them too, so I highly suggest these.

 

[dyna]

Etch A Sketch

I had a bag for DD that she only got when traveling or if we was gonna be somewhere where she had to be quiet for an extended period of time. ONLY time she ever saw those toys and books was when we needed them. All was geared for her age at the time meaning I had to take stuff out and add stuff from time to time.

 

[madge]

I bought some chenille twists (aka pipe cleaners, LOL) yesterday at Wal-Mart.

From what I understand, a great deal of fun can be had by playing with them, LOLOL...

I also had a brilliant thought for our family's flight in a couple of weeks. We take off at 8:30pm, so it will be dark. I'm bringing some glow bracelets for DD to wear on the plane

 

[Peace Mickey Lovers]

We bring travel games, crayons, and Disney character toys.

I like the idea for the pipe cleaners! I am going to try them this time.

 

[WeluvDisney2]

I believe its called Crayola "Color Wonder" coloring books and markers. They color only on the special paper, nothing else... so they are not messy. And the kids think they are cool!

 

[McKelly]

Leapster would be appropriate for your 5 year old, and soon for your 2 year old. All the games are educational and familiar with young kids, Nemo, Princesses, Dora and they go up in age ranges to 4th grade or so, starting at PreK. My kids played with it in the airport and on the plane (wish I had two of them!) the entire time. There is a headphone port where you can plug headphones in it to, to not disturb other guests. My DS4 does not like that, so he just played with the volume on very low. Screaming kid (which there was!) vs. low cartoon voices. I am sure nobody minded.

 

[Skroops]

Great idea to bring a portable DVD player. I also read the idea of packing a backpack for the kids where it is all toys/games/books that they've never seen before. That way each activity is brand new to them and keeps the interest a little longer.

 

[nicdanh]

Great idea to bring a portable DVD player. I also read the idea of packing a backpack for the kids where it is all toys/games/books that they've never seen before. That way each activity is brand new to them and keeps the interest a little longer.

We always pack back packs with new stuff for DD5 and DS2. I just need new ideas to fill them with. Thank you all for some great Ideas. I will be purchasing some pipe cleaners. (I think I would also have fun with those)

Michelle

 

[soccerchick]

I bought some chenille twists (aka pipe cleaners, LOL) yesterday at Wal-Mart.

From what I understand, a great deal of fun can be had by playing with them, LOLOL...

YES! If you bring many, you can make Xs and Os for tic tac toe. Kids can bend and rebend them into all sorts of shapes. These are now in my diaper bag for restaurants and I'll also take some to the World.

 

[TerriGW]

I've got three kids ages 7, 5, and 2. This summer I took them on our first road trip without DH and I stocked up on toys for the car. Here's what we have:

magnetic playsets in a travel tin (one has shapes and the other is a doll house)
Etch a Sketch
View Master
Travel Memory Game
Cheap handheld games (electronic and water games, many were Happy Meal toys)
Scratch and Sketch book (scratch off the black paint to reveal colors beneath)
Pipe cleaners - Klutz makes a great book called Pipe Cleaners Gone Crazy that has some fun ideas
Klutz Amazing Lacing book
Sticker books
I Spy books
Woodkins dolls (you dress them up with fabric scraps)
Hair-do Harriet and Wooly Willy (magic wand moves the "hair" around)
Maze books

There are a couple that my kids enjoy, but can be a pain because of all the small pieces:
Perfection Travel game
Travel Lite Brite (my 2 year old loves this, but the little pieces spill all over the van)

There is one I strongly don't recommend:
Markers! I once found these cute dry erase travel kits and thought they'd be fun. Big mistake. DH and I started talking and after a while turned around and the kids had drawn all over themselves!

 

[WeluvDisney2]

There is one I strongly don't recommend:
Markers! I once found these cute dry erase travel kits and thought they'd be fun. Big mistake. DH and I started talking and after a while turned around and the kids had drawn all over themselves!

That's why I love the Color Wonder markers. They can not write on anything other than the special paper!

 

[frannn]

On our first trip with her at 1 year old, Dr suggested a specific Dimeatap (or similar-forgot the exact type) to keep her ears from clogging during the flight. It put her out, so we had no issues.

Second trip with her when she turned two- the medicine did not put her out, and we had a bit if seat kicking (which was strongly discouraged). I gave her colorforms and bubbles, which only worked for part of the flight. Snacks helped.

For this trip, I will give her new stuff. I was hoping you could suggest things. I will check out the Color Wonder stuff, as she is always asking to color. She loves her My First Leappad, but she has already played a lot with that, so I got her a Story Book Reader and some Disney Books. I hope it will not disturb the other people on the plane. I got Wiggles colorforms also. Any other thoughts?

 

[ptlycloudy]

We also love Color wonder sets, I have brought a container of playdough we made animals, letters, etc with it. I like the pipe cleaner idea but I am concerned about the pointy ends on them, with my youngest she is likely to poke her eye with it especially if there is turbulence.

My secret weapon for tantrum or extreme boredom control in emergencies is a small bag of mini marshmallows! My two DD's love them and will instantly be quiet. They take forever to eat them so it buys quite a bit of time for me if necessary. If I need a longer diversion then it is a lollipop. As a rule my kids never get these, so for the life boat drill on the Disney Magic I gave them lollipops. They never actually ate any of it but they loved to hold them and talk endlessly about them to anyone who would listen.It helped with the anxiety of wearing life jackets and being around the crowds.

 

[EthansMom]

On our last trip, we drove from CT to WDW. We bought a dvd player, which the kids watched a bit. But the thing my son loved the best was the coloring kit I put together at the last minute. The day before we left, I was at Walmart picking up last minute items and spotted a clipboard that opened up for storage and thought it would be great for the car. I filled the clipboard with plain white paper, a set of crayons, and some stickers. DS spent more time on the road trip coloring than anything else.

On our next trip, we'll be flying. I'll make up a coloring kit once again. DS will also be bringing his Leapster and games.

 

[sandiegosusie]

My daughters loved Colorforms. We have a Wiggles one that I got at either Target or Barnes and Noble. Sorry that I can't remember. Fruit snacks, Skittles in a travel cup, sippy cup, cats cradle (chinese jump rope), a new walet, and a mini flashlight. Just a few of the things we brought on the plane.