Your Ultimate Travel Bag of Tricks

A long-awaited holiday with your little people? Paradise. Getting there? Not so much!

For adults, the anticipatory excitement of knowing what comes at the end of a long journey can make it much easier to endure. But for young children, who don’t have the benefit of experience and perspective, travelling can feel altogether trickier.

The solution? Bring a little joy to the journey. Whether you’re flying long-haul or just taking a road trip to see family, a well-packed travel bag can transform the journey and make getting there all part of the adventure. What matters most isn’t avoiding every wobble, but knowing you can reconnect quickly with comfort, reassurance and a calm reset.

Your smart packing strategy

Before you think about what to pack for an outing, it helps to plan how you’ll use it. These simple approaches can help children stay settled from start to finish:

Rotate regularly. Instead of offering all your chosen activities at the start, introduce them one at a time, to maintain and maximise interest.
Balance the energy. Try to follow something active like a matching game with something more soothing, such as a story, to match children’s natural rhythm of play.
Keep back a small surprise. When patience really runs thin, a hidden treat – a surprise sticker set or a new snack – can help rescue and reset the mood.
Talk through what comes next. Time can feel abstract for young children, so instead of saying ‘not long now’, describe what will happen in sequence: “First, we’ll sit on the train and play puzzles, then we’ll get to the airport and have a snack and a story.”

On-the-go games for every age

Screen time has its place, especially on longer or more challenging journeys. Used in short, shared bursts – such as watching a film together or playing a game – it can provide a useful reset while helping you stay connected. Balance it out with these simple, screen-free activities that keep little minds busy on the move…

For babies

Very young children often need only comfort, closeness and gentle sensory stimulation when travelling. For shorter trips, a favourite soft toy and a couple of board books may be all it takes. Or try these simple additions:

A ribbon ring: Loop short lengths of ribbon in different textures onto a plastic ring, for safe, engaging play.
Washi tape: Stick strips of colourful low-tack tape onto trays, windows or seat edges, for babies to peel off and explore.
Sensory scarves: A lightweight scarf can be used for simple games like peekaboo – or tuck into an empty plastic bottle (taking care to dispose of the lid), for babies to pull out and push back in again.
A busy pouch: Fill a small, zipped pouch with safe, everyday objects, such as a wooden spoon or plastic measuring spoons, and let your baby investigate.

For toddlers

Toddlers thrive on activities they can explore independently. Chunky crayons, sticker books (reuseable ones work especially well), and matching games will all make the minutes whizz by. For longer journeys, you might also try:

The post-box game: Give your child a small box with a slit in the top and a set of cards to post inside. Simple, satisfying and surprisingly absorbing!
Window clings: Reusable gel shapes can turn car windows into creative canvases.
A story sack: Fill a small drawstring bag with a book and a few objects related to the story, and let your child act out the tale.
A sticky-note scavenger hunt: Write simple tasks on sticky notes, such as ‘Point out something blue’, leaving a blank note on top to conceal it. Then stick them around the seat area to reveal one at a time.

For preschoolers

At this age, children are ready for more complex activities and can stay engaged for longer stretches. Colouring or activity books, card games and puzzles will often be more than enough. But, for moments when you need a little more, try…

A playdough kit: A small container of dough with safe tools such as a plastic knife and a few cutters can offer plenty of creative play.
Story dice: Illustrated dice spark endless storytelling games: “Once upon a time, a pirate found a dinosaur on a train…” Your child might tell their tale aloud or create their own picture book.
Photo challenges: If they have access to a child-safe camera, set gentle prompts –something tiny, something noisy, or something that makes them laugh – for them to photograph and chronicle their journey.
Painters’ tape road: Create instant roads on tray tables or seat areas for small vehicles to travel along.

Practical essentials to pack

Alongside entertainment, these must-pack items can prevent small challenges from becoming much bigger ones:

Snacks and water: Familiar foods can steady moods and energy levels.

Spare clothes: Accidents and spills are part of travelling with children — having a change of clothes makes it easier to move on.
Child-friendly headphones: Useful in shared spaces, or busy environments that can quickly become overwhelming.
Travel comfort items: Child-sized neck pillows or soft blankets can encourage regular rest.

Arriving with ease

Travelling with young children in tow rarely looks peaceful from beginning to end – and that’s okay. But with a well-prepared travel bag and realistic expectations – coupled with plenty of opportunity for cuddles and connection – you can get from A to B with a lot less stress.