Best Travel and Learning Toys for Toddlers

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• What Are the Best Toys for Toddlers Based on Age Category?
• What Toys Are Good for Toddlers AND How to Pack Them
• Rotation Is Key!

Getting ready for a trip with a little champ on board? Whether it’s a car, train, or plane trip, parents should be well-equipped for the upcoming adventure. As parents at Child-Universe, we have spent many long hours on tour with our kids, so we’re here to share our best ideas on top travel and learning toys to take with you. As they say, forewarned is forearmed!

What Are the Best Toys for Toddlers Based on Age Category?

Photo by Oleksandr P from Pexels

Traveling solo with a kid can be pretty scary, especially if you’re a first-time parent just at the beginning of your thorny path. Fear not! Using age-appropriate toys, you can keep playtime engaging and developmental.

• 7-12 months. The good news is that by this time, rug rats can sit unsupported and play with toys. They start getting a better idea of what a cause-and-effect relationship is and enjoy playthings that somehow respond to their actions. For example, items with sounds and buttons, musical toys, kid-save mirrors, busy boards, and stacking wooden toys for toddlers keep them occupied without your involvement. These toys help boost hand dexterity and cultivate problem-solving skills and spatial awareness. However, young ‘uns get ‘curiouser and curiouser’ at this age, longing for more independence. Make sure dangerous objects are out of reach during the trip. 
• 12-18 months. When seeking the best travel toys for 1 year old, keep in mind that little travelers keep on experimenting with cause-and-effect relationships. That is why adding push-and-pull toys to your arsenal will do the job. They’re effective instruments to speed up fine motor skills development, auditory perception, and spatial awareness. Put busy books, simple musical instruments (maracas or mini xylophones to develop auditory skills), activity cubes with sounds and textures, shape sorters, and nesting cups into your bag.
• 1-2 years. Here comes more independence, the desire to mimic adults in their routine, and be creative. What are the best learning toys for toddlers at this point? Grab things like magnetic drawing boards to let their creative juices flow while en route. Plus, let them peel and re-stick stickers in order to create stories and scenes that may keep them occupied and entertained throughout the journey. For safe, imaginative play during the trip, put a couple of small cars into your suitcase. Finally, a cute stuffed animal or a cloth doll may serve as a source of familiar comfort at home and spark uninterrupted pretend play.
• 3+ years. At this stage, tots are honing their fine motor skills, while solving problems is one of their favorite pastimes. Travel-friendly sensory toys include items that let them tell stories or role-play without taking up a lot of space. When wondering, “What are the best learning toys for toddlers at the age of three?” get a pair of lacing beads ASAP. Not only will they develop better coordination, but kids will also stay solidly focused on their way from point A to point B. Do not hesitate to take travel-sized tool kits or mini kitchens. At the same time, simple puzzles with chunky pieces are a perfect combo for little hands. The other lifesaver for parents is the well-known Play-Doh. The very moment you pull down the tray table, the magic begins! Needless to say, this soothing playtime helps children deal with their emotions. A lot of parents admit that magic coloring-in books should get a Nobel Prize for all the time that moms and dads can spend in silence. Seems like they know the business! After all, reusable paint-with-water coloring books boost creativity and sensor skills and are compact enough to take on the road.

What Toys Are Good for Toddlers AND How to Pack Them

Photo by Kindel Media from PexelWhat Toys Are Good for Toddlers AND How to Pack Thems 

As you pack for your next voyage with a fidget, there are several questions to ask yourself:

• What types of toys should I take with me – games, arts-and-crafts, or/and workbooks and books? Remember that you and your kiddie do not need everything. Consider your bambino’s preferences, age, and stage of development to choose the right ones. Involve the owner of the toys in the process. 
• How do I pack the toys? Put the whole ‘arsenal’ of playthings into an easy-to-access, separate bag. Thus, you’ll have direct access to all the toys without turning your luggage into a mess. Is a little voyageur old enough to carry a backpack? If yes, add some items to it. 
• What is the best way to keep toys organized? Decide what it is that you are going to use –  small containers, zippered pouches, or resealable bags to separate and organize all the items.

Rotation Is Key!

At our СhildUniverse Blog, we’ve had loads of answers to the “What are the best toys for toddlers?” question. However, this is only 50% of a successful trip. Never let them play with all the toys at once! Instead, introduce one item at a time. They will stay busy until the end of the journey (if that’s the plan). How to rotate toys for toddlers? You decide. However, the key is to leave all the favorite toys for the moments when they’re bored and need some extra distractions.

What are sensory toys for toddlers during the voyage? A source of much-desired entertainment. However, do not be in a hurry to purchase some brand-new items at the local shop before you set off. First of all, pack familiar comfort playthings. In addition to their favorite blanket, let them have their best-stuffed teddy bear and other toys that radiate a strong sense of comfort. While an almighty YouTube is always there to cover you up, tons of adorable products are available on the market to make leaving the house with toddlers as painless as possible. Before gadgets kick in, let traditional methods make a major difference.