Personal and passionate travel guides

Travel Toys by Age

Travel toys, a child playing with reusable stickers in a train

Pack Your Kid a Surprise Backpack!

For every long flight or train trip, I prepare a surprise backpack for our children with some travel toys. I add small presents like travel-sized games; toys they already have, but that fit our destination and of course some snacks. I try to make sure there is something of everything: a toy to pretend-play, a puzzle, a game and a book.

It’s very useful and appreciated for the plane, but also while travelling within our destination. Being far aways from home, it’s good for them to have something of their own and something familiar. Besides, having their own bag gives them a sense of control. 

This is what I brought on our last trip to Japan in 2024.

The Backpack of Our 18-Months Old 

CHECK HERE!

The backpack OF our 4-year old 

CHECK HERE!
  • Yoto Player Mini
    The Yoto Player is not in the upper photo, because I use a separate Susan Bijl Small Bum Bag for it with her headphones and few cards or which one was a present. We had to take a Eurostar to Paris before taking the plane to Tokyo from there. On the train I gave this bag with a snack, drink and a card game that we played on the Thalys. In this photo you see one card, because I gifted a second card for on the plane.  
  • Card game
    Not on the image, but in the Susan Bijl Bum Bag for Eurostar. We played it on the train:)
  • Maileg Mouses and some accessories

    The tiny backpacks of the mouses are filled with tiny cups, and plates, as if they are going on a trip too. We already have these items. A suitcase with more items for their trip, like pyjamas and towels incl a small present.
  • Book
    Present, but actually my old favourite children book! Was a big success!
  • Snack” raisins, fruit puree pouch, cracker and some vegan chocolate cookies
A surprise backpack full of Travel toys, carried by a little girl.

Travel Toys by Age

These are ideas for surprise backpack presents and travel toys per age. The ideas for travel toys start at 9 months old. We travelled to Vietnam and Japan with our youngest who was between 4 and 7 months – 2.5 month trip – but at that age they really don’t need much except for comfort, some buttons to push and stuff to put in their mouth. I know lots of parents are actually most worried about travelling with small babies – understandable – , but there is no need! It’s the best moment!

We don’t give our children screens while on the road – we never bring an iPad for example – but I have a great list of video games for Nintendo Switch. We personally haven’t started yet, but it looks so fun and I’m looking forward when they have the right age.

Don’t look at the age ranges for the travel toys too strictly. We know our kids best!

IDEAS Backpack / travel toys
9/mo – 2 yrs
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST IDEAS!

Toys for this age can be tricky because lots of children – mine! – just want to move and climb. What helps is to wrap these items, even in a newspaper or old magazine. Unwrapping might just be the best present.

  • Musical Book
    The sound of the aeroplane is so loud that you can actually read and listen this without bothering other people.
  • Water Wow books
    This has always been a big success and our 4 year old also enjoyed doing this.
  • A Doll / Cuddly Toy
    Help them to pretent play putting their friend to sleep, waking it up and giving it some food and water. I love this soft one, also great cuddle.
  • Reusable ‘decal’ Stickers
    Perfect if you have a window seat in the aeroplane or on the train. It also works on plastic walls and it’s useful in the apartment or in a restaurant.  
  • Big Beads
    My kid loves making necklaces. And I love watching those chubby hands working hard.
IDEAS Backpack / travel toys
2 – 5 yrs
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST IDEAS!
  • (3+) Yoto Player
    Yoto Player is the favourite toy I ever gifted our child. It’s an audio player where kids are in full control, using cards to play their favourite stories or music. Here I advise on cards per age. Kids younger than three years old, can enjoy Yoto too, but under supervision
  • Activity and puzzle activities like this or this. The brand Djeco has so much to offer!  
  • (3+) Connetix Tiles + steel box/plate to build on.

    We have these tiles, and Connetix offers free educational games on their own website. Such as letters, numbers, shapes, animals. It’s amazing.

    My almost two year old enjoys playing with magnetic tiles too, but they are rated for 3+! Just stay around as a parent.
  • (3+) Magnetic tiles mini pack + steel box/plate to build on.

    These are miniature tiles. Much lighter than the big ones. However, if you have them already at home like we do, it’s another investment.  
  • Djeco Craft
    This + Yoto stories keep my daughter quiet and occupied for hours.
  • (3+) Dollhouse puppets with few accessories
    I use Maileg. My second daughter has had a Sleep / Wake Maileg Mouse since she was 18 – months and she loves putting it to sleep in its matchbox and waking it up. I’ve recently added a Maileg potty when we went on a trip, because she started using the potty herself.
  • Lipbalm, nailpolish
    Nail polish is great amusement in the aeroplane, and the kids version doesn’t smell and washes off with just water. Again, love those chunky hands working hard and good for the development of fine motor skills, also for boys:) I let her do my hand too!
  • Drawing Tablet
    I’m pro pencils, but my daughters loves this too and it’s tiny.
IDEAS Backpack / travel toys
5 – 7 yrs 
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST IDEAS!
  • Yoto Player
    Yoto Player is the favourite toy I ever gifted our child. It’s an audio player where kids are in full control, using cards to play their favourite stories or music. Here I advise on cards per age.
  • Smart Games 
    This brand has been a life saviour on our trips! Lila played this for hours and we (sometimes) played with her. This or this!
  • Lego (Creator 3 in 1)
    Lego creator 3 in 1 is perfect for travelling. The options under 10 euros are super small and easy to bring. The other ones are bigger, but of course more work.
    Be aware that inside the packaging there is only an explanation for one creation, the rest you have to look up online. So better come prepared, because otherwise they are done very quickly.
  • (3+) Magnetic tiles mini pack + steel box/plate to build on.

    These are miniature tiles. Much lighter than the big ones. However, if you have them already at home like we do, it’s another investment.
  • Lipbalm, nailpolish etc.
    Nail polish is great amusement in the aeroplane, and the kids version doesn’t smell and washes off with just water. My five year old loves to do all of our nails.
  • Dollhouse puppets with few accessories
    I usually add a Maileg ‘suitcase’ and pack some items that we already have and mix them with a small present. But Sylvanian Family is very Japanese!
IDEAS Backpack / travel toys
8 – 12 yrs 
CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST IDEAS!
  • Yoto Player
    Yoto Player is amazing, also for kids that are a bit older. It’s an audio player where kids are in full control, using cards to play their favourite audiobooks and music. Here I advise on cards per age.
  • Kobo Clara colour E-reader for kids to read manga and comics and other books! There are different ways to get comics for older children, but reddit will be able to offer help more than me at this point.
  • Smart games 
    This brand has been a life saviour on our trips! My kid playes with this for hours and we (sometimes) played with her. Try this or this or this
  • Lego for hours of challenge on long flights or dinners. This one is cute or this dragon for the plane!
  • Tamagotchi
    Of course it’s good to buy your Tamagotchi in Japan, but it is also available worldwide and a super present to give for aeroplane and the rest of the trip! 
The best travel toy is the Yoto Player, here seen on a girl in a train
Yoto keeps this girl occupied for hours!
RECOMMENDED Cards for Yoto Player
3-12 YRS


Yoto is truly my favourite travel friend. There are hundreds of stories available and I love browsing through the options in their library.

If you are too busy or if you have other things to do: here are some of my recommended audio books for ages 3 – 12 years old.

CLICK HERE FOR HERE FOR AUDIOBOOKS!


For starters: Yoto Radio and Yoto Podcast are accessible on all Yoto Players for free and they are great fun! We listen to these together in the apartment / hotel while on the road. The music selection is nice and very family friendly.


0-12 YRS

  • Make Your Own Cards
    For anyone whose native language isn’t English, French or Spanish and for those who miss their favourite story or just want to get creative: On the Make Your Own Cards you can upload any song, story or act you like. We use these cards for our favourite Dutch and Japanese stories.

2 – 5 YRS 
  • Peppa Pig
    Personally I don’t have anything with Peppa, but I can’t ingnore the fact that both my one year old and my four year old love to listen to the stories of Peppa…
  • (3+) Peter Rabbit
    I love these stories, and since 4 years old my kid has been listening to them. This links to the whole collection, but of course you can also just go for one car.
  • The Gruffalo Collection. Both our two year old and our five year old love listening to these stories. And so good for their English.
  • Meditation cards Magical Bedtime Stories I love these cards for kids who don’t sleep easily. Listen with them, you’ll relax too.


5 – 7 YRS 

  • All Roal Dahl stories… Okay, not all are suitable for five year olds, but start with The Enormous Crocodile and The Fantastic Mr Fox!

7-12 YRS
  • Harry Potter
    I will listen to these too! My 6 year old love Harry Potter 1 and 2.
  • The Chronicles of Narnia
    34 hours of Narnia. I wish I could read / listen to these stories for the first time again myself…

  • The Classics Collection
    I can’t wait to introduce my daughters to classic literature like this. Jungle Book, The Wizard of Oz and more…
  • Wicked! Always a good idea…
  • BrainBots: Dionasaurs
    A collection of cards on the lives of dinosaurs, told from the perspective of children on a dino camp. For all proud otaku – nerd – kids, who are curious to know everything!
REcommended GAMES FOR NINTENDO SWITCH
5 – 12 YRS 

We don’t bring an iPad or such for our trips. And my own kids are too young, but I do like video games as they can be educational, entertaining and even social if you play together with your child.

I asked one of my very good friends to advise. She is a professional game illustrator and knows everything about video games. She also has two kids, and very strict screan rules. This is what she said…

CLICK HERE FOR HER THOUGHTS AND GAME TIPS

“If you feel you are ready to introduce your child to videogames, I highly recommend you to buy a Nintendo Switch. It has a portable console -for trips like Japan-, but it also has the option to play on TV or use a projector at a reasonable distance. Never play games on an iPad! That’s not real gaming and it’s super bad for their eyes. Nintendo Switch has two very easy controllers that are detachable. If you buy two more controllers you can play with four people and it’s insane.”

Marina Couso
UNDER 6 YRS 
7 – 12 YRS 
PLAY TOGETHER!