As you know, we travel several times a year with our son. Benjamin has always been great about traveling long distance, and our experience has taught me a lot about family travel. Now that he is older, I wanted to write this post about traveling with with big kids, including what to bring on a road trip or airplane.
This post is sponsored by Sensible Portions but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. In addition this post contains affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if purchased through my site. Thanks for your support.
Tips for Traveling with Big Kids
When planning a trip, I always take in to account how long we’ll be on the road or in the air. I then try to choose a variety of activities and snacks to keep Benjamin occupied for the duration. Being a bigger kid now means that I can choose from many more “self entertaining” games, books and toys.
I love putting together a travel bag for Benjamin to use on road trips or as a carry-on. It’s kind of like filling an Easter basket or Christmas stocking to me. I typically include a few of his favorite things to entertain him, yummy treats, and some new things as well.
What to Pack for your Family Road Trip or in an Airplane Carry-on Bag
Putting together a travel kit for big kids doesn’t have to be expensive, and you can totally use what you already have! Here are some favorite tips and ideas.
- The dollar section and dollar stores are great places to find cheap activities for kids.
- Check out a new library book or purchase one from your child’s favorite series.
- Look on Pinterest for free printables of road trip games like Bingo or I-spy.
- You can create your own sticker books by using blank notebooks and stocking up on $1 sticker packs. (If you have a toddler or preschooler, check out how to create the ultimate busy bag binder for your next trip.)
- If your kids are mature enough to handle slime or play dough in a car or plane, that makes for a fun sensory activity on-the-go as well.
Traveling with Electronics
Traveling with big kids almost always means traveling with electronics. When Benjamin was younger we brought the Kindle Fire, then an iPad, and now his Nintendo Switch. Don’t forget to charge everything before your trip or invest in external batteries. Download a variety of books and movies to your Kindle or iPad before traveling so they are handy. In addition, its a great idea to invest in cases to not only protect electronic devices but hold cords, batteries, games, etc. Be sure to also include a pair of noise-cancelling headphones to go along with those electronics. You’ll be happy you did!
Packing Snacks
If you’ve ever traveled with a child, you know they always seem to be HUNGRY! Having a healthy snack on hand saves time, money and calories. We recently picked up Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws at Walmart. Veggie Straws are located in the healthy snacks section, adjacent to the chip aisle.
In addition, I try to pack a variety of other snacks that aren’t super messy. Think fruit snacks or roll ups, granola bars, small packets of crackers, shelf stable cheese, pretzels, dried fruit, nuts and a little bit of candy. 🙂
If you’re traveling via plane, be sure to pick up gum for take off and landing. Chewing gum can definitely help with altitude changes and help avoid painful ear pressure.
If you’re planning to road trip, pick up a shopper that easy to access. We are filling one for our time on the road this holiday season. We picked up a large bag of Veggie Straws for the family in addition to a variety of other snacks and drinks so we don’t have to stop as much.
Find some of my favorite travel goodies here. Great to add to holiday shopping lists!
As you travel with your family this holiday season, I hope you find these ideas helpful! Learn more: Sensible Portions® Garden Veggie Straws. If you’re an avid traveler, don’t miss my Must Have Airplane Travel Items Under $25.
