✈️🚗 How to Keep Toddlers Entertained on Flights & Road Trips (Screen-free Activities and Toys)
I know how hard it is to keep a young kid entertained during long trips, especially if you’re trying to avoid screen time!
We recently took a full day road trip (about 12 hours including stops 😅), and I brought along some of my favorite toys… and honestly, they worked so well. We made it through the whole trip with no screen time at all.
Now, I do allow screen time for my 2.5-year-old, but I really try to avoid it in the car so he doesn’t get used to it and start expecting it every time, which usually leads to more tantrums than help 🫠..
One of my best tips:
I keep all of these toys separate from his everyday toys!
That way, whenever I bring them out, they feel new and exciting again. I keep everything in a separate box in the closet, and aside from the books and the Yoto, I only bring these out for trips.
Affiliate Disclosure: The links in this post are Amazon affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly use and love, and that have made a real difference for us 🤍
Here are our go-to favorites 👇🏼
Mess-Free Coloring Board
This is one of my absolute favorites for travel. It comes with special markers that only work on these Crayola papers, so no mess on clothes, seats, or tray tables!
It’s perfect for creative play without the stress, and it keeps little hands busy for a good amount of time.
You can also buy other coloring books from the same collection, Crayola has tons of options! Find them below:
Busy Board
If your toddler loves pressing buttons, flipping switches, and exploring how things work… this is it!
This busy board has lights, switches, and little interactive elements that keep them focused and engaged for a long time. My son has this since little and it has always kept him busy!
Sensory & Fidget Toys
I always bring a few small sensory toys like pop-its, stretch toys, or little spinners.
They’re great for those moments when your toddler is getting a little restless and just needs something to keep their hands busy. Find some options below, many are similar to mine since I got them some time ago and couldn’t find the same ones.
SPINNERS - Not in the picture, but always a good thing to have!
Water Coloring Books
Another mess-free must-have. You just fill the pen with water, and the colors magically appear on the pages.
Once it dries, it resets, so they can use it again and again. Perfect for travel and zero cleanup.
This was the most played one for this trip, and my son is 2.5 as of today.
BLUEY BOOK - Other characters available!
LCD Writing Tablet
This is such a fun and simple toy that toddlers love. They can draw, scribble, and erase with just one button, over and over again!
It’s lightweight, quiet (huge win for planes), and great for independent play.
Board Books
Books are always part of our car bag. I like keeping a mix of favorites and a couple “new” ones to keep things exciting.
They’re perfect for winding down, reconnecting, and creating little calm moments during the trip.
For this trip I chose some of his currently favorite ones, and they actually kept him entertained for a long time! The books we used this time were:
Yoto Mini (Audio Player)
This one is a game changer. My toddler loves listening to music and stories, and it keeps him entertained in a calm way.
It’s screen-free, easy to use, and perfect for quiet time during long trips.
You can choose from a wide range of cards, check the Yoto page below:
Small Toys
And to finish, the last tip is taking something they’re into right now.
My son is 100% in his cars/monster trucks phase, so I got some little ones, because they’re easy to play with in the car seat.
They don’t take up much space and can keep him entertained longer than you’d expect.
Just choose whatever your kids are loving right now!
🧺 How I Store & Organize Toys for Travel
One thing that makes a huge difference is how you store everything, so it’s easy to see and get only what you want.
For road trips, I like to keep all the toys in a simple basket like the one in the beginning of this post, that stays within reach in the car. It makes it easy to rotate toys and grab something new whenever my toddler starts getting restless.
FIND IT ON AMAZON (basket I use)
For flights, I highly recommend using mesh bags. I separate toys into a few small bags so everything stays organized, easy to find, and not all dumped out at once (because… chaos!!).
It also makes cleanup so much faster when you’re switching activities mid-flight!
I also use these mesh bags to organize all of his toys at home, my type A mama heart is very happy 😂 And my son is already used to cleaning up and putting everything back inside!
And to finish…
…at the end of the day it’s totally okay if you use screen time during a flight or road trip 🤍
But for longer trips, even that might not hold their attention the entire time… which is why having a mix of options really makes all the difference!
If this was helpful, send it to a mama who’s planning a trip soon, she’ll thank you later 🫶🏼
Thank You for Being Here!
I’m so grateful you’re here, supporting my journey through motherhood, yoga, and everything in between. My hope is that this space brings you a little more ease, inspiration, and connection in your everyday life.
Whether you’re preparing for a trip, navigating a new season of motherhood, or simply looking for small ways to have some breaks throughout the day, know that you’re never alone here!
Together, We Are UNO 🤍
