What are the best travel toys for a 2 year old?
Toddlers are unpredictable; that’s why traveling with them is a challenge. You need to factor in lots of snacks, naps, and of course, toys.
But you can’t just throw your little one’s favorite playthings in a suitcase and call it a day. Instead, you need to choose toys that are transportable. That means items that are affordable, small, light-weight, and durable.
While it’s tempting to offer endless screen-time, there are many more creative (and educational!) ways for your kid to pass the time while you’re on the move. So, whether your journeying by plane, train, or car, here are some awesome travel- friendly toddler toys to choose from.
This post is part of our tried and tested products series – don’t forget to also check out our family flying advice home page
This is a guest post by Samara Kamenecka. This page contains affiliate links.
If you are travelling with a slightly younger toddler we suggest you check out our best travel toys for a 1-year-old. or for older toddlers check out terrific travel toys to pack for your 3-year-old
Best travel toys for 2-year-olds
Your toddler will love creating new friends with this easy-to-assemble felt craft kit. The 46 felt stickers, 4 background scenes, and idea book are all packaged together in one case. To get started, kids can follow step-by-step instructions and then they can let loose and create their own imaginative creatures. This toddler toy is super light-weight and fits nicely in a child-sized backpack. What’s more, it’s definitely affordable!
Mickey Mouse Magnetic Zoo is the perfect distraction for the youngest Disney fan. An attractive, durable tin with a colorful background printed inside holds 24 magnetic characters and an additional scenery card. Your toddler will enjoy manipulating magnetic Mickey and his pals all around the zoo for adventures of all kinds!
Stickers are timeless entertainment. With that in mind, it’s hard not to get excited about this vibrant activity book with over 100 stickers. Your little one will be too busy pairing the stickers with the outlined illustrations to focus on the tedious travel time. Parents will appreciate how this workbook familiarizes kids with the alphabet and a variety of animals.
The very best travel toys for toddlers are so thoroughly entertaining that children don’t realize they’re learning while they’re playing. This Hide-And-Seek Alphabet Pop Up is as much of a learning tool as a game. There are 50 buttons to push and flaps to open to reveal upper and lowercase letters and corresponding illustrations. Made from sturdy BPA-free plastic with a convenient handle, this is ideal for carrying around airports or wherever your adventure takes you.
When traveling, it’s easy to lose track of things. With the Montessori Activity Quiet Book there’s no need to worry about any missing parts or pieces because they’re all sewn together into one soft fabric book. This toy will engage young minds with its attractive colors and various activities like matching, zipping, snapping, and tying. This special busy-book is small enough to fit in a child’s backpack and it is machine washable; really, there’s no reason not to have it on hand at all times.
The BrainUp Busy Cube is like a bunch of toys all-in-one. Designed for little fingers, this sensory cube involves a spinner, sifter, gears, wooden beads, laces, a latch and a bell. The carefully constructed toy is perfect for travel because all of the moving parts are securely fastened to natural, non-toxic wood and it weighs less than one pound. Your young traveler will be engrossed in the various activities that support motor skills and focus for long stretches of time.
There’s a reason why certain classic toys, like Play-Doh, will never go out of style; the bright colors and pliable texture is simply irresistible! Travel size cans of Play-Doh fit into any bag and can be easily molded, flattened, and shaped while riding in any type of vehicle. What’s more, parents will appreciate that Play-Doh is made with non-toxic ingredients and stored in recycled containers.
Take-Along Shape Sorter by Melissa & Doug is a fun way for your little one to learn about different shapes and recognize certain everyday items. The soft case holds 9 colorful, plastic shapes and offers 2 activities (sorting and identifying pictures). With an easy-to-grip handle even the smallest hands can carry this around without any assistance at all.
A puffy sticker play set is sure to keep little hands busy while traveling. With 52 farm-themed reusable stickers and 2 barnyard background scenes, there are countless opportunities for creative storytelling and imaginative play. When your child is finished, the set closes up and can easily be stashed inside a bag or suitcase.
A soft, lightweight, activity book is a must-have travel toy. The Right at Home Quiet Book will entertain your small traveler with adorable, recognizable illustrations and words and things to manipulate on each of its 8 pages (excellent for eye-hand coordination!). The theme of “home” is comforting to young readers and the personalization on the front cover makes the book even more of a stand-out.
We’ve kept everything screen-free so far, but for those longer flights (especially on budget airlines that may not have screen back entertainment) a toddler tablet can still be a good investment. Look for something with good battery life and a durable case – and remember to pre-load your favourite toddler apps!
Just bear in mind the WHO guidelines for toddler screen time.
More tips for toddler travel
Like so many aspects of parenting, traveling with your toddler requires preparation and patience. Among other things, you’ll need to consider ways to keep your youngest traveler occupied while you’re on the move.
No doubt, there are loads of excellent travel toys; certainly, deciding what to pack can be confusing. Not all toys were created equal. The best toddler toys to play with at home might not be the best things to take on your trip.
Equally, what works great in the car, or in the close confines of flying on a plane, may not work so well outdoors. We like to pack special toddler camping toys when we’re taking a camping trip, or heading to the beach? See these tips on selecting the best toddler beach toys.
So, do yourself a favor and use our guide to help you narrow down the choices. When your kiddo is happily occupied on the longest leg of your journey, you’ll be glad you prepped ahead.
Further Reading: Don’t make these 10 Toddler Flying Mistakes that we did!
About our guest blogger
Samara Kamenecka is a VA specializing in SEO and content creation. She lives in Madrid with her boyfriend, their two kids, and their dog. When she’s not hanging with her family, she blogs over at www.tinyfry.com.
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We thank Samara for her guest contribution. Learn more about guest opportunities on the Globetrotters Blog here.
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Great post! We’ve loved most of these over the years. The lighter, the better too!
Light, not noisy and not the end of the world if it gets lost or broken!! A tough remit to fill!!!
Your blog is just so fun! Another great post!
Thanks so much, appreciate it x