Everyone loves to take a vacation and Rule #1 when planning the family vacation is “Don’t leave home without travel toys!" Backseat boredom can turn into whining, complaining and bickering faster than you can say "Are we there yet?!" so parents need to be prepared. Here are some of Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s favorite playthings to help pass the time away whether travelling by plane, train or automobile!
Often the simplest game can be the most entertaining and this can be said for Travel Hangman by Melissa and Doug. Come up with your mystery word and draw in the blanks with the included dry erase marker. As the game progresses, flip the attached wood pieces to reveal parts of the hangman and letters already guessed until a winner emerges. Because all pieces are attached, there are no game parts to misplace or clean up. Older kids can increase the difficulty by picking themes such as movies or popular phrases!
Scholastic Klutz Books are containable, take anywhere activity books. Most Klutz Books come fully loaded with all the supplies included! There are many titles to choose from so let us recommend a few that make perfect traveling companions. Klutz You vs Me is full of fun challenges for players to face off with such as seeing who can complete the maze faster or who can make the most words out of five random letters. There is also Klutz Chicken Socks Eye Find which takes the traditional game of “I Spy” up a notch by using cool searching tools to find hidden treasures in the various picture puzzles.
No travel toy list would be complete without mentioning portable puzzles such as the Classic Rubik's Cube. A more recent one that people have been excited about is the spherical maze, Perplexus. Twist, turn and manipulate the transparent sphere to will the tiny metal ball through the interior maze. There are three versions to choose from: Perplexus Rookie (ages 4+), Perplexus (ages 8+) and Perplexus Epic for those who want an ever greater challenge!
Whatever entertainment you pack for your kids, keep it light and portable. And remember, don't take any games that have lots of pieces that can be lost along the way. Happy Travels!
Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s is a member of Neighbourhood Toy Stores of Canada. Since the grand opening in 1977 Mrs. Tiggy Winkle’s has been providing quality toys for quality kids in the Ottawa area. It is a place with a sensory smorgasbord for both the young and ‘young at heart’ where all are encouraged to let imagination grow. The above recommendations are the top picks from the wonderful staff!
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