Toys are great to have as a back-up for wanting a break, some quiet time, or an activity. I first try to utilize the environment around me to see if anything can become a toy, and if that doesn’t work, one of the below will.
There’s something magical about bubbles. Except the part when your child wants to blow bubbles on their own and then they spill it everywhere (happened to you too?).
I was really excited to find these no-spill bubbles – Fubbles – and they continue to be a staple in our outings. They’re easy to pack, and they truly don’t spill. Although I wouldn’t take it on a plane trip, I take them everywhere else.
These wooden lacing toys are great for hand dexterity, and entertaining when you need a break or some quiet time. These are a little heavier than other toys we bring, but I do find it is a good fun activity.
It’s fun to have a little camera that my daughter can practice with. It’s not the best image quality, but whenever it gets used, it becomes a lot of fun capturing things from her perspective. This is best for ages 3+
We’ve had this since my daughter was a baby and we still bring it with us and use it when we travel (and she’s almost three). It is light, and easy to pack, and has provided entertainment and challenge for years now.
The Y oto Mini is a great, compact, way to let your child hear different stories before bedtime, on a road trip, and more. It’s almost like the equivalent of having a CD player with a CD pack. And it’s something that can grow with them!
This is such a fun and interactive way to engage with your child and a great alternative to an iPad tablet (although on a long flight, I’m all for a show). You can take turns drawing something together and it allows you to easily erase and start over.
I have been very impressed with Melissa & Doug. Nearly everything I get from them, my daughter loves. This product series from Melissa & Doug is innovative and fun! It’s great for any kind of travel, and just to keep in the diaper bag for any needed quiet time.
We took the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle with our 10-week-old — and it became one of our most memorable family trips. In this story episode, Maddie shares the behind-the-scenes moments and what surprised her most about slow travel by train.
Everything you need to know about taking the Amtrak Coast Starlight from Los Angeles to Seattle with a baby or kids — booking tips, what to pack, what it’s really like, and our honest 35-hour experience.
You take 500+ photos on vacation. Then what? Here's my system for actually preserving travel memories—from planning through creating tangible memories to revisit.
If you have trip scraps—tickets, stickers, postcards, and little “I can’t throw this away” pieces—this episode is for you. Maddie shares a simple method to turn those artifacts into a framed collage you’ll actually display, plus how to use a shadow box collage to remember someone you love in a way that feels meaningful (not overwhelming).
The adventure is the entertainment. But in case you want a few things to use, here are my favorite.
If you've ever wanted a fun, low-pressure way to make a trip more memorable for your kids — and actually turn the photos into something they'll revisit — this episode is for you. I'm sharing how two tiny souvenirs from our Japan trip became a creative travel activity, and eventually a custom children's storybook made in Chatbooks.