Crafts on the Go: Kids Travel Activities
7 July 2009
Author: Becky Cates
Anyone who has traveled with children knows that keeping young ones entertained during a long drive or plane trip can be tricky and challenging. Before your next trip, take a little time to put together a travel activity box to make craft projects on the go. These simple kids travel activities will keep little hands and minds busy for hours!
The materials you include in an activity box need to be easy to use, safe for traveling, cater to the age and gender of the child and most importantly not be messy! Here are some suggestions you might want to include in a travel activity box:
- small notebook
- scraps of patterned paper
- various pieces of colored cardstock
- child safe scissors
- easy to use adhesive
- markers
- colored pencils (better than crayons because they can withstand the heat of being locked up in the car)
- small stapler
- beads & string or cord
- pipe cleaners (you can make cool sculptures by twisting these together!)
- hole punch
- stickers
- coloring pages or books
- puzzles
- hand-held or travel board games
- books
When packing up materials to take along, be sure to consider a container in which to carry all of the items. A metal lunch box with a handle or plastic container with a lid are good choices because the surface of these containers can be used as a small desk.
Besides packing some of the items from the list above, consider putting together a couple of simple craft kits for your child to put together along the way. One such project is a simple travel memory game that your child can assemble using stickers and small pieces of cardstock.
Another idea is to make an envelope book full of travel games & activities. Here is an example of one:
Be sure to cut the paper for the “kits” mentioned ahead of time and package them in a baggie that fits inside your child’s travel activity box. There are many websites that offer downloadable travel games you can incorporate in a child’s activity box. Check out the Related Resources below for a couple to get you started:
With a little creativity and advanced planning, you can come up with new craft projects on the go. Your children will look forward to travelling when they know they will have fun games and craft projects to enjoy along the way. Keeping the children occupied will make your next family trip a memorable and fun experience for all!