Travelling screen free with toddlers doesn't require elaborate planning or bulky toys. A few compact, engaging activities can keep toddlers occupied during flights, car rides, and train journeys without relying on screens. This guide covers practical screen free travel activities for toddlers and suggests play ideas with things that fit easily within a carry-on bag.
Interesting Screen Free Travel Activities for Toddlers
Long journeys can be challenging for toddlers, particularly when boredom and restlessness set in. When that happens, screens often become the quickest solution. So, for parents who prefer travelling screen free with toddlers, here are some activities.
1. Window Cling Stickers
Car travel mostly restricts toddlers' movements, making them bored quickly. Here, window cling stickers make car windows a fun play zone for toddlers. No worries about damaging the window - they’re non-adhesive! Toddlers can place and rearrange the stickers throughout the drive. Some make stories out of those, others imagine stickers as their travel companion, and will enjoy it. They pack flat, taking up almost no space, and keep toddlers’ hands busy on the go.
2. Magnetic Drawing Board
Small magnetic drawing boards keep toddlers engaged during any type of travel. Unlike traditional art supplies, there's no worry about spills or crayon scratches on seats. It’s magnetic, and your little one will draw with just a pen and erase repeatedly with no mess. This no screen travel activity for toddlers will keep them occupied even during longer drives.
3. Simple Sensory Bag
Sensory bags help toddlers stay engaged and calm while sitting for extended periods, whether traveling in a car, a plane, or a waiting area. Start by filling a ziplock bag with a small amount of hair gel. Leave some space in the bag to allow the gel move around when your toddler squeezes the bag. Add a few small items, such as tiny toys, buttons, or different shapes, into the bag. Press out excess air before closing the ziplock, then seal it tightly. You can seal the opening and other edges using tape for added safety.
4. Sticker Books
The sticker books offer little hands a calming activity to enjoy, without the need for noise or screens. Toddlers will enjoy peeling, placing, and rearranging stickers. You can keep 2-3 sticker sheets or books in your backpack and give them one at a time during different flight travel, delays, or waiting areas in the lounge. Of course, they also help in other modes of travel.
5. Mini Coloring Kit
Pack a small zippered pouch with some crayons, along with a pocket-sized coloring pad. You can skip markers—they stain and smudge the seats. Crayons are easy to store and handle, even when dropped. Whether it’s a long wait for the flight or mid-journey meltdowns on the train, this kit will make a fine addition to your toddler's backpack.
6. Busy Bags
There may be times when even your toddler’s favourite toy bores them during a long travel. Here comes a busy bag that sparks curiosity about playing with something new each time. Create a small fabric or plastic bag stored with some lightweight and mess-free play items. You can take a small toy car, small puzzles, a few linking rings, a fabric book, or activity sheets.
The trick is that you don’t need to disclose all the items at once. Just give them one activity at a time. When they get bored with the item, swap it with the other item from the bag. This keeps them curious and engaged longer.
7. Lacing Cards
Made of thick cardboard with pre-punched holes and a shoelace, lacing cards keep toddlers focused on that task. They can be used in a car seat, on a plane tray table, or even while waiting at an airport or rest stop. This simple, hands-on activity encourages focus and curiosity while keeping little hands busy—all without the need for screens. Above all, these pack flat and work well in any travel mode.
8. Picture Books
Board books or soft fabric books work better than paper books during travel. They stay undamaged even when being bent, dropped, and repeatedly flipped without falling apart. More importantly, they let your toddler flip through them on their own, making your travel calm without the need for screens. Interactive picture books with flaps, textures, and more will be helpful for longer journeys.
9. Simple Wooden Puzzles
Wooden puzzles easily fit in most bags and work well on train tables or vacant seats. They are chunky pieces that won't roll away. Toddlers can work on them independently or with minimal guidance during your travel. This screen free travel game for toddlers makes the journey less chaotic and a lot more manageable.
10. Do Sheets
Teenyden’s Do Sheets are one of the fine screen free travel activities for toddlers because they meet all three key criteria: compact, engaging, and mess-free.
The Do Sheets are compact visual perception activities designed for independent use. They are in a booklet format, and so, they remain flat and lightweight, making them easy to pack. With this, you require no additional materials to packin your bag—just the sheets themselves. Toddlers work through matching, sorting, and visual tasks on their own, typically staying engaged. There are no instructions, no right answers, and no mess. Also, Do Sheets work equally well on plane tray tables, in car seats, or on train seats.
Final Thoughts
Screen free travel activities for toddlers work best when they're simple and experienced beforehand in your place. With a little planning, a variety of small, thoughtful play ideas, you can make journeys calmer and more enjoyable for toddlers. Always have a mix of engaging play items ready for travel, so your toddler always has something interesting to explore.
0 comments