Holiday Travel With Kids? These Toys Will Make the Trip Easier (As Seen on Great Day Connecticut)
Holiday travel with kids comes with its own special brand of chaos with long flights, longer car rides, airport delays, and hotel rooms that magically shrink once everyone’s inside. When you’re trying to keep kids entertained without packing half the playroom, the right travel toys for holidays trips can change everything.
During my holiday travel toy tv segment on Great Day Connecticut, I shared some of the best travel toys for holiday trips. Why are these especially great for holiday travel with kids? Because they offer longer play time. Especially important since travel during the holidays often is fraught with delays and more waiting times. So you want the ones in the carryon bag to carry you far. PLUS! They don’t take up much room or add to the weight limits of your luggage! So every one earns its spot in your bag because it helps you survive (and even enjoy) the trip.
If you’re gearing up for an airplane flight, road trip, or visiting family, these are the toys that will make holiday travel with kids smoother for everyone.
The Best Travel Toys for Holiday Trips
1. Magna-Tiles Travel Set (Magna-Tiles)
Why Moms Love It
This small-but-mighty set from Magna-Tiles keeps kids busy anywhere. Kids can build on the tray table during flights or on the seat beside them during road trips. The magnet tiles click together quietly, so it is perfect for shared spaces. Best of all, the pieces work with standard Magna-Tiles at home, which means it becomes part of your larger collection instead of a one-use travel toy.
Quick Facts
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $39.99
• Available: Major retailers
Travel Tip
Keep the set in your glove compartment or carry-on. It becomes your emergency boredom-buster for delays and long waits.
3. Ms. Rachel™ What to Wear Felt Activity Board (Melissa & Doug)
Why Moms Love It
Quick Facts
This felt board from Melissa & Doug is perfect for toddlers who need hands-on engagement during travel. Kids layer 32 jumbo felt pieces to dress Ms. Rachel, create routines, and tell stories. Everything folds up flat, and the built-in storage pocket keeps small pieces together. The sensory-friendly materials make it ideal for planes, hotel rooms, and quiet travel moments.
• Ages: 2+
• MSRP: $29.99
• Available: Major Retailers
Travel Tip
Use it during takeoff and landing when kids cannot use tablets but need something calming and tactile.
2. Sixes & Ones Dice Game (Vango Toys)
Why Moms Love It
This is a modern, stylish revival of classic dice games from Vango Toys. It includes an expandable rolling cup and six curated games, making it perfect for restaurants, airports, hotel lobbies, and even the airplane tray table. The designs feel elevated enough that adults enjoy playing too. It is compact, quiet, and endlessly replayable.
Quick Facts
• Ages: 8+
• MSRP: $12.99
• Available: Amazon, Target
Travel Tip
Play a quick round at the gate while waiting to board. It passes the time and keeps kids off screens.
4. Yes & Know Books (Tree Town Toys)
Why Moms Love It
These invisible ink books from Tree Town Toys are exactly what parents remember from childhood. They are compact, quiet, screen-free, and perfect for backseat rides or plane rows. Kids reveal answers with the magic pen and stay absorbed for long stretches. They require zero setup and zero mess, which makes them ideal for holiday travel.
Quick Facts
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $9.99
• Available: TreeTownToys.com
Travel Tip
Buy different themes for each child. Siblings love trading books mid-trip.
5. Moonlite Storytime Mini Projector (Moonlite Storytime)
Why Moms Love It
This mini projector from Moonlite Storytime attaches to your smartphone and displays storybook images onto the wall or ceiling. It is perfect for hotel rooms, grandma’s house, and nighttime flights where you need a familiar routine. Kids stay engaged through the pictures, narration, and soft glow. It feels magical and makes bedtime on the road so much smoother.
Quick Facts
• Ages: 3+
• MSRP: $49.99
• Available: Amazon, Walmart, Moonlite
Travel Tip
Use it as a wind-down routine after a long travel day. It gives kids something soothing and familiar when everything else feels new.
Here’s to Easier, Happier Holiday Travel With Kids
Holiday travel doesn’t have to feel like a countdown to the next meltdown. With the right travel toys for holiday trips, you can turn long lines, long drives, and long waits into moments of calm, creativity, and independent play. These parent-approved picks lighten your load, help kids stay engaged, and give everyone a smoother, happier travel experience.
Whether you caught my segment on Great Day Connecticut or you’re building your travel kit now, these toys earn their spot in your bag. A few thoughtful additions can make holiday travel with kids not just doable, but genuinely easier!
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