Traveling is an invaluable gift, and planning for it brings the uplifting excitement of anticipation. Before each trip, we like to read about our destination, research it, discuss its history, and learn about our travel destination as much as possible. However, I also recognize that no matter how exciting the destination is, there will be boredom, especially during long trips. As a mom, I am always looking for ways to make traveling with kids fun and more manageable. Here are travel theme activities suggestions we enjoy doing that will keep kids busy and entertained while traveling.
Activity pages
To keep my kiddo busy on the plane or during a road trip, we always bring activity books with us. It can be a word puzzle or sudoku books as my daughter loves both or any other fun and entertaining books that will keep her entertained for hours, especially during long flights or rides. She also has a scrapbook handy where she can doodle, write, or color for hours.
Another favorite activity book is this country color flag;
Personalized Travel box
For each trip, the kiddo has a personalized box for the destination. We prepare it in advance. The box usually contains favorites activities my daughter would like to do, landmarks to visit, or places to explore. We cut images of these places, glue them onto index cards, and then put them inside a box labelled with the destination name. Upon arriving at our destination, the kiddo writes on the back of the card the date she explores or visits a particular place and her favorite moments, and what she learned.
Souvenir Ornament
We preserve small mementos for each of our trips and create an ornament using a transparent plastic ball. At Christmas time, we select ornaments of previously visited places and add them to the Christmas tree to remind ourselves of all the great places we've been and continue to have a grateful heart.
You can make yours by first getting a transparent ball here
If you would like to add some flags on top of your personal souvenirs, you can also get the miniature flags here or make yours from scratch as we did here:
Category game
During road trips, we have fun playing category game. I ask my daughter to name a category, and we have 15 seconds to name as many things in that category as fast as we can. It's fun and always got us laughing throughout the trip.
Plan a trip abroad but at home
With COVID, most of our trips this year have been cancelled. We had planned to travel to Egypt during the summer but couldn't; instead, we had an Egyptian week at home. Each day we learned something new about Egypt, cooked an Egyptian meal, and listened to an Egyptian song. She wrote her name and a few words using the
Egyptian Hieroglyphic Alphabet. We brought Egypt home amid the pandemic and have fun.
Organize a trip around the world at home
Another fun travel activity you can do with your kids is to discover a new country each day. You can create some fun clues that you leave around your home for your kids to find and to learn. For example, day one could be: India day, so you have an Indian meal for lunch, read a fun illustrated book about India, listen to a piece of Indian music.
Day 2 could be Morocco day; you can eat a Morrocan dish, create a berbere tent in your backyard, and so forth.
Reading
Reading is always fun, no matter the season and time. So grab a fun book for kids about the destination you are heading next so that your child can learn about the country before heading there. Your kid can also bring a book to read on the plane.
Check here for illustrated books for kids per world region we have enjoyed.
Create a travel playlist
If you are planning a road trip soon, make a playlist dedicate to your next destination. Make it fun so you can sing along on your journey. Try to select a song that portrays your next destination.
Documentaries
Watch educative documentaries with your kids about your next destination.
Documentaries are fun, and you always learn something new.
Podcast
Listen to a fun podcast that makes you want to explore the world or keep you entertained during your road trip. There are plenty of fun and educative podcast for kids out there that allows you to explore the world with your ears.
check here
Cooking
Make a meal together from scratch from a place you would love to visit.
It is a bonding time with your kids, and you might learn about spices that you didn't know existed.
Scavenger hunt
You can also create a scavenger hunt about your destination in advance to build excitement for the kinds of experiences you may soon having as a family. You can glue important landmarks, statues, nature finds about the destination onto a piece of paper, and every time your kids spot each place, they can put a checkmark next to each picture
Travel Journal
Travel journals are the perfect addition for your kids' trip. They can doodle write, fill in the pages, log their travel itinerary info, add pictures, color, and be creative. Plus, their travel journals become special mementos that they will keep and cherish.
Get your kids' travel activity book in English, German, French, or Spanish here.
