The best screen-free travel toys for babies, toddlers & preschoolers

Waiting for your food to arrive. Passing time at the doctor’s office. Counting the minutes until the plane lands. When you’re away from home with a young child, even short stretches of sitting still can feel painfully long. Having the right toys to keep your child engaged—and off screens—can make all the difference. 

That’s why Lovevery created the on-the-go Mini Kits, a new collection of screen-free, stage-based play solutions designed specifically for travel and everyday outings. They can help you make the most of those in-between moments, with travel-friendly playthings to encourage learning no matter where you go.

Here’s how to find the right kit for your child’s age and where you’re headed:

Out and about with a baby

“We’re heading out for a walk”: Floor to Stroller Mini Kit, 0m+

Your newborn’s eyesight is too underdeveloped to really take in the scenery, so give them a bold, high-contrast pattern to focus on. Clip on the Stroller Mobile for gentle chimes and movement, or slide the Simple & Complex Black & White Cards into the Stroller Card Holder. If you stop at a friend’s house, unroll the soft Roll & Go Play Mat for tummy time anywhere.

“I need my hands free”: Busy Baby Mini Kit, 3m+

Meeting a friend for coffee can mean a baby on your lap, a drink in your hand, and a conversation you’d like to finish. The Attach & Play Crossbody turns you into a wearable play space: the scarf, soft book, teether tags, and mirror clip right on, so your baby can play while you hold them, and nothing ends up on the floor.

“We’re running errands”: Grab & Go Mini Kit, 9m+

Shopping and waiting in line go a lot more smoothly when your baby has something interesting to explore that isn’t your phone 🙃 This Mini Kit gives curious hands plenty to do: press the Clicky Shapes for a pop-up surprise, spin the Color Spinner, or pull the Crinkle Tissues out of the Snack Cup and stuff them back in. The lift-the-flap ‘There It Is!’ Board Book plays on your baby’s growing understanding that hidden things still exist.

On the road and in the air

“We have a long drive ahead”: In the Car Mini Kit, 18m+

In the car, any toys you give your child should be soft and lightweight, so they don’t become a hazard in a sudden stop. That rules out a lot of favorites from home, which is why this Mini Kit is ideal for the backseat. The Drive Around Town Lap Mat folds open into a little town with peek-a-boo flaps, and the soft Drive Around Town Cars zoom along its roads. The Vroom & Zoom Slider gives restless hands satisfying clicks and a textured road to trace. A Mini Cotton Baby Doll rides along as a travel buddy, with the ‘It’s Your Day, Baby’ Activity Book to walk it through its day.

“We’re flying with a toddler”: On the Airplane Mini Kit, 18m+

Read ‘Liana’s First Flight’ in the days before your trip so the airport, the security line, and takeoff feel familiar. On board, the Real Airport Sticker Cling Book offers reusable stickers to peel and place on a tray table. The House Tour Switch Board has a quiet, lights-only mode for your seatmates, and the Stick & Pop Star is good for pushing, pulling, and popping during the descent.

When you have to wait

“Our food isn’t here yet”: At the Restaurant Mini Kit, 18m+

At a restaurant, you need playthings that are quiet, stay put on a highchair tray or tabletop, and won’t leave a mess behind. Your toddler can push and pop the Say & Smash Shape Cups alone, or you can spin the wheel together for a shape and color matching game. The Strong Hands Water Pen reveals pictures in the ‘Farm & Food’ Water Activity Book, so there are no crayons rolling under the booth. ‘Sam at the Restaurant’ shows a child their age ordering, waiting, and eating out, while ‘Farm & Food’ helps them learn where their food comes from.

“We have to wait”: Busy Toddler Mini Kit, 18m+

From standing in line to get a haircut to sitting through an oil change, everyday errands can come with a lot of waiting. The Color & Shape Lock Cube takes trial and error to unlock surprise images, and the Match & Stack Cup Board clicks satisfyingly into place. When attention runs low, sing through the ‘Play Songs’ Board Book with the Play Songs Puppet Set. Turning downtime into a conversation like this is great for building language skills. 

Away from home, or when you need a few minutes

“We’re staying somewhere that isn’t home”: Set the Scene Mini Kit, 2Y+

A hotel room or a grandparent’s guest room can feel strange at first. The Bear Habitat Storytelling Scene unzips into a small world where bears hide in a cave and catch fish under a waterfall. Add the Real Animals Sticker Cling Book and the Wooden Character Creator, and your child has a story to come back to wherever you stay.

“I need them to play independently for a while”: Let’s Go! Mini Kit, 3Y+

Some moments call for your preschooler to stay put and play on their own. The Let’s Go! Lap Desk opens into their own portable play space for drawing, character magnets, and building bricks. The Shake & Search Tube and Color Sort Magnet Maze give them more to do when they’re ready for something new.

Make the playthings last the whole trip

Novelty is a powerful draw for young children, so a plaything they only see on outings tends to hold their attention longer than one that’s been on the playroom floor all week. Keep each Mini Kit packed and ready for travel and other excursions, so it still feels new when you open it.

Once you’re settled, offer one plaything at a time. With fewer choices in front of them, children tend to play longer and more deeply with each one. Save a favorite for the last stretch, when attention starts to fade.

Find the right kit for your next outing in our on-the-go and travel Mini Kits collection. Select kits are also at Target and Walmart.

The Mini Kits

Learning through play that’s sized right for gifting or giving Lovevery a try. $50 per kit. No subscription required.

Learn more