Five Best Travel Toys

As any parent knows, if there’s an ideal time for your toddler to be quiet and entertained, it’s during travel. And keeping kids busy often means finding the right toys. Travel toys should be easily-packable, low on bells and whistles—ideally, no batteries needed—and if possible, educational in some way. 

Here are five of the best travel toys for keeping little ones busy and learning, even at 30,000 feet.

Cute digital camera

Sometimes it’s important to look at the world from a child’s point of view. Recommended for ages three and up, this digital camera empowers kids to tell the story of their trips through their own lenses. With this adorable bear-shaped model, kids can capture and customize images with frames, filters a timer and selfie mode.

Note that there is a small learning curve with figuring out how to use the buttons, but a little bit of practice will have your junior photographer on their way in no time.

Kidamento Kids Digital Camera Mikayo the Bear, $79.99, peeka.co

Magnetic building set

Magna-Tiles are a crowd-pleaser for kids of all ages. Because they’re magnetic and this particular set isn’t super big, these are a much more portable option than other blocks, making them ideal for travel when small pieces are likely to get lost. Not to mention, the opportunities for creativity and open-ended play are endless. This particular set comes with four safari figurines, so your child can easily create their own story and build a fun savannah-themed environment no matter where you are.

Magna-Tiles Safari Animals 25-Piece Magnetic Building Set, $40, peeka.co

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Hand puppets

Help your kids grow their imaginations with these brightly-colored hand puppets. Kids love to make up their own stories and fairytales and these puppets are the perfect inspiration for interactive play when they are strapped into car seats next to each other. These come in a variety of colors and animals, are hand-knit with GOTS-certified organic cotton yarn, don’t have any harmful and detachable parts, and can be used from six months on.

Cuddoll Gus the Giraffe Hand Puppet, $34, peeka.co

Finger puppets

These cute finger puppets are a one-stop shop for creativity and imaginative play. Each set has four fuzzy friends—a bee, an owl, a ladybug, and a butterfly. And if fluttering creatures aren’t your child’s cup of tea, you can also choose from other animal themes like Splashers or Explorers. 

Cuddoll The Flutterers Finger Puppets (Set of 4), $28, peeka.co

Related: 10 tips for breezing through airport security with kids

Lacing cards

This set of lacing cards comes in six different designs and helps encourage hand-eye coordination, motor skills, color identification, and dexterity in children three and up. Printed on thick, sturdy board, they are perfect for kids who are antsy for something to do while on the go. Plus, they're great preparation for learning how to tie shoelaces.

Wee Gallery Baby Animals Lacing Cards, $20, peeka.co