The 19 Ultimate Travel Gifts for Kids Under 10

Are you planning a big road trip this holiday season? Many kids have not traveled very far by car in the past 18 months. Maybe your kids’ interests have changed since their last road trip. If you need fresh, new ideas for entertaining your little ones on a long road trip, you’ve come to the right place!

Over the years, we have driven from Missouri to California (sometimes in two days; sometimes in three), from Missouri to Florida (usually stopping overnight), and from Missouri to New York City! These trips generally include kids from newborn to teenagers, and I’ve learned a thing or two about keeping each age group busy. The busier they are with their own toys, the less they’ll bicker and bother each other!

Electronics Accessories

I know, I know… If you came to this blog post, you are probably looking for something besides electronics to entertain your kids. Every mom knows how to use a tablet or smart phone to keep kids from losing it. But if you’ll be on the road for 10 or 12 hours, you’re going to need something that does not require screens. But if you do plan to use electronics with your little ones, here are a few gift ideas that can make a difference on your next road trip.

Headphone splitter: When two or three kids want to watch the same movie or listen to the same sound track, you’ll be grateful for this three-way headphone splitter. You can carry it right on your keychain, and plug and play in two seconds. Just attach the splitter to the device, then attach up to three sets of headphones. If your headphone cords are long enough, this should work even between front and back seats! My girls still use their splitter on every road trip, and they’re teenagers! ()

Kid-sized Headphones: It’s nice for every child to have his or her own set of headphones. If your child is very young, they’ll need a different size than their siblings or parents wear. And if they have their own, you don’t have to listen to Baby Shark one million and one times on the way to Grandma’s house! The best thing about this set is that, at just $13 each, you can afford a different colored pair for each child!

Headphones with travel case: Lately, I’ve been looking for more items that come in a storage case. Inevitably, headphones and chargers end up on the floor getting trampled by the end of the trip. But this set, which is also designed to fit young kids, comes with a soft case and can be attached to another set without using a headphone splitter.

Cute power bank: One thing you find very quickly on a road trip is just how quickly those devices lose battery power! If you don’t want to constantly take the device from your daughter to charge it for an hour, consider this adorable power bank that can charge up to two devices at a time! You’ll thank me later!

Travel Gifts for Creative Kids

Kid-style Journal: If you have an elementary aged child who enjoys telling stories, or who likes to write down a daily diary, this journal will help them remember all the best parts of their journey! With thoughtful prompts and lined pages, all of her musings will be saved for posterity.  

Water wonder: I started using this product when my own kids were very young. I loved knowing that I could hand them a coloring book and not worry about them marking all over the car or the hotel room. We had a spill once in awhile when they got too aggressive with the water pen, but really, what a great product! You can also find these at Dollar Tree for much lower prices, but here is a great Amazon link.

If you prefer the Color Wonder brand items, you can find them here. These items include a marker that only shows up on the special included paper. Anywhere else (your upholstery, your child’s clothing, or Great-Aunt Suzie’s afghan) it leaves no mark! Win for Mom!

Art journal: If your child likes to draw and sketch, set them loose with this unlined sketch book. The heavy-duty paper can stand up to markers or paints, but you’ll probably only want to use crayons and colored pencils in the car. There are plenty of pages for them to fill with everything their little minds can imagine!

Twistable colored pencils: These are one of my personal favorites. Instead of having to constantly sharpen your colored pencil, you just twist it up and get back to coloring. These are not washable, but they’re perfectly useful for older children who tend to color only on the appropriate paper.

While we’re at it, I’m thinking of getting this set to share with one of my kids. A carrying case for colored pencils and drawing materials is always one of the challenges on a road trip. What do you think?

Washable markers: This has to be one of the best inventions ever! If one of your children ever ruined a precious baby blanket or Grandma’s curtains with markers, you need to buy these for the next generation! Unlike the markers we grew up with, these wash right out of any surface. Granted, you can’t get it out of that original first-printing of Pilgrim’s Progress, but at least it won’t leave a mark on the couch! I do recommend you stick to the Crayola brand, instead of less expensive knock-offs!

Window crayons: Do your kids love to make pictures in the condensation on the windows? I hate having to clean it off later! But if they’re going to draw anyway, give them these washable window crayons and let them entertain the other drivers around you. They wash off cleanly when you arrive at your destination! [Bonus: They can also be used on a shower door and washed off easily.]

Fidget cube: I don’t think kids ever outgrow these things. I’ve even been entertained by them when I had to take them away from my kids for disciplinary reasons. Many of these have very soft noises, so they won’t drive you crazy in the front seat. But if you have a kid who is always bouncing or tapping, try gifting them one of these babies. Oh, and this one comes with a carrying case, too! Woohoo!

Wikki Stix: My mom used to use these with her tactile students in one-on-one tutoring sessions. I’ve also used them with my kids and grandkids, forming the letters of their names and other designs. Kids love playing with them, and they hold up to a lot of wear and tear. With the travel container enclosed, these wax sticks can be reused over and over. I recommend using them in conjunction with the lap desk listed below, so the child can stick them in position while he’s working.

Retro video game: Once in awhile, you are ready to let your child be on electronics again, but find yourself with no wifi or cell service. Or maybe you have more children than you have electronic devices. This retro handheld video game will come to your rescue! How fun!

For all kids

• Lap Desk – Whether your kids are watching movies on the Ipad, drawing with their Color Wonder set, or eating snacks, you’ll be surprised what a game changer this lap desk is. Many of the lap desks for kids are designed for home use on a hard surface. But this one has a strap to go around the child or the car seat, to keep it from slipping off his lap. Additionally, it is made of soft materials to prevent injury in case of an accident. I like this particular lap desk because it folds flat for carrying. Your child will love finding something special to put in every one of the pockets!

Kids sunglasses: These polarized lenses come in an unbreakable rubber frame. The included travel case will keep them from getting scratched if you have to throw them in the diaper bag. As long as you can keep track of where you put them, you’ll never have to replace these sunglasses! Your child’s eyes will thank you!

Weighted blanket: One of my adult kids recommended this for his own Christmas list, and I thought it belonged here, as well. Some kids are tougher to get to sleep in the car than others. But it’s often easier to leave home at bedtime and drive through the night, arriving at your destination just a few hours into your child’s day. The driver gets no sleep, but it is worth it, with this weighted blanket snuggling your child in the backseat!

Travel thermos: Let your child be in charge of his own hydration with this Funtainer insulated thermos, available in sooo many colors and designs. You can also get a matching container for snacks, and they both fit the cupholders on most car seats or door pockets. I recently bought these for my 16 grandkids, and the moms were very excited! These are pretty much leakproof, in my experience, and are also dishwasher safe. WIN!