If you are planning a trip to the Disneyland Resort, and like me you’re not from the SoCal area, then you are either looking at a lengthy plane or car ride that you’d really like to be as painless as possible! Even if your child has a good traveling track record – the worry is still there for potential meltdowns, and you want to be prepared! To gear up for my family’s fifteen-hour drive to California (with a 1-year old and 4-year old), I’ve been looking at what items to bring to entertain the kids while we’re traveling – so without further ado, here are my Top 5!

Top 5: Ways to Entertain Your Tots While Traveling

1. Watch & Play: iPad / Tablet / DVD player (all ages) 
I’ve learned that this is the ultimate way to keep your kid/s happy and quiet and entertained any ol’ time – but it’s especially helpful during travel. Before the days of tablets, we had a mini-travel DVD player, which was great (and much more affordable), but now my kids are spoiled and have a iPad Mini. They are pricey – but they can do everything: show movies and cartoons, play games, take pictures, look at books – I was even thinking for my littlest one I could record myself reading some books out loud for her to watch, so I wouldn’t have to do it over and over in the car (which can totally make me car-sick). Here’s the thing though – don’t pull this out for the kids right off the bat – let them just ride for a while, maybe nap, and entertain themselves before pulling out the big guns! Click here, here, and here for some Disney apps that we like! (I highly recommend one of these cases if you have an iPad  – kid’s have a tendency to drop, and a fall out of a car is basically the worst that can happen – this case has protected our tablet through many possible-disasters.) 

2. Draw & Color: Crayola Color & Go Travel Activity Set (older kids) OR Magnadoodle (younger kids)
Coloring is a great way to pass the time and get kid’s creative juices flowing. I love this Crayola Color & Go Travel Activity Set mostly for the hard case it comes in, which provides ease for coloring in the car. My son was drooling over it the moment he laid eyes on it. I wouldn’t give my one-year old daughter the same crayons or markers in the car, that I give my 4-year old son (who knows what kind of damage she would do), but she’s quite happy with her no-mess Magnadoodle.

3. Read & Look: Disney Read-Aloud Board Books (leveled for different ages)
My kids love books – and as long as they aren’t begging me to read to them – it’s a quiet, calm, restful but very entertaining activity that can keep the older kids happy for hours. We bought this set of 4 Disney-Pixar board books for my son before our last long road trip (when he was 2), and he loved them and they’ve since become a staple in our car. For my daughter, the smaller board books with less type are preferable, and because there are so many they can keep her occupied longer. 

4. Do [Something New]: Lacing Cards (older kids), Flash Cards (younger kids)
When we are going to be traveling for longer periods of time (probably 7+ hours for us) I get the kids something new to play with. The novelty of a new toy/book/art supply/etc. can keep them happy and entertained for quite a while. I’m thinking my daughter will love these Flash Cards (which my son loved when he was little, before we lost them), and my son will get a kick out of these Lacing Cards – I remember these from when I was young, I didn’t know they still made them!

5. Do [Something Used]: Legos (older kids) / Duplos (younger kids) & Cars (all ages)
Of course it’s a great idea to bring a well loved (and used) activity you already have at home. My kids both love playing with toy Cars while on road trips (these activities might not fare as well on an airplane), and if you had one of these trays and maybe a storage bin to contain all of the pieces, Duplos (for younger) or Legos (for older kids) would be perfect time-filling activities. 

Think that’ll be enough to keep them busy? I hope so (well that and plenty of snacks)! What works for your kids when you are traveling? We’d love to know! And wish me luck, it’s going to be a long couple of days!

 Read more from Jessica on her blog, Idahome. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, or on Instagram. This is not a sponsored post; these are just products that Jessica loves and has purchased on her own.