Five Top Tips for Keeping Kids Busy Abroad

#2 LEGO

A long-time favourite among little boys and girls, LEGO engages children by allowing them to build their own creations which can be easily achieved on the go. We recommend putting together a LEGO kit using a plastic tub or lunch box and challenging children to build the model before arriving at your destination. With a full range of thematic kits available from all your children’s favourite franchises—from Star Wars and DC Comics Superheroes to Angry Birds and Disney Princess—LEGO is sure to keep little ones occupied without the worry of crayon etchings on the hotel wall.

#3 Trunki

Transforming the tedious journey into a playful adventure is a great way to set your children’s imaginations running and deflect their attention from the travelling itself. A Trunki suitcase does away with the boredom of packing and travelling with a fun, original design that adds a sense of adventure to any trip. Its wheeled design also allows you to transport tired legs easily without any whining. To buy into the adventure concept further, think about creating a travelogue-style journal, such as this one for adults, asking your little traveller to jot down key events and memories from your trip.

#4 Apps

Smartphones have evolved to become every adult’s number one travel companion, allowing us to check emails, read books and magazines, listen to music and watch films from a single device that fits in our pockets. A smartphone, tablet or iPad has the same magic power over children, with a whole galaxy of apps available for children of all ages that are often not only entertaining but also educational. Favourite apps we love at The Hut include: “Leila and the Little Folk” (Shiny Monkey Games), a story-based app for older children with games and puzzles to solve to progress through the storyline; “Talking Tom”, a cute kitty who imitates what you say and responds to your touch; and “Tozzle Puzzle”, an app featuring a comprehensive range of puzzles and animations that is a huge hit among parents of toddlers.

#5 Audio Books

Travelling is famous for inducing bouts of nausea among the best of us, and that is no less true for children. Car journeys are a notorious offender, and there is no better recipe for a migraine that a queasy, unhappy child on a long car trip to your summer destination. Staring at a single screen or page often makes you feel worse, and an audiobook provides an alternative way to divert attention and keep children engrossed in a new tale. From classics such as Roald Dahl’s The BFG or Matilda to more modern tales from the Harry Potter series or The Book Thief, a good story is an easy way to grab a child’s attention.

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