13 Games, Toys, and Snacks to Help Distract Your Kids on Trips

These “micoMAGS” are pretty much what you’d expect: smaller versions of our favorite magnetic building tiles. Each box comes with 26 pieces, and if you get a couple sets for all the kids in the family, you can really get a good build going. Going to a restaurant where you anticipate some wait time at the table? Bust these out and you’re golden. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Just add water…that’s your new motto with these reusable activity books that are great for cars, planes, or rental houses where you don’t want paints and markers everywhere. Fill the included brushes with water, hand them over to your kids, and watch as the colors hidden on each page are slowly revealed. Then just let the pages dry, and they can be used all over again. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

It happens to the best of us. We love Amazon’s Fire Kids tablets because they come with pre-curated, age-appropriate content that kids can explore freely without you needing to look over everyone’s shoulder at all times. This version is designed for kids 3-7, but they have older kids’ versions, too. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If you give a kid a tablet, they’ll probably want some headphones to go with it. (Or maybe you’re the one who prefers not to hear the same cartoon videos over and over again.) These light, wired over-ear headphones won’t exceed 85 decibels, and come in blue/green or pink/purple options. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Yes, you can absolutely play I Spy without buying anything at all, but when you’re on your last nerve after hours of snack demands, song requests, and random questions about topics you don’t remember ever learning about in school, it doesn’t hurt to have a helping hand. This deck will give the whole family specific things to search for as they look around in restaurants, airports, and beyond. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

As long as they don’t get lost in transit, these will likely become playroom favorites at home, too. Stash them away in your bag so you can pull them out and avert a crisis in the event of traffic or a plane delay. ($8.53/12-pack, Amazon)

So simple, but typically a major hit. There’s just something so satisfying about writing on the smooth surface of this little thing — and then erasing whatever you just made and starting over again. Plus, there’s a string to keep the pen attached, so it should be pretty easy to keep track of. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Just stick these to any window — or even a table — and watch as your mesmerized baby or toddler spins them on repeat. This set comes with three spinners in different animal shapes, and will even work in the bath. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Aka the only kind of puzzles we’ll take on the road with us. This set includes two 15-piece games with a farm theme, and you can build the puzzles right on the included magnetic mat. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

Sometimes, all it takes is some novelty to start a trip off on the right foot. These snack containers have the added element of fun — when your kid smacks the button in the middle, the little snack chambers move, so they can switch from puffs to berries to crackers with ease. ({{dynamicPrice}}, Amazon)

If your kids can’t get enough fruit, but your trip is long enough that packing fresh doesn’t really work, freeze-dried berries are perfect. They have no added sugar, and they’re light and crispy like chips. ($8.69, Target)

Balanced snacking can easily go out the window when you’ve been on the road all day, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, we don’t blame you for wanting snacks that have some protein, too. Unlike pure fruit pouches, these do have added sugar, but the addition of yogurt means they also have 4 grams of protein per serving. ($12.81, Amazon)

Whether you have allergies in your family, or anticipate sharing with other people on your trip, these little cookie packs make snacktime pretty easy, since they’re free of the top nine most common allergens. They also happen to be really tasty, even if you have no dietary restrictions at all. ($17.90, Amazon)