Toddlers can be a handful and into everything however they are relatively simple to entertain. We have found that it is sometimes the empty contents of your meal tray (once wiped clean) that provides the best entertainment.
Toys need to be safe, easy to keep clean, dispensable, and impossible to swallow, without sharp corners and attention grabbing. Anything that plays music or squeaks and rattles can be a help. Toddlers love interesting textures but as they have a tendency to put everything in their mouth you do need to bear this in mind.
Top tips - things to bring when travelling with your toddler
Crayons and colouring materials (avoid felt tip pens and wax crayons). Pencils are the best but you will need to keep a sharpener in your grasp.
Toys that stimulate imaginative play such as farm animals, diggers and dollies
Building blocks (it does not matter if you lose a few)
Spoons and paper cups
Picture books
Pocket versions of etch a sketch
Interactive learning games which are age appropriate
If you are flying with kids do not forget to look at our checklists for hand luggage when travelling with children and in particular babies and our checklists for tips on choosing an airline, flying, boarding a plane, on the plane, car journeys and entertaining kids generally.
The difference preparation will make when you are travelling in a car with your family is immense and proper timing, appropriate stocks and good in-car entertainment will make a huge difference to this experience. We have provided a long list of top tips for car journeys with kids and hope that you will find them useful. We also have a long list of top car games and travel games to play with the kids car games for babies and downloadable colouring links all of which are free.