10 Amazon Buys to Make Traveling with Littles More Fun

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Making memories with your kids is what family travel is all about—but it’s not always easy. Sure, social media is packed with smiling shots of families looking blissfully sun-kissed and relaxed, but we all know from experience there are lots of tantrums and meltdowns and moments of destruction in between. One way to keep things a bit less chaotic is to bring the right toys and entertainment for the little ones. After all, even on the most well-planned vacation, between downtime at the hotel and the dreaded hours on the airplane, you’re going to be faced with tons of time to kill.

There are two major elements that make a toy great to travel with: It should pack well without taking up suitcase space, and it should not contain a million tiny parts or pieces that will, inevitably, get strewn generously all along your itinerary. We’ve identified 10 top picks, all available on Amazon, that fit the bill, each a cinch to make your kids squeal with joy—and then, maybe, just maybe, play quietly for a bit. They’re also each available with Amazon’s ultra-fast shopping and easy returns, in case you’re a little short of time before your departure.

iHeartArt Art on the Go! Activity Pad

A travel coloring book is a classic must-have for all vacations that include tiny people. This one bundles up adorably (and functionally), so they can manage it all from their own plane seat and still get everything back into their backpack when it’s time to disembark.

Wooden Switch Toy

For the curious toddler mind, this light-up circuit board is engaging and educational—yet screen-free. They can flip switches and press buttons and see the fruits of their labor each time, and there’s always something new to discover.

Aqua Arcade Set

Relics of ’90s doctors’ waiting rooms, these handheld water games are totally engaging and will have adults waiting for their turn, too. This set comes with two to encourage friendly competition.

Foldable Buckets with Shovels

If you’re heading to the beach, bringing your own toys is a winning move. These colorful buckets collapse for easy packability.

Astrodraw Drawing Pad

Easier and lower-tech than a coloring app on their tablet, this pad will let them doodle happily for hours without any chance of an errant crayon swipe. And the pen is attached, so it won’t “go missing” 15 times an hour.

Magical Mermaids

If a hotel pool is in your future, dive toys can keep them playing by themselves (under your watchful eye, of course). These mermaids are adorable and come in a pack of four, so it’s even no biggie if you lose one.

Magnetic Drawing Board

Remember these from your childhood? They still exist! And are still super-fun! Let your kids’ imagination run wild and marvel at what they can create.

Reusable Sticker Books

Stickers are wonderful, but generally only single-use. These reusable ones will keep kids of all ages engaged for far longer—and they’re easy to peel off airplane windows, should one (or more) end up there.

Trouble Board Game

Board games are a great way to pass the time with some family bonding when everyone needs a break from the sun, and this tiny version of Trouble means the competition can come along wherever you go.

UNO Splash Card Game with Waterproof Cards

Whether you’re heading to the Caribbean or camping lakeside, a waterproof option is always a good choice. Heck, it also means your UNO cards are entirely safe from the juice spills that will all but certainly happen!

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