If you’ve ever handed over a tablet mid-trip just to survive the journey, we’ve been there, too. Traveling with kids isn’t always easy, but the right screen-free toys can help. Here, a SheBuysTravel writer and mom shares the kid-tested favorites that keep boredom (and meltdowns) at bay on the road, in the air and everywhere between.
Highlights
- Real feedback from a 5-year-old traveler on what’s actually fun (and worth packing)
- 10 parent-approved, kid-tested toys that keep little travelers engaged without screens
- Smart picks for planes, road trips, restaurants and downtime at hotels
Are We There Yet?
“Mom, I’m bored.”
“Hey, are we there yet?”
“Can I have the iPad … pleeeeeeeese?”
Family travel can be stressful enough without trying to keep kids quietly entertained for hours on end. Handing over a tablet can feel like the easiest solution, and I’m certainly guilty of that, but research shows that excessive screen time may affect a child’s developing brain.
As a traveling mom to a 5-year-old, I’m always on the lookout for screen-free travel toys that can spark my daughter’s curiosity and creativity, whether we’re in transit, sitting in a restaurant or winding down at our hotel.
Here are 10 of my favorite screen-free, travel-friendly toys for young kids. Each one has been carefully tested and reviewed by my favorite 5-year-old traveling companion, Skylar.
Yoto Mini
The Yoto Mini is basically a kid-friendly, modern-day version of the Walkman or Discman — relics of our pre-streaming youth. This compact device fits perfectly in small hands and plays music, stories and learning on-the-go using colorful plastic cards that kids can easily pop in all by themselves.
I honestly didn’t expect to recognize so many of the artists in the Yoto card catalog. I figured it would be mostly kids-only content, but I was surprised. There are thousands of songs, stories and educational games from which to choose, and the music isn’t just usual kiddie tunes; you’ll find everything from Kidz Bop and Disney favorites to iconic artists such as The Beatles and Spice Girls.
Beyond music, there are classic fairy tales and some of our favorite children’s books, too. New cards and content are added regularly, with options starting at $6.99 each, so it feels easy to try something new without overthinking it.
SheBuysTravel Tip: The Yoto Mini has been a game-changer for our everyday drives around town, too. Skylar’s happily in her own little world, wearing her Yoto headphones,singing along to KPop Demon Hunters on repeat, while I get to enjoy mama’s favorite music up front. Win-win.
Skylar’s review: “I love my Yoto! It plays stories and music that I really want. I give it infinity thumbs up.”
Wikki Stix
If you’ve got a budding Michelangelo — or a kid who needs to touch everything — throw some Wikki Stix into your travel activity kit. These wax-coated yarn sticks are the low-mess alternative to Play-Doh. (Read: Nothing crumbling into your seat crevices at 30,000 feet.)
Skylar loves twisting and looping them into funny little figurines, rainbows and flowers, which can turn into full-blown imaginative worlds. I appreciate that she’s building her fine motor skills while I’m getting some time to myself.
They’re a great diversion for that restaurant limbo between “We ordered” and “Why is this taking forever?” and equally clutch on planes, trains and ferries when the tray table becomes a focal point for kid creativity. The sticks are non-toxic, latex-free and — my personal favorite — reusable.
Skylar’s review: “I like that they’re bendy. I can make everything, like rainbows and glasses.”
Seek-and-Find Books
I remember being completely engrossed in Where’s Waldo? books for hours when I was a kid. These days, seek-and-find books go far beyond the bespeckled global traveler in the red-and-white scarf. No matter what themes or characters your kid is into, there’s likely a seek-and-find book that matches their interests.
If your child loves a good challenge like mine does, these books can provide serious focus time while traveling. Translation: blissful, quiet concentration.
Skylar’s review: “You can find everything you need to seek. They’re tricky, too!”
LCD Drawing Boards
These have been a staple in our on-the-go activity bag ever since Skylar was 2 — and it’s been an absolute joy watching her get better using it. LCD drawing boards weigh almost nothing in my bag and won’t explode into marker chaos at 30,000 feet.
The pressure-sensitive screen makes it perfect for quick entertainment when Skylar needs something to do. We use ours for drawing, games of Tic-Tac-Toe and practicing letters and words. One of my favorite features: the pen is attached to the board, so I never hear, “Mommy, help! I’ve dropped my drawing pen!”
SheBuysTravel Tip: We always pack two. I’ve found that if my husband or I start doodling first, Skylar is much more likely to jump in. Sometimes she’ll even challenge us to drawing competitions.
Skylar’s review: “I like them because you can draw whatever you want, even scribble-scrabbles.”
Bitzee
My daughter loves — like, seriously loves — this tiny, interactive 3D toy. The Bitzee is basically a screen-free digital pet. The small, plastic pod opens like a treasure chest, revealing a collection of digital characters that your kid can play with.
Skylar has the Disney version, which is akin to having a miniature theme park in her hands.
Thirty different Disney and Pixar characters, from Simba to Stitch to Minnie Mouse, come to life when she interacts with it. The Bitzee responds to touch, swipes, taps and tilts, unlocking new surprises the more she plays.
Skylar picked this up in minutes, and it keeps her happily entertained for long stretches of time.
SheBuysTravel Tip: I love that this toy doesn’t have a traditional screen, but there is a tiny flicker with the characters, so if your child is photosensitive, it’s something to keep in mind.
Skylar’s review: “I like the cute characters and that I can get new characters.”
Tales Conversation Cards: Kids Edition
This deck of 150 kid-friendly conversation cards is a family bonding treasure. We love pulling them out while waiting for meals or during transit. Some of our favorite questions:
- “If you could have any three superpowers, what would they be?”
- “What’s something you did recently that you’re really proud of?”
- “What would your bedroom look like if it were made entirely of candy?”
The questions always spark fun, and sometimes surprising, discussions. Skylar loves sharing her thoughts—and gets especially excited when we, her parents, reciprocate. The best part of this deck: We’re constantly learning something new about each other, one card at a time.
Skylar’s review: “The questions are so fun and help your dreams get bigger. ”
Mess-Free Coloring Books
Your child doesn’t need to be a budding Picasso to enjoy these mess-free coloring books. They’re a lifesaver — no crayons to break, no markers to accidentally mark up tray tables and no spills to clean up. Perfect for toddlers (or any kid who loves making messes).
I especially love the Water WOW! versions by Melissa & Doug. Just fill the pen with water, and the colors appear like magic. When the pages dry, they’re ready to go again and again. Skylar can happily color on the airplane tray or in the car without me worrying about wipes or cleanup. Somehow, it never gets old—for her or for me.
Skylar’s review: “It’s fun to see the surprises that pop up when I color.”
Fast Push Pop Game Fidget Toy
A fellow traveling mama tipped me off to this one recently. The Fast Push Pop Game is basically a palm-sized throwback to Whac-A-Mole, but without the sticky arcade floors and need for tokens. The little circles light up and pop, and Skylar has to tap them as fast as she can.
It’s part fidget toy, part concentration booster and fully mesmerizing. It’s small enough to toss into a carry-on, perfect for planes and restaurant waits, and at less than $10, it has definitely earned its spot in Skylar’s travel toy rotation. (Just remember to turn the volume off when using it in public.)
Skylar’s review: “I’m pretty good with my reflexes. This game helps me.”
Paint-By-Sticker Books
If you’ve ever watched a crayon roll off an airplane tray table and disappear forever, you’ll understand my obsession with paint-by-sticker books. Zero loose art supplies, zero rogue markers, zero crawling under airplane seats, zero meltdowns. Just peel, match, stick, repeat.
Skylar enjoys hunting for the right sticker shapes to complete each mosaic picture, and the themes run the gamut—from unicorns and princesses to dinosaurs and outer space.
SheBuysTravel Tip: To keep things exciting, buy a few new paint-by-sticker books ahead of your next trip and surprise your child with them once at the airport, train station, etc.
Skylar’s review: “Ten thumbs up! You can add stickers on them to make designs.”
Creativity Bag: Crayons, Paper, Stickers and Post-Its
It’s simple, but surprisingly effective. Our little “creativity bag” (which includes crayons, stickers, white paper and Post-It Notes) comes with us pretty much everywhere.
It’s saved us during countless restaurant meals, flights and train journeys. Skylar becomes absorbed in her drawings for long stretches, and the masterpieces that she creates have resulted in some of my favorite vacation souvenirs, such as the picture of the Loch Ness Monster she drew while we rode the Jacobite Steam Train across the Scotland Highlands.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Before a big trip, I’ll “refresh” this bag with new crayons, paper and sticker sheets to keep it feeling special. Consider packing triangular, anti-roll crayons, as they won’t roll off those tiny tray tables mid-flight. (Because we all know what happens when they do!)
Skylar’s review: “You can color and do stuff that is so fun. You can create whatever you want.”
I admit, I still hand over the iPad at times, especially on a long flight. If my husband and I are watching a movie, I’m not going to sit there pretending Skylar shouldn’t.
But I’ve learned that tossing a few screen-free options in my bag can shift the mood, or at least help us get through it.
And every once in a while, in between the snacks and the chaos, Skylar will look out the window and just be still for a minute, taking it all in, and that part feels pretty special.
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