The number one rule when traveling with kids is to be prepared. In order to help you out, we’ve rounded up loads of our favorite small travel toys ready to pack into your carry on and bring on board—all affordable, and some for as little as $4. You’ll find toddler toys, picks perfect for bigger kids, and cheap fidget toys, all made for on-the-go fun. Now, put your tray table up and prepare for take off!

 


MindWare

Foil Art Sticker Pack

$8 BUY NOW

These foil art pictures will be a blast to make and a fun memory to hang up when you get home from your travels.


earthgrowncrayons via Etsy

Dinosaur Crayons

$10 BUY NOW

Bring along these dual-purpose dinosaur crayons on your next trip! They can color their next masterpiece and play with the dinos too.


ToyWiz

Polly Pocket Micro Compact Playset

$10 BUY NOW

This Polly Pocket Compact Playset is the perfect compact set to bring along on a flight. Your kiddo won't lose the pieces to this toy!


CharrelleDesign via Etsy

Glow in the Dark Tic Tac Toe Set

$10 BUY NOW

This Glow in the Dark Tic Tac Toe game will entertain for hours! It is such a fun game to play with others, and the glow means they can keep playing even if you have a late night flight.


Target

Lite Brite Mini

$9.99 BUY NOW

Make all sorts of wonderful designs with this Lite Brite Mini! Your little one can use inspiration from their travels for endless designs.


Melissa & Doug

Scratch Art Color Reveal Pad

$7 BUY NOW

This On the Go Scratch Art notebook is a fun way to bring art supplies on a plane. By scratching away at the black-coated pages with a wooden stylus, kids uncover pictures full of sea life. The bright colors and the addition of facts on each page makes it an artsy and educational choice.


Crayola

Globbles

$9 BUY NOW

Think of Crayola's new Globbles as a combination between a sticky hand and a stress ball - but without the icky residue sticky hands leave behind. They'll keep kids busy with squishy, mushy fun. Bonus: you can rinse these fidget toys off, so they'll be clean and ready for the plane ride home.

 


Target

LEGO Super Mario Propeller Collectible

$10 BUY NOW

This toy will entertain your child for hours in an airport. How fun to fly just like a plane!


Mattel

DOS

$6 BUY NOW

This card game will keep your family entertained for hours! DOS is just like UNO, but with some fun twists. DOS will make that long layover fly by.


barnowlkids via Etsy

Handcrafted Wooden Mini Vehicles

$10 BUY NOW

These handcrafted wooden vehicles are an adorable option for the airport. Your kiddo will be seeing so many vehicles around them already, it will make this toy that much more fun.


Educational Insights

Playfoam Squashformers Robots

$10 BUY NOW

Kids can build rad robots with the aid of the two molds that come in the Playfoam Squashformers Robots package. Playfoam is squishy, moldable, and no mess—these little magical foam bits won't stick to clothes or airplane seats. It's an on-the-go creative toy for your mini makers.

 


Barnes & Noble

LEGO Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts Minifigures

$4 BUY NOW

Even Slytherins and Gryffindors agree: LEGO's Harry Potter mini figures are magical. In surprise packs, this limited edition series includes favorite characters like Luna Lovegood, Dobby, and a couple of versions of Harry himself. It's the next best thing to a trip to Honeydukes.


Paper Source

Itty Bitty Rainbow Squish Ball

$7 BUY NOW

Flying can be scary and this dough-y stress ball can help calm down any stressed out kiddos on the flight. It's also super fun!


Melissa & Doug

Reusable Sticker Pad

$7 BUY NOW

This sticker pad is reusable, which means they can create all sorts of fun over and over, no matter how long the flight is!


Plus Plus

Plus Plus Mini Maker Tube Unicorn

$8 BUY NOW

Step-by-step instructions make it easy for airplane travelers to make the featured animal, or they can use the plastic bricks to make unique creations of their own.


Mattel

Blaze and the Monster Machines

$9 BUY NOW

These trucks will keep your kiddo entertained whether they're buckled in their seat or not.


Melissa & Doug

On the Go Color By Number

$9 BUY NOW

Coloring by numbers is a classic and fun way to spend time. Your child will love this and it will be a great activity for quiet time on the plane.


MindWare

Lunar Landing Quick Sticker Kit

$9 BUY NOW

With this Lunar Landing Sticker Kit, kids can land on the moon, go on a moon walk, and explore outer space, all from the comfort of their airplane seat. The glow-in-the-dark stickers are ready to light up the night, and the fold-out moon scene makes for quick set-up and take down. If your kid has opted out of the space race, you can pick up a similar sticker kit with rainbow ponies or trains instead.


Target

LEGO Blue Bricks Building Starter Kit

$9 BUY NOW

Your child will enjoy building and playing with this blue LEGO set. They can use their creativity and follow the instructions or build whatever they want.

 


Toy Boarders

Toy Boarders Skate Series

$6 BUY NOW

Pick up a pack of AJ's Toy Boarders in the Snowboard or Skate Series, and you'll have many little green riders ready to catch air off the armrest. You'll get a bunch of cool parent points, and you'll have a happy, busy travel companion for the duration of your flight.

 


Target

Crayola Color Wonder Stampers & Markers

$10 BUY NOW

We love that this Crayola Color Wonder kit includes loads of artsy fun without the mess. With five fruit-scented markers, blank paper, five stampers and a chocolate-scented ink pad, little ones will be kept busy coloring and creating.

—Taylor Clifton & Oz Spies

RELATED STORIES
No More Meltdowns: Easy Activities for the Car & Airplane Ride
10 Things Not to Pack (& 5 You Should Always Bring)
Traveling With Kids is a Piece of Cake, Said No Parent Ever
7 Reasons to Travel With Kids, No Matter How Young They Are

 

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