Screen-free ideas for little travellers

Travelling with babies and toddlers is a special kind of logistics. You’re managing snacks, naps, toileting, timing, overstimulation, and a tiny human who has very strong feelings about seatbelts. So if you’re trying to avoid or minimise screen time while travelling, you’re not “making it harder for yourself” — you’re usually just trying to keep the day calm, connected, and meltdown-lite.

This guide is a collection of genuinely workable, screen-free ideas for little travellers (especially under 4). No perfect-parent energy required. Just the stuff that tends to buy you time, regulate the vibe, and make the trip feel a little less stressful.

A guilt-free disclaimer

Minimising screen time doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. You can aim for mostly screen-free and still keep a backup plan for when the day is hard. This resource isn’t about providing constant stimulation. It’s to help you set up a few simple options that keep tiny hands busy.

Coordinate travel with nap time

If your child still naps, this is one of the highest-ROI travel tips out there. When it’s possible, try to align the middle of the flight or car leg with nap time.

It won’t always work (and you don’t need it to). But even getting one nap in transit can make the entire day feel like a different universe. Don’t forget to pack your child’s sleep comforters. We love the Riff Raff sleep toy because it plays a gentle lullaby or heartbeat noise that other travellers won’t be able to hear.

Have a special “travel only” kit

If you do one thing, do this. Create a small pouch of activities that your child doesn’t see at home and gets to unpack on the trip. The novelty is the magic — even if the items are cheap and simple.

Think: a little notebook and chunky crayons, a reusable sticker book, a water-reveal painting pad, a mini whiteboard, quiet fidgets, and Post-it notes. The key is not the item - it’s the fact that it’s special and only comes out when you’re travelling.

If you want to make it work even harder, wrap two or three items like tiny presents. The unwrapping slows everything down in a good way, and creates a little distraction in itself.

The best screen-free “time buyers” (especially in airports, cars, and planes)

There are certain activities that consistently hold attention for toddlers and preschoolers because they’re simple, tactile, and easy to succeed at.

Stickers are the undefeated champion. Kids can place them, move them, sort them, build scenes, and “decorate” tickets, cups, notebooks — all while staying quiet(ish). If you’re travelling by plane, a great trick is to use a ziplock bag or a laminated sheet as the “sticker board” so you can peel and reuse without wrecking your book.

When it comes to colouring or drawing, opt for items that can’t stain on seats, clothes – or other passengers!

We love the HeyDoodle colouring mats for a reason. They’re compact, reusable and won’t leave marks or stains. They’re also great for cafés and airports when you need a quick reset without setting up a whole activity.

Water-reveal pads (the kind where a water pen reveals colours) are another travel win: minimal mess, high engagement, and surprisingly calming.

Turn snacks into an activity

Snacks are already coming, so you may as well make them do double duty.

For toddlers, snack containers they can open and close are entertaining in themselves. You can also create a simple “sorting snack” setup: crackers in one section, berries in another, sultanas in another. The act of choosing, sorting, and eating slowly stretches time and keeps hands busy.

If your child is old enough, snacks that require a little work (peeling a mandarin, opening a lid, stirring a yoghurt pouch into a tiny bowl) can also pace the moment and provide another distraction.

A small note from the hard-earned experience department: protein and fat help. When you’re trying to avoid screens, you’re usually relying more on regulation - and a hungry toddler is not a regulated toddler.

Make books interactive

Books work best on trips when they invite participation. Lift-the-flap, touch-and-feel, “find the…” and short board books tend to land well for under 4s.

But any book can become interactive if you narrate it like a game: “Can you find the dog?” “What sound does that make?” “Show me the surprised face.”

Familiar books can be especially helpful on travel days because predictability can feel comforting when everything else is new.

Ready to travel lighter (and start your holiday sooner)?

If you’re trying to keep travel days calmer and more screen-free, reducing the overall mental load helps too (especially once you arrive). Our Travel Tots Base Package is designed to make your accommodation feel ready for little travellers from the moment you walk in.

It includes the big essentials families use every day (think portacot, pram, high chair, nappies and wipes), delivered and set up at your accommodation — so you can travel lighter, skip the stress, and spend your energy on the good bits.