Best Travel Toys for Preschoolers

You are about to embark on your family's summer vacation with a preschooler in tow. What lies before you is the open road, adventure, anticipation and the inevitable "are we there yet?" whine. Determined not to let another lengthy car ride be dominated by the disgruntled dictators of the back seat, you make a decision to do something different this year. But what? You could rely on that good ol' DVD player, but there is only so much T.V. that your conscience will allow. You could play road side golf or I spy, or sing Old McDonald until you go hoarse. Or you could check out the great travel friendly, preschooler-preoccupying toys listed below. Add these to your arsenal and this year's road trip will be one to remember (or better yet, one to forget!).

Aquadoodle Flip N Doodle . This little wonder is travel sized, mess-free, fun and educational. The upper portion contains a spiral bound flip chart with creative "how-to" instructions on forming upper case letters. The pen is simply filled with water (keep your child well-hydrated to prevent the occasional "drinks" from the pen!) and the surface is easily reversible by little hands for twice the fun. If you have more than one child, it can be passed around for an impromptu game of Pictionary.

http://www.toddler-toy-yard.com/store.php/Toddlertoyyard/pd202347/Aquadoodle_Flip_n_Doodle_by_SpinMaster

Imaginetics Play Sets Whatever your child's character or area of interest, you are sure to find a play set that suits his or her fancy. These are the modern day version of a flannel board, with endless options for imagination and creativity. Keep a Dixie cup in the drink holder of your child's car seat to corral all of the pieces.

http://www.educationaltoysplanet.com/shop-by-brand-imaginetics.htm

Books on CD :. Allow fantasy and imagination to transform your car ride. Enter the world of Ellison the Elephant, Frank the Frog or Frances the Badger for several miles and watch the exits float effortlessly by. Use the story books as jumping off points for discussions on favorite foods, things that you would do if you could fly, or ways that each person is special.

http://www.amazon.com/Ellison-Elephant-Audio-Eric-Drachman/dp/0970380917
http://www.amazon.com/Frog-Thing-Audio-CD/dp/0970380933/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273428015&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Frances-Audio-Collection-Russell-Hoban/dp/006085281X )

Binoculars . These durable, kid-sized binoculars make a great travel companion for your curious preschooler. They are perfect for extreme I spy games or for those dreaded traffic jams. Slung around a neck, they create a great diversion for those picnic areas at rest stops. See how many different birds and wild life you can spot!
(http://www.amazon.com/Carson-HU-530-Hawk-Kids-Binoculars/dp/B000JQ3A7A

Zoom-O Disc Launcher . While this toy is clearly NOT intended for enclosed areas like that back seat of your minivan, it is a toy that will make your travel time so much fun. Keep it in the trunk and pull it out at rest stops (make sure to use it far away from traffic areas). Practice a bit at home to whet everyone's appetite. Encourage good car ettiquette between stops by awarding usage to the children with the best behavior.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2627308

Traveling with little ones does not have to be a hassle. With the right amount of preparation and forethought, a family car ride can be enjoyable. So, as you head out this summer, fill your car with some of the toys listed above and you might just find that the dreaded nightmare of family travel has been transformed into a dream.