Holiday Travel Gift Guide for Kids
If you're still on the hunt for the perfect stocking stuffers, travel-friendly toys, and gifts for kids, then you’re in the right place! I've pulled together a guide full of fun, practical ideas that will keep kids entertained whether you're at home or on the go. These are things we own and LOVE or things that I'm getting my own kids for Christmas this year since we'll be spending it abroad.
Don't forget to grab one of my new Travel Activity Bags to store and organize all of your new goodies. The bags come with detachable pouches, a 360 hanger, a trolley pass-through and a front pocket for essentials like snacks and diapers. You can also buy pre-filled Mix & Match Pouches to snap into your travel kit, like this Christmas themed pouch (perfect for holiday travel!)
Photo Fun for Creative Kids
I love anything that sparks creativity, and what better way than giving kids the tools to capture all the fun memories of your family adventures. Here are some photo-related gifts that will help your kids get creative with memories
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Kids Camera – These little cameras are super fun and easy to use! Let the kids snap their own pictures on family trips. You might be surprised by what catches their eye.
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Fujifilm Instax Mini – This instant film camera is such a hit. There is something so magical about watching a photo develop right in your hands, and kids are totally fascinated by it.
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HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer – Imagine printing photos straight from your phone—instant memories in your hands! We have and love the HP Sprocket, and it's been amazing for scrapbooking on the go. Alternatively, the Canon Ivy Mini Photo Printer is also popular for printing mini photos directly from your phone.
- Tiny Photo Books – I just ordered these for my kids and they're going to LOVE them! You can make your own TINY (1.7" x 1.5") photo books. They make such a unique gift that's great for little hands. Toddlers are obsessed with looking at photos of themselves and their family. The coolest part is they have a magnetic back so you can stick them to the fridge. They come in a set of 3 tiny books and have really fun cover prints. I also got my kids a couple of the Mini Photo Books, which are equally cute but slightly larger (but still pocket sized at 3.5 x2.4″). Each Mini Photo Book of 50 photos is spiral bound with a clear laminate cover for extra durability (aka kid-friendly). Comes in a set of 2!
- Mini Photo Stickers - I did not have time to get myself together to order these, but the same company also allows you to turn your fave photos into tiny stickers that kids can use to decorate just about anything. Perfect for sticker loving kiddos! There are also slightly larger 2 x 2" photo sticker sheets.
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NFC Photo Magnets - I'm getting a set of these Tap to Play photo magnets for my kids made by a local Toronto mama (shop and support small friends!) These are very unique because the customizable photo also includes an NFC tag that easily links to your favourite song on Spotify - you just tap the magnet with your phone and takes you to the song! Such a fun way to keep those adventures alive. She also makes a VERY cool Santa Tracker NFC Ornament with an NFC tag that links to the Santa Tracker website where kids can keep tabs on where Santa is in real-time.
- Go! Kids Travel Journal - This journal is perfect for capturing all the fun memories from family trips. It’s full of prompts, stickers, and space for photos. I absolutely love the design - it's colourful, engaging but clean. The publishers, Wee Society, also have some other fantastic journals for kids that would make a great gift.
Electronics That Make Your Life Easier
Electronics can make all the difference during family travel—whether it's keeping kids entertained or creating some much-needed quiet. Here are a few electronics that my kids (and I) love.
- Yoto Mini - This is one of my personal favorites. It’s a screen-free audio player for kids with cards that play stories, music, and podcasts. We don't travel anywhere without it and love it so much that I just bought a second one for my 3 year old daughter. Plus, they're having a huge Black Friday sale right now with up to 35% off everything! This is a good time to stock up on cards or take advantage of their bundle offers - I got the second Yoto Mini as part of the Harry Potter Bundle so my son will get the first 3 Harry Potter book cards.
- Make Your Own Yoto Cards - Yoto Cards provide stories, music, and activities when used with the Yoto Mini player. My fave though is the Make Your Own Yoto Cards for kids to record their own stories or songs. One of the things I'm doing for my kids is surprising each of them with a personalized card! You can get creative here and get grandparents to record reading stories, add their favourite music, or make a themed card about your travel destination.
- Kids Headband Headphones - These are fantastic because they’re soft, comfy, and stay on even if the kids fall asleep. Plus, they double as a sleep mask—perfect for long flights. Also this is the best option for toddlers who have trouble wearing and keeping traditional headphones on.
- Bluetooth Headphones - We just bought these wireless headphones, which are volume-limited for safety, come in lots of colours, and have a wired option as well.
Cool Travel Toys
We all know that keeping kids entertained during long waits or trips is the real challenge, so here are some tried-and-tested toys that do the trick and would also make excellent gifts.
- Flat 2 Fast Card Racers - Viral on Instagram this holiday season! I got two of these amazing pocket sized car racers. Just press the launcher button and watch it transform into a superfast racing cars - no batteries, remote control, or pull back needed! Super cool portable car toy.
- Mini Buddha Board – One of my 3 year old's favourite travel toys. You just need water and a paintbrush to draw without any mess. Kids love seeing their designs magically fade away as it dries.
- Loop Lasso - My son has been begging for one of these viral glow-in-the-dark string shooter toys. They look SO cool and I managed to get one during the Black Friday sale directly off their website (sold out on Amazon!). The ZipString is an alternative, but their glow-in-the-dark version doesn't release until February.
- Stickikubes - Another viral stocking stuffer this holiday season that I grabbed for my kids! These mini stacking cubes stick to anything except fabric. Kids can use them to make their own custom 2D and 3D designs. When they get dirty, you just rinse them off with soap and water and they're like new and sticky again! A fun alternative are these Crayola sticky squishy balls.
- BeyBlade X - This line of spinning top toys are ALL the rage with kids right now! My 6 year old has been dying to get one since all the "big kids" at school have them. I can confirm it's amazing and it hasn't left his hand.
- TapTap – A small, colorful, interactive toy that encourages coordination and fine motor skills. My 6 year old love the colors and the different games you can play on it.
- Lite Brite Touch – Remember the classic Lite Brite? This modern twist is just as much fun, and it’s great for road trips—compact, with no mess! One of our most played with toys on long car rides. Even toddlers will love this one.
- Guess Who? Card Game - The classic guessing game in a card format. It’s compact and perfect for travel—my kids love trying to figure out who’s who!
Beach & Outdoor Travel Essentials
If your holidays take you to warmer weather, these toys will make any beach day or outdoor play extra fun!
- Underwater Camera - This waterproof camera lets kids take amazing underwater photos. It's shockproof and easy to use, making it perfect for capturing pool or ocean fun.
- Skipball Water Beach Toy - A lightweight ball that skips across the water like a stone! Durable and perfect for fun games at the beach or pool. Great for keeping kids active during beach days or poolside afternoons.
- Kids Swim Fins - These swim fins are small and are so much fun for kids who are learning to swim or just want to play in the water. They’re comfortable and perfect for building swimming skills.
Stocking Stuffers & Practical Goodies
I’m all about gifts that are both fun and practical—something they’ll actually use every day. Here are a few little extras that I swear by!
- Stopwatch - A simple but super fun gift! I just bought one of these for my son. Kids can time themselves running, jumping, and whatever else they're doing when when they say "watch this mom". It’s great for active kids and easy to carry around.
- Dinosaur Chopsticks – If you have picky eaters, these chopsticks are a game-changer. Mealtime suddenly becomes a lot more exciting and it's easy to bring to a restaurant. They also come in other animals. My 3 year old loves these!
- Cute Mini Tongs – A simple multi-purpose item that all kids love! Great to bring to a restaurant (especially if you have picky eaters) or use for sensory play - toddlers especially love to pickup pompoms with these.
- Rainbow Pill Organizer – This colour little organizer is perfect for storing small snacks, toys, or even craft supplies. It’s practical and fun for kids to use. Alternatively, use this Genuine Fred match up memory game snack tray that you can fill with your own snacks and turn into a game. It also comes in a smaller version now.
- Pocket Microscope with Camera – I just got my kids a couple of these for Christmas! This mini handheld microscope is perfect for curious kids to use outside so they can get a closer look at leaves, bugs, or anything they find. It even takes pictures and videos.
- Handheld Mini Pocket Fan - Every single kid fights over these, so make sure you get one for each. I don't know why they're so obsessed, but these pocket fans are small, lightweight, rechargeable and double as a flashlight.
- Hand Tally Counter - My kids love using this to count steps, jumps, or just about anything! It’s such a simple but fun way for them to engage with numbers. Younger kids also just love clicking it - makes for an awesome fidget toy.
- Character Bandaids - Paw Patrol, Disney—you name it. Honestly, these bring so much comfort during those small (but dramatic) bumps and scrapes. Or give a pack to a toddler when you need to kill some time, and I guarantee it’ll be a win!
- Travel Spray Bottles - These mini spray bottles make a surprisingly fun gift for kids—they can use them to mist plants, cool off during summer adventures, or even for imaginative play, adding a little splash of fun to everyday activities.
- Rainbow Masking Tape - It’s viral for a reason! Kids will find 100 different ways to use it – decorating, crafting, babyproofing. When my daughter was one, I also used to just rip pieces off for her to take off things, which kept her entertained for a ridiculous amount of time.
- Gum - My husband recently came home with gifts for the kids, and they were both MOST excited about getting a pack of gum. Go figure. Also really helpful for ear pressure on flights!
Art On the Go
Art supplies are always a win—especially when they're mess-free! Here are a few that work great for travel or even just a quiet afternoon at home.
- Melissa & Doug Mini Sketch Pad – We always stock up on these spiral bound sketch pads when they're on sale. They’re the perfect size for doodling during road trips or flights.
- Small Colorful Blank Books - These tiny books are perfect for journaling, drawing, or sketching—my kids love having their own little books to fill and they come in a set of fun colours!
- Solar Paper Kit – If you’ve never tried solar paper, it will blow your kids’ minds! This kit lets kids create beautiful prints using the power of the sun. It’s such a fun way to blend art and science. Cool to bring along on a sunny vacation!
- Foil Fun – My kids are OBSESSED with Foil Fun (and after sharing these on Instagram, I've had so many people message me saying their kids are now obsessed as well). Foil Fun is a mess-free art kit that allows children to create vibrant, sparkling pictures by applying colorful foil sheets to adhesive foam stickers. They come in lots of different themes, but I got the Christmas themed set for our travels! This Foil Fun Christmas bundle also includes an ornament making kit.
- Color-Changing Markers – These are like magic and SO nostalgic. My kids love seeing the colors change as they draw—it adds an element of surprise every time.
- Loopy Hues Bendable Crayons - I grabbed a set of these for my kids travel art kit! They're small and bendable so they don't break. Cute and practical stocking stuffer.
- Sticker by Letter Books - We went through a phase where my 4 year old went through one of these books every week. They’re mess-free and keep kids busy for a long time. It’s also perfect for sharing—each page can be easily torn out with perforated paper. These My First Color By Sticker books are a bit easier for toddlers and we love the Christmas themed one!
- Pocket Flyers Paper Airplane Book - This book has tons of different planes to fold, and older kiddos will absolutely love seeing which one flies the furthest.
- Origami Animal Craft Set - My 6 year old just got into origami and it keeps him entertained for SO long! These Melissa & Doug sets are easy to pack and come with everything you need.
- Origami Fortune Tellers - This book is such a blast! It comes with easy instructions and bright, colorful designs so they can make their own fortune tellers.
- Usborne Magic Painting Books: These magic painting books are amaaaaazing! They're mess-free and easy to use - just add water and the colours come to life! It's kind of like a Water Wow, but a more advanced version with actual watercolour paint that appears when water is added.
- Road Tape – This tape is amazing for creating little roadways on tables or floors. It keeps the kids busy and gives them some direction (no pun intended) for their Hot Wheels and mini cars. It also doesn’t leave any sticky residue.
- Heart Shaped Dot Stickers – Dot stickers are like masking tape, there are so many ways to use them! These dot stickers come in cute rainbow heart shapes and are great for all ages.
I hope this guide has sparked some inspiration for your holiday shopping! Whether you're looking for creative travel toys or something to make those long car rides a bit more fun, there’s something here for every little adventurer. And let's be real, the best gifts are the ones that make life a little easier for parents too.
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