Can you smell it?! I know I can. SPRING! It’s just around the corner….finally!! It has been a really long winter here in Chicago, so Spring Break couldn’t come soon enough. To say I’ve been pining for some
sunshine is an understatement. Since many of you will be traveling in the coming weeks, hopefully to warmer destinations, I’ve put together a little list of activities that are perfect for kids to do in the car, on the airplane, waiting at a restaurant….anywhere! Now, if you’re going to be road trippin, you’ll especially want to tune-in, because the license plate game and songs like “99 bottles of beer on the wall” or “A my name is Alice” just won’t pass the time as it did when I was growing up. Please tell me I’m not the only one with these childhood memories?!
Now, I don’t have anything against a little screen time, because I’d be lying if I said my kids didn’t watch movies or play a few games on the i-pad. Hand over the snacks and they are good to go for an hour or two. BUT, I do my best to vary options to not become reliant on technology.
Their little brains need the break and these games, puzzles, and art activities do the trick. With a 3 and 5 year old, attention spans are short, so it’s important to change things up a bit and always have options. Every single item I’m sharing takes up minimal space and can fit inside my boys’ traveling packs (shown here) that they bring with them on vacation! The bags are easy to transport, can be rolled like a suitcase, and worn like a backpack!
Did I forget to mention that aside from being space savers, each one is affordable? These little puzzle tins are from the Dollar Tree and have been used SO MANY TIMES by my little guys. ONE DOLLAR, that’s it! There are probably over 15 designs in the store, from the ones we have below to Vampirina, Shimmer & Shine, Minnie, Frozen, Sofia the First, Paw Patrol, Cars, Doc McStuffins, Elena of Avalor, etc. It would be hard not to find one your child enjoys!
This game, Spot It, is a definite favorite in our house. Small and compact, it can be played in the space of a pull-down tray on an airplane. We particularly enjoy this one while waiting for our food at restaurants. Although it says ages 7 & up, my 3 1/2 year old LOVES playing it, and is quite good, I might add! This one is a great one for the whole family to play together, both kids and adults. 
This gem was gifted to us by our next door neighbor (thanks, Nicole!), and has created countless hours of engaged fun for my boys. It’s tough to get my 3 year old to sit still for longer periods of time. This Mighty Mind Magnetic kit does the trick, however. It comes with 30 different cards, all at varying levels. So, it ranges from ages 3-8. The cool part is the cards can be placed on top of the metal tin container, and once you place the colorful magnet shapes on top, it keeps the card in place! It encourages strategic thinking and allows them to build and create with minimal space.
Is your child not really the game or puzzle type? No biggie, you can give these art supplies a go! Grab a scribble pad full of blank paper at the Dollar Tree (again, just $1). To accompany, bring along a pack of crayons, OR, jazz things up a bit with this awesome marker traveling kit. It’s pretty dang handy, honestly! It’s called Crayola pip-squeaks washable traveling set, which comes with 25 small markers (perfect hand held size), and 40 sheets of paper. The best part is the durable carrying case with handle. The markers snap into the case, which makes for easy opening and closing. This marker case goes with us EVERYWHERE!
If either of your kids enjoy writing, in addition to drawing/coloring, you can get them a personalized notebook. I’ve ordered both of my boys one and each one feels extra special having something to call his own. It’s like their own little art and writing journal. They come in two sizes and we have both.
As for crayons, the standard Crayola that come in a box always seem to break or get lost within minutes of opening. So, I decided to go with this Melissa & Doug Truck themed crayon , with a triangular grasp. This case coordinates nicely with the cover of my son’s notebook. Gotta love a good theme, right?
To snag your very own personalized journal/notebook, Check out the adorable, personalized notebooks from The Drifting Thistle on ETSY! 
They come in small (5×7) or large (8.5×11) with lined paper inside. This makes it perfect for journaling and drawing pictures, as you can see by the masterpieces below that my son made (I know I’m biased).
He takes such pride in everything he creates, so his little journal of his is a favorite keepsake that he takes extra special care of. Hence, the reason we had to get his brother one of his own….so he wouldn’t keep trying to color in his. To make it even more exciting, he began to add stickers to his artwork. Enter this awesome Melissa & Doug Sticker Collection pack. There is such an amazing variety of stickers included….
From knights in armor, to sports, to dinosaurs, to bugs and creepy crawlies….
The selection of stickers in this pack is awesome! Plus, this sticker pack fits inside the backpack, so we took it right along with us on our trips! It also includes all things trucks, cars, rescue vehicles, and construction!!
And last, but not least, is yet another fabulous item from Melissa & Doug. Yes, I really do love this company. They have such wonderful activities, toys, puzzles, and games we own that my kids love. This Jumbo Vehicles Coloring Pad provides really cool pictures for coloring. When my son wants a break from imagining up his own creations, he enjoys choosing one from this book. It has over 50 pages. We bought this over 6 months ago and still haven’t gotten through them all. 
Don’t delay, friends. Make your Spring Break trip effortless and enjoyable! Most parents agree that traveling with kids can be exhausting and overwhelming, as you attempt to keep your kiddos entertained. I sure hope some (if not all) of these ideas will help make your next adventure a smooth and happy one!
