Thoughtful and engaging travel toy ideas for your preschooler
As summer rounds the corner, Iโm sure you are excited as we are to plan a few family trips, whether it be cross-country, across the globe, or a few hours away. If you plan on taking your four-year-old along for the ride, itโs best to think ahead regarding entertainment options for the journey to your vacation destination.
For several reasons, traveling with a four-year-old can be MUCH easier than traveling with younger toddlers. ย For one, you can usually count on a four-year-old to be well enough potty trained that accidents will be rare.ย ย
Additionally, a four-year-oldโs attention span is a bit longer than that of a two-year-old or three-year-old. This means you might be able to pack fewer toys and other methods of entertainment for your trip. We view any reduction in luggage to be a plus in our book!
In this article, weโll introduce you to some of the Best Travel Toys for 4-Year-Olds to make your next layover or road trip as stress-free as possible.
This post is part of our tried & tested travel gear reviews and our best travel toys collection
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TL;DR โ List of the Best Travel Toys for a 4-year-old
You can instantly shop here if you’re in a hurry, or read on if you’d like to know exactly why these are the best toddler travel toys and other ways we keep our 4-year-olds entertained.
Type/Brand | Capacity & Features | Dimensions | Pricing | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray | Table Stand 6 compartments Dry erase board Kid-safe plastic Safety strap | โ1.31 x 12.25 x 16.56 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Magformers | 30 piece set | 11.5 x 2 x 9.5 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Melissa & Doug Water Wow | 4 reusable pages Refillable water pen No mess paint Recommended age is 36 months - 6 years | 10 x 7 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
KLT Wooden Lacing Toys | 1 Turtle 1 Starfish Wood sea animal lacing toy Easy to grip Recommended age is 36 months - 10 years | 7.4 x 6.7 x 1.5 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
ellostar Push Pop Fidget Toy | Skin friendly silicone materials Perfect size to bring anywhere Recommended age is 1 month and up | 4.92 x 4.84 x 0.83 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Melissa & Doug Flip to Win Travel Memory Game | Wooden Game Board 7 Double-Sided Cards 25% MDF (sides of board), 50% Plywood (front and back of the game board), 15% solid wood (doors), 3% bungee (fabric and elastic), 7% paper (game cards), and paint. Recommended age is 5 - 8 years | 11.7 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
My Best Toddler Coloring Book | 111 pages Tracing, coloring, matching, counting and more Recommended age is 1 year old and up | 8.5 x 0.25 x 11 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Crayola Art Buddy Kids Backpack & Art Tools Kit | Clear plastic backpack 16 crayons, 8 Ultra-Clean washable markers, 4 sidewalk chalk sticks, 10 Washable Stampers & a 5โ x 7โ tablet Recommended age is 4 - 9 years | 8.13 x 4.5 x 8.25 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Melissa & Doug Magnetic Number Maze | Wooden puzzle activity Number maze Early numbers learning Recommended age is 36 months - 5 years | 11.9 x 0.6 x 10.6 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
PlayMonster Magnetic Personalities - Original Wooly Willy | Draw on Wooly's face No mess Self-contained board includes a magnetic wand Recommended age is 3 years and up | 7 x 0.38 x 8.75 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Crayola Washable Dry Erase Travel Pack | "4 Washable Dry-Erase Markers & an E-Z Erase Cloth Non - toxic markers Double-Sided Board Recommended age is 4 - 7 years" | 1.44 x 6.72 x 10.19 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Wellchild Magnetic Drawing Board for Toddlers | Erasable magnetic drawing board Magnetic pen with string 4 colored zones Non-BPA material Recommended age is 3 years and up | Frame dimensions: 10.4 X 7.5 inches Drawing screen dimensions: 5.90 X 4.1 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Take 'N' Play Anywhere - Matching | 32 Magnetic Tiles Magnetic Game Board Rules Recommended age is 3 years and up | 6.75 x 0.88 x 6.75 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XV4LQ6M?tag=babyglob-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1 | Reusable stickers | 3 pack activity set - Adventure Bay, Jakeโs Mountain, Jungle 2 fold out scenes | 7.5 x 1.5 x 11 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here |
Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet | 32GB (Purple) 1 year of Amazon Kids+ content Kid-Proof Case Recommended age is 3 - 7 years | 8" display | $- Check Latest Price Here | |
Kids Headphones | Kid Headphones with Microphone Volume Limited 93dB Foldable and Portable | 10 x 8 x 3 inches | $- Check Latest Price Here |
What to look for in travel toys for a 4-year-old
When looking for the best travel toys for four-year-olds, remember that interactive play and improving fine motor skills are essential for preschool-age children.ย
- Toys and activities that target memory, creating, and problem-solving skills will keep them engaged for extended periods of time, especially when you have a variety of options to choose from.ย
- Youโll also want to ensure that you tailor your travel toys for four-year-olds to your travel setting and space allowance. For example, you donโt want to choose toys and games that make loud noises if youโre flying to your destination – but equally, on a camping trip, DO bring all those camping toys that require plenty of space and allow them to run and play freely!
- If youโre going to allow your child to bring his or her tablet or electronic device on family vacation, make sure that you also purchase headphones to reduce distractions to passengers around you, and set screen time rules.ย ย
- Finally, itโs essential to be aware of how much space you have for your four-year-oldโs travel toys.ย Youโll want to choose small toys and games that are lightweight and relatively compact, especially if youโre packing for multiple children of different ages.ย
Including several activities and new toys in your carry-on bag or backpack and a few in your luggage might be a good idea to switch out later in your hotel room.ย ย
14 engaging travel toys for your 4-year-old
Before we explore each travel toy selection, weโd like first to encourage you to find a suitable backpack for your child, especially if youโre going to be flying anywhere. You obviously canโt load your childโs bag down with everything they want to take along, but it will help to lighten your load and give them some responsibility in the travel process.
We are also big fans of travel trays when it comes to car travel & road trips with kids.
Travel Tray
Travel trays are one of the best things to pack for a road trip. They are an excellent way to keep all of your four-year-oldโs travel games, water bottle and activities close by and organized.ย
This Lusso Gear Kids Travel Tray is ideal for your next family vacation with small children.ย It has a built-in dry-erase board and snack tray, a tablet holder, and plenty of pockets for activity books, markers, and crayons – more on these below!ย ย
Magformers
Up there in the elite of great travel toys for younger children are the ever-reliable Magformers. This simple kids’ construction toy leads to endless possibilities.
Promoting hand-eye coordination and imagination, they easily fit in your or your child’s carry-on bag and can be taken take anywhere. They are safety-approved for children 3+, so they are perfect for this age group and make an awesome travel toy.
Melissa & Doug Water Wow Coloring Pads
We canโt adequately express enough love for these mess-free coloring pads. Amongst our favorite travel toys for preschoolers, this variety pack has enough coloring pages to keep your four-year-old entertained for hours of independent play, and the best part about these travel coloring pads is that theyโre reusable!ย
Each page clears as it dries, and you can refill the water pen and store it to use again and again.ย These Melissa & Doug Water Wow Coloring Pads also help your child improve multiple skills, such as fine motor skills, reading and writing, and visual discrimination. Suitable for 3 to 7 years, we got so much use out of these, even with older children, they are a fun travel toy!
KLT Wooden Lacing Toy
Your older toddlers can create endless patterns with this unique and travel-friendly threading toy. We love that the threading tool is attached to each toy (an adorable turtle and starfish), as this minimizes the chances that it will fall between airline or car seats.
This unique travel toy for four-year-olds helps develop problem-solving and hand-eye coordination and can also build your childโs shoe-tying skills! They can play with these lightweight threading toys again and again, and they conveniently fit into the side pocket of your diaper bag or your childโs backpack.
Ellostar Push Pop Fidget Toy
If youโre searching for a noise-free toy to cut down on the inevitable fidgeting and squirming that goes hand-in-hand with long flights and car rides, this travel toy works like a charm with young children as much as older kids.
Pop fidgets come in various shapes and colors, and the lightweight silicone is easy to wash off and wipe clean.
Your little kids can use this as a fun fidget toy, or they can play a bubble-popping game with their sibling (if age-appropriate). This Lizber Push Pop Fidget Toy is an excellent way for your child to work on reasoning skills, mental arithmetic, and critical thinking as well (even my tween still enjoys this one!)
Melissa & Doug Flip-to-Win Memory Game
The best travel toys for four-year-olds come with multiple playing options, and this Melissa and Doug Flip-to-Win Memory Game hits the mark. This is a perfect game for siblings to play with each other or for you to play with your child on flights or in the airport on a layover.
The wooden memory game comes with seven double-sided cards to add a different competitive element each time, and your child can keep the score right on their game card.
My Best Toddler Coloring Book
This entertaining book for toddlers is ideal for any little artist who loves to color, count, and problem-solve.
The activities within the book touch on foundational learning concepts such as numbers, letters, shapes, simple words, and counting, and the thick lines on the coloring pages help your child stay within the lines, reducing potential frustration (some children are very meticulous colorers!). The best part is no batteries are required with coloring books!
Crayola Art Buddy Pip-Squeak Character Backpack & Art Tools
The perfect travel toy, these art tools come with a carrying case to minimize the chances that your child accidentally leaves that essential purple marker on a plane thatโs now heading to Detroit.
The clear backpack comes with a little bit of everything, which is perfect for providing your four-year-old with different activity options. The kit contains crayons, Ultra-Clean washable markers, sidewalk chalk, stamps, and a stamp pad. You can easily remove items you donโt want to bring along to make room for other travel toys as well.
Melissa & Doug Magnetic Number Maze
Help your four-year-old improve their number recognition and counting skills with this engaging, magnetic number maze. Children can move the apples into their appropriate number slots with the attached magnetic wand, and the clear cover prevents any unwanted messes.
The board itself has a sturdy wood construction to protect against accidental drops, and itโs appropriate for ages 3-5, so younger siblings can join in the fun. It’s a little on the bulkier side, so not great for flying and small backpacks, but perfect for car trips and waiting in restaurants.
PlayMonster Magnetic Personalities – Original Wooly Willy
Thereโs nothing wrong with revisiting class travel toys, and your four-year-old will love giving Wooly Willy all kinds of crazy hairstyles.
Your child can use the magnetic wand to create fun and funky eyebrows, mustaches, and hairdos, and itโs sure to have everyone in your row of the plane giggling.
Crayola Washable Dry Erase Travel Pack
Your little artists will love this on-the-go Crayola Washable Dry Erase Travel Pack, which is an excellent, mess-free solution to markers and paper while traveling.
The travel case opens up to provide your child with two different drawing surfaces, and elastic bands hold the included dry-erase markers securely in place. Once finished, you can use the E-Z Erase Cloth to clear the drawing board for more masterpieces.
Wellchild Magnetic Drawing Board for Toddlers
This travel-sized magnetic drawing board is another great idea for your child to create endless drawings without the added clutter of used paper and potential messes of crayons and markers.
The erasable board comes with the pen attached, ensuring these two items stay together throughout your entire journey. We also love the four color zones on the board instead of just a black background option. Three fun-shaped stampers are included and snap securely onto the drawing board.
Take ‘N’ Play Anywhere – Matching
Weโre fans of any travel toy for four-year-olds that are designed to minimize the loss of game pieces, which is why the Take โNโ Play Anywhere Matching game has our vote for road trip toys!
The game can be played alone or with a partner, and the magnetic matching pieces stick securely to the metal playing boards. This is an excellent way to pass the time on a long car ride or flight, and it can be mixed, sorted, and repeatedly played for hours of entertainment.
Reusable Stickers
Reusable stickers are one of the best toys for kids of all ages. They lead to endless creative play and don’t take up too much space in your luggage; they are ideal for long road trips, long-haul flights, or even just keeping kids entertained in restaurants with no noise and no fuss. Little hands should have no problems with the small parts at 4-years-old.
Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet
Although we certainly donโt advocate plugging your child into their tablet for the duration of your travels, we also cannot deny that a tablet can be one of the best travel toys for four-year-olds. There are times when theyโre going to be required to sit down and be quieter than usual, and there is nothing wrong with allowing them screen time to watch a few downloaded episodes of their favourite show.
The Kindle tablets are wonderfully customizable so that you can set time limits for your child each day in all content areas. Don’t forget a secure, kid-friendly case to protect against bumps and falls; it even comes with a two-year warranty.
Kids Headphones
And, of course, the golden rule of tablet use – bring headphones! Although 4-year-olds are a little more careful with these things than the toddler crowd, you still need something robust and volume-limiting as the AILIHEN I35 Kid Headphones have proven to be one of the most reliable and long-lasting with our kids.
Other ways to engage your kids on long trips
Sometimes all the toys in the world aren’t going to help keep your kids entertained. You’ll need some good old-fashioned family engagement!
Games – check out some of these great ideas for family word games and guessing games that can work superbly on a long journey.
Audiobooks – a great way to engage together is to listen along with a favorite audiobook – trust me, parents, you’re never too old to enjoy this, and I’ll bet you enjoy reliving some of the classics too! Why not try a Free Audible trial on Amazon over the summer?
- For this age group, we can recommend classics like the Dr Suess collection and fun new stories like Pete the Cat’s Super Cool collection a s a great option.
Podcasts – similarly, podcasts come in short, sharp episodes perfect for this age group with humorous stories and interesting facts that can engage for short periods of time. Adams World is a fun favorite to try, or Noddle Loaf for a laugh.
Snacks – why have we waited so long to mention snacks? Whether it’s the anticipation of an exciting snack stop or keeping energy levels going along the way, a good arsenal of healthy travel snacks will immensely help your pre-schooler on a long journey.
Leave us a comment below if there are any other four-year-old traveling favorites you think we should add to our list! (or something that should definitely be left off!!)
More tips for pre-schooler travel
Are you new to traveling with a toddler or preschooler, or would you like some more pointers and advice to make your first trip run smoothly? We recommend you also pop over to these pages:
- Best lightweight strollers for travel (that can even fit on the plane)
- Helping kids sleep on planes – the best airplane sleep devices
- How to survive road tripping with young kids
- Hiking with young kids – how to make it fun & essential gear to pack
- Healthy Toddler & Kids snacks for long trips
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Don’t miss our latest travel toy guides:
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