Make a little bag of on-the-go-friendly toys and other items to keep your kid busy at restaurants — no screens necessary.
Sections
4
Skills-Building
Sensory
Artsy
Just Fun
Skills-Building
I guess when you’re a little kid, technically everything is skills-building…
These stickers won’t stick to anything but the pages of the books they come with… and windows! Let your kid create a scene that can be easily cleaned up and packed away.
Reusable Sticker Books
There are lots of imitation versions out there, but these are still the best. The box makes them easy to keep track of — and they stick to the tin, too, which lowers the chances that your kid will lose them while playing with them away from home.
microMAGS 26-Piece Travel Set
My son is obsessed with turning on ALL THE LIGHTS. And then turning them off. And then back on! And repeat.
RichBoy Busy Board Montessori Sensory Toy
Let’s be real… my 2yo definitely hasn’t figured this out yet. But he has fun trying!
Wooden Lacing Apple
This is a great activity for older toddlers — and it helps them learn both colors and counting. It’s a little big for my tastes, in terms of taking it to restaurants easily, but I have friends who swear by it for keeping kids busy.
Ice Cream Magnetic Board
Sensory
Sensory toys that keep kids occupied for longer than you might expect
These little fidget “spiders” are bendy and twisty and crackly and fun.
Transformable Fidget Spinners
These slinky sensory toys keep toddlers endlessly entertained, even though I still can’t totally figure out why.
Kabvy Sensory Slug Fidget Toys for Autism
Choose your own sensory “tabs” for this magnetic board, which is just as fun at home as on the go. Because each tab is easily removable, you can also easily pop one in your purse without bringing the whole board.
These can keep slightly older toddler busy foreverrr.
Color Sorting Sensory Toys
I feel extremely nostalgic about these weird little wax sticks! Fun for “drawing” in mess-free ways — just about anywhere, but especially on restaurant tables.
Wikki Stix Reusable Wax Sticks
These tiny magnetic people stick together in all kinds of ways. Fun for travel, too.
Magnetic Travel Toys
Artsy
Mess-free artsy stuff to keep kids locked in at the restaurant table (or wherever)
Make colorful drawings that erase with the click of a button… then do it all over again!
LCD Writing Tablet for Kids
Build roads! Practice letters! Just tape random stuff together! And it’s all super easy to remove.
Colorful Masking Tape
Even easier than Water Wow!, though with slightly more pieces (aka markers) to lose. I love that the markers can’t mark up anything but this specialized paper, though.
Crayola Color Wonder Mess-Free Set
Keep one of these on hand for surprise art projects — with crayons, stickers, or whatever!
Melissa & Doug Mini-Sketch Spiral-Bound Pad
Colored painters tape is fun, but sometimes patterned washi tape hits even harder.
Mr. Pen Washi Tape Set
These crayons are so much harder to break than regular crayons.
8-Color “Baby Crayons” for Toddlers
Just Fun
Couldn’t figure out what category this stuff should go in… but it’s all good stuff!
It says it’s for kids ages 6+, but I have no real idea why. It just lights up into bright colors when you touch it. So fun for little ones!
Lite Brite Mini Touch
Kid too little for LEGOs? These are toddler-safe but just as fun — and great for their fine motor skills.
DUPLO Wild Animal Families Building Playset
Yep, plain old crazy straws. They make any meal feel like a little party — for kids AND adults!
Crazy Straws - Amazon.com
We love an attached stylus!
AYNAT FUN Magnetic Drawing Board
Monster trucks are always a hit, and these light-up versions hit even harder.
Light-Up Monster Truck Toys
Everyone knows about these by now, but they’re so great that they’ve gotta be on the list!
Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Mess-Free Coloring Books
You definitely have to supervise this activity closely, but if you do it right, you can keep your toddler invested and engaged in it for a surprisingly long time.
Melissa & Doug My First Temporary Tattoos
Any stickers will do, but my kid is especially into Elmo right now.
