Earlier this year, I wrote about our experiences traveling with 6 under 6 to Las Vegas – it was a lovely and memorable vacation.
In just a few short weeks, however, we’re traveling again… and this time our journey will be a bit more challenging. We are taking our 4-year-old son and our 1-year-old daughter with us to Spain for 2 weeks. It all begins with sightseeing in Barcelona, and then move on to a 1-week family reunion in Girona. On the way there (we are flying out of LAX), we will have an 11-hour flight to London, and a 2.5-hour flight to Barcelona. The flight back will be a direct 13-hour flight from Barcelona back to LA.
I am thrilled. I am nervous, too.
I need to be prepared for just about anything when traveling with kids, and I wanted to share my planning and progress with my fellow mamas!
The Toys for Traveling with Kids
My mother traveled often with us as kids, and we would each receive a small bag filled with surprise travel-friendly toys for the journey. They kept us occupied when we were feeling squirrely. I remember how excited I was to open my gifts, and how much it helped me to enjoy traveling in general. I’m going to carry that tradition on with my children!
The Target $1 Bin
This was my first purchase – 2 of the $1 lacing toys from Target. Each contains 6 lacing shapes and 4 laces. They are excellent for hand-eye coordination.
Whenever you are traveling, check these bins first! I also spotted some felt activities, scented pads, pencils, tote bags and really cute hats.
Next up – mess-free marker activities. These are AWESOME. I’ve seen them at Target, Barnes & Noble, and online. Basically, they will not mark up your clothing, the plane seat/tray, or anything else. When they are swiped across these special pads, they reveal beautiful pictures. For kids, it’s like magic!
Barnes & Noble Finds
Stickers and gel clings are always a must for long plane rides. These packs from Barnes & Noble contain a whopping 555 stickers each – along with scenes where the stickers can be applied. We let the kids play with stickers for a while, and then ask our older son to illustrate and tell us a “story” created using them.
Playing cards are an excellent choice for kids 3+. They can also be used by our 1-year-old, however, if she wants to practice learning her colors. The bright imagery and large card size also help. These were in the Barnes & Noble bargain bin – less than $2!
Our family always has to bring a couple of books. I chose this one because A) our kids are both obsessed with animals, and B) it folds out to animal-covered posters 4x the size of the book!
Finally, I found these activity packs at Barnes & Noble. One for each kid, with dozens of activities encased in an easy-to-transport aluminum tin. Each one has 3 books, 4 markers, a poster and over 50 stickers! Wow! (And they were each less than $10!)
Our other must-have travel items:
- Kids backpacks (yes, they will carry their own toys – especially my 4-year-old! I think he’s going to like his backpack.)
- The iPad, stocked with cartoons and a couple of movies. 2 pairs of comfy headphones, and a splitter. (Here is a good headphone review or two. At less than $4, this headphone splitter is a steal, and this one accommodates an entire family!)
- Snacks that travel well: Dried fruit, pre-made cheese sandwiches, sealed food pouches, gummies, crackers/goldfish, nuts. Some of our favorite brands and products include:
- Once Upon a Farm cold-pressed organic pouches
- Trader Joe’s Mango Mango fruit & yogurt gummies
- Barney Butter snack packs (The cocoa and coconut are my favorites. They can be squeezed onto a cracker, or eaten from the package!)
- Siete Grain-Free Chips (available in Sea Salt, Lime, & Nacho flavors)
- Mammoth Bars (use code “Mommyiloveyousobig” to get 10% off your order!)
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