How to use play to prep toddlers for your next trip

When you think about what makes a successful trip, most of us gravitate toward the planning. If only you can do enough research…book the best hotel…find the best places to eat…then everything will be perfect, right?

I think that playbook works when you’re traveling with adults, but not with kids. Take a Disney trip, for example. If you’re pulling a playbook from someone who is an annual passholder or content creator—who goes to the parks all the time by themselves—you’ll get great up-to-date information, but not necessarily what’s best for your toddler. Like, it doesn’t really matter that this snack is the *best* at Magic Kingdom if it’s a choking hazard for kids under 5. And you can’t rope drop a ride where your toddler doesn’t meet the height requirements.

What I mean is, planning only gets you so far when it comes to toddlers. What really makes a difference in how smooth your trip goes is how well you prep them. It’s one of the reasons I don’t recommend surprising kids that little with big trips—they need time to process a disruption to their routine, and the way they process it is through play.

That’s why I’m so excited to welcome Christin on Travel with Toddlers this week. She’s a speech language pathologist, military spouse, and mom of two and one of the co-founders of one of my favorite substacks, Elevate Toddler Play.

Christin from Elevate Toddler Play on Travel with Toddlers

If you haven’t tuned in to Elevate Toddler Play, it’s all about how to facilitate play with your little ones—including how to leave them alone. I found myself nodding along to this recent piece on overthinking play.

Play used to be simple. A spot on the carpet, a handful of blocks, maybe a cardboard box turned rocket ship. That’s it. That’s everything. It happened wherever we were, with whatever we had, and most importantly, with whoever was beside us.

If play feels more complicated than it used to, you’re not imagining it. I still catch myself wondering when something so natural started to feel like a chore or a checklist. Why are we overthinking this?

…The best parts of childhood (and parenthood) are right in front of us. They’re in the messy moments, the giggles, the made-up games, the slow afternoons.

Amen! Honestly, if millennials have one uniting trait, it’s overthinking. And that absolutely reflects in our parenting style…overthinking is one of the only ways to feel in control, and we’re so used to all this background noise in our heads that dropping down to the floor and being present can feel so difficult. Christin has some great tips to make play fun again, especially in service of prepping for a trip coming up:

Here’s how she approaches travel with her girls (age 6 and 2):

Tell me how your travel “styles” have changed since having kids.

“Traveling now comes with more planning, more snacks, and definitely more flexibility. I’m always looking for destinations that are toddler-friendly, with space to move and opportunities to explore at their own pace.”

What was the first trip you took after having a baby? How did it go?

“Our first trip was flying coast to coast for a friend’s wedding when my oldest was just 3 months old. Let’s just say it was humbling! I learned quickly that a backup outfit in the diaper bag should also include one for the adults. One diaper blowout taught me that the hard way.” (Editor’s note: Yup, same! 🫠)

What’s your biggest piece of travel advice for families with little ones once they’ve arrived to their destination?

“Keep your expectations low and your flexibility high. Toddlers don’t care how long the flight was or how much that museum pass cost. They’re just trying to figure out why their bed looks different and where the nearest snack is. What we think will be fun doesn’t always land the same way for them, and that’s okay.

One thing that helps us is prepping before each activity. I’ll talk to my toddler about what’s coming up next, and sometimes I’ll pull up pictures of where we’re going so it’s not a total surprise. That little bit of predictability can go a long way in keeping things smooth, or smoother, at least.”

How can you prep kids for travel with play? Tell me more about that!

“Play is such a powerful way to help toddlers make sense of travel. Before a trip, we read books about travel and do lots of pretend play around common travel scenarios.

We’ll “pack a bag” with toys, go through a pretend security line, or set up a mini airport with Little People. It sounds simple, but it helps toddlers feel more in control because they’ve had a chance to practice what’s coming in a low-pressure way. Even role-playing things like waiting in line, sitting on a plane, or walking through a new place can help the real-life version feel way less overwhelming.”

What’s going on developmentally when kids travel? I always feel like my toddler goes through a leap right after we go somewhere.

“Yes! Travel is a massive learning opportunity. New experiences naturally fuels exposure to new vocabulary. It’s not unusual to see a little language leap after a trip. They’re figuring out how to adapt, problem-solve, and communicate in a new environment, even if it’s just a weekend trip to visit family.”

Do you have any professional tips on dealing with epic travel-induced toddler meltdowns, especially in public?

“First, let’s normalize it: meltdown in the middle of the aquarium? Been there.

Screaming in the airport security line? Oh yes.

Travel can push all of a toddler’s buttons. There’s fatigue, hunger, overstimulation, being off routine…meltdowns are just part of the package sometimes. I’ve found that keeping a few comfort items—a stuffed animal or a fidget toy, for example—in a carry-on backpack, taking breaks from the noise when possible by finding a quiet spot for a reset, and narrating what’s happening to help them feel grounded can help.

And if the meltdown happens anyway? Deep breath. Offer connection and remember you’re not the only parent with a toddler melting down in public today!”

The gear Christin doesn’t leave home without…

“We always bring our sound machine. It’s part of our nighttime routine and is helpful to mask unfamiliar noises in hotels.

One thing I don’t recommend is over-packing toys. A few small open-ended ones are perfect. New environments already provide so much novelty for toddlers.”

The best place to travel with toddlers is…

“Back in 2022, we visited the Florida Keys and stayed in Marathon. It was the perfect pace for traveling with a toddler. Mornings at the beach, afternoons at the pool, and plenty of time to reset in between. That natural rhythm made it easy to work in naps and slow things down when we needed to.

If you’re planning a trip to the Keys, make sure you check out the Turtle Hospital and Crane Point Nature Center. My daughter really enjoyed both of those.”

What’s your favorite travel memory with your little ones?

“One of my favorite memories is searching for seashells on the beach with my daughter. We brought the shells home and used them to fill clear ornaments for our Christmas tree. Now each year, we pull them out and get a sweet reminder of that trip together.” 🐚

Don’t forget the playtime after a trip, too

Thank you, Christin! I LOVE the seashell ornament idea. We did something similar after a trip to St. Maarten. Each of us arranged seashells on a piece of construction paper, and I hot glued them down into a shadow box to hang on the wall. I’m creative but not crafty, which leaves my hands itching for something to do but then it’s very difficult to complete what I envision. That was simple enough it came out great!

Thanks for being here.

The holidays are, by nature, chaotic. And that’s part of the magic of them, I think. Our Thanksgiving this year was very low-key but we are planning on doing some traveling around Christmas—check out my revamped guide to visiting relatives here—and I’m starting to get excited for all the season brings.

We had our first snowstorm here in Boston this week. I thought it would never get better than baby giggles, but toddler giggles going sledding for the first time DEFINITELY top my list of favorite things.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

Kayla

If you liked this post, please consider supporting my work. I’m just a mom in the thick of the toddler years trying to create core memories for our whole family while minimizing meltdowns—I sincerely hope this helps you do the same.

This post was originally published on Travel with Toddlers. Subscribe for more real-talk travel advice, toddler-friendly itineraries, and tried-and-true gear recommendations.

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