How I Kept My Toddler Occupied During Our Long Travels

Traveling with a toddler can feel like a daunting task, especially when you're looking at hours of being confined in a train, car, or plane. As someone who's been there, I wanted to share how I managed to keep my little one entertained during our journeys. Hopefully, some of these tricks can help you, too!

1. Preparation is Key

Before each trip, I made a list of things my toddler loved to do. I didn’t want to rely solely on screens (though I did have those moments), so I planned a variety of activities. Packing a small backpack with their favourite snacks, toys, and books made all the difference. I also threw in some surprises to keep things interesting!

2. Interactive Toys and Books

Bringing along toys that encourage engagement helped a lot. A few small cars or figures kept their imagination going for quite a while. I also packed a couple of new, never-seen-before toys—trust me, the novelty of a new toy can hold attention much longer! Quiet, interactive books, especially the kind with flaps or textures, were a great hit, especially on a plane.

I can't recommend enough this Montessori busy board that kept both my 1,5 YO and my 4 year old occupied.

3. Drawing and Sticker Fun

One of my best decisions was to bring along a small magnetic drawing board or a reusable water coloring book. No mess, no fuss, just creativity! Stickers, too, were a miracle—just a sheet or two could entertain my little one for quite some time. They’d stick them on the window, on me, or on their toys, creating little sticker stories along the way.

4. Engaging in Conversation and Games

When things got restless, simple games like "I Spy" or even counting the number of red cars, trees, or clouds came in handy. For plane rides, I sometimes narrated the journey—telling them what we were flying over, what clouds looked like, or even making up a little adventure story. Surprisingly, even chatting about the trip helped to keep their attention and ease any nerves.

5. Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks

I quickly learned that having a variety of snacks can be a lifesaver. I packed an assortment of bite-sized goodies, like crackers, fruits, and those squeezable pouches of applesauce. Not only do snacks keep hunger at bay, but they can also be a distraction. In fact, I’d stretch snack time by letting them choose what to eat or even "count" the crackers before munching them down.

Final Thoughts

Traveling with a toddler can be unpredictable, but with a little planning, I found that it's not as overwhelming as I first feared. Keeping them entertained and comfortable helped make the trip smoother for all of us. And sometimes, those little moments—like watching them get excited about a plane taking off or spotting a train outside the window—made the journey even more special.