Keeping children entertained while travelling is one of the biggest challenges for families – especially during flights, long waits, restaurants, road trips and hotel downtime. Large toys take up too much luggage space, noisy toys quickly become overwhelming, and too many loose pieces means they end up disappearing under aeroplane seats within minutes.

That’s why travel playsets are one of the best travel toys for children. The best ones are compact, portable, easy to pack away and designed with built-in storage or carry cases.

This guide rounds up some of the best travel playsets for kids, including compact doll worlds, Pokémon carry cases, portable vehicle sets, wooden travel toys and fold-away roleplay kits.

What Makes A Good Travel Playset For Kids?

Not every toy works well for travel. The best travel playsets usually have:

• Built-in storage
• Minimal small or fiddly pieces
• Strong carry handles or compact cases
• Quiet play
• Open-ended imaginative play
• Enough variety to hold attention for longer periods
• Easy hotel-room cleanup
• No batteries or loud sounds
• Completely close up to transport loose parts safely

For neurodivergent children especially, portable worlds and predictable repetitive play can help with regulation during stressful travel days.

Polly Pocket Travel Playsets

Polly Pocket remains one of the best travel toy brands ever made. The compact folding cases make them ideal for planes, cruises, restaurants and hotel rooms. Most sets close completely shut, making cleanup quick and reducing lost pieces.

Polly Pocket Kitty Airways Playset

The Polly Pocket Kitty Airways Playset is especially fun for travel-loving children because it has an airport and airplane theme. The compact opens into a mini airport adventure world with tiny accessories and hidden features.

This one works particularly well before flights because children can roleplay airport routines and flying.

Other Great Polly Pocket Travel Sets

If you click the links below, it will take you to the page for this playset on eBay.

Specific Interest Polly Pocket Travel Playsets

• Scooby Doo x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Spongebob Square Pants x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Care Bears x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Elf (the movie) x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Blueberry Besties x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Stranger Things x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Minions x Polly Pocket Collab Playset
• Pokémon x Polly Pocket Collab Playset

Why Polly Pocket Works Well For Travel

• Extremely compact
• Easy to fit into backpacks
• Quiet sensory-friendly play
• Great for imaginative children
• Lots of replay value
• Helps fill waiting periods without screens

Pokémon Carry Case Playsets

Pokémon travel toys are surprisingly good for portable imaginative play because many of the sets fold up into small carry cases.

Children can transport Pokémon figures, create mini battle scenes and store everything neatly inside.

Pokémon Carry Case Playsets To Look For

• Pokémon Carry Case Battle Ruins Playset
• Pokémon Clip ‘N’ Go Carry Case
• Pokémon Beach Battle Carry Case Playset
• Pokémon Fold-Out Battle Arena
• Pokémon Centre Play & Store Set
• Pokémon Squish-A-Longs Pokémon Centre Playset
• Pokémon Polly Pocket Playset

Pokémon Backpack Playset

The Pokémon Backpack Playset combines storage with roleplay. Children can carry their Pokémon figures around inside the backpack and then open it into a battle or adventure scene. There are three versions of the backpack playset: beach battle, battle ruins and a standard playset. Each one is a different colour and can be either red, blue or green.

This style works well for airports because kids can carry it independently.

Why Pokémon Playsets Work For Travel

• Figure storage included
• Great for children already obsessed with Pokémon
• Encourages solo imaginative play
• Easy to reopen during long waits
• Good for hotel downtime

Minecraft Travel Playsets For Kids

Minecraft playsets are ideal for children who enjoy building, collecting and familiar game worlds.

Minecraft Diamond Mine Playset

This compact set folds open into a mini Minecraft mine scene with figures, blocks and accessories.

Minecraft Diamond Mine Playset on eBay

Minecraft Turtle Carry Playset

The Minecraft Turtle playset doubles as a carry case and storage box.

Minecraft Turtle Carry Playset on eBay

Minecraft Panda Carry Case

The Panda version works similarly, opening into a themed Minecraft environment while storing pieces inside.

Minecraft Panda Carry Playset on eBay

Why Minecraft Travel Sets Work Well

• Familiar game world
• Compact storage
• Great for Minecraft fans who struggle with transitions
• Encourages storytelling and creative play
• Less messy than building bricks while travelling

Melissa & Doug Take-Along Play Sets

Melissa & Doug make some of the best quiet travel toys for younger children.

Many of their sets use wooden pieces and fold-out boards that store everything inside.

Melissa & Doug Take-Along Farm

This set includes roads, buildings, animals and vehicles that pack neatly into a wooden carry case.

Melissa & Doug Take-Along Farm on eBay

Melissa & Doug Tote & Tour Pet Travel Play Set

A brilliant roleplay option for children who love animals and pretend play.

Melissa & Doug Tote & Tour Pet Travel Play Set on eBay

Other Melissa & Doug Travel Playsets

• Let’s Explore Hiking Travel Playset

Why Melissa & Doug Works Well For Travel

• Durable wooden construction
• Less overstimulating than electronic toys
• Great for younger children
• Encourages calm repetitive play
• Easy cleanup

Orange Tree Carry-Along Playsets

Orange Tree Toys make beautifully designed wooden travel playsets that feel calmer and less visually overwhelming than many plastic toys.

Orange Tree Fairy House Play Set

A portable fairy-themed set with wooden characters and accessories stored inside the carry case.

Orange Tree Toys Fairy House Playset on eBay

Orange Tree Toys Wooden Camping Play Set

Perfect for children excited about caravans, camping or outdoor adventures.

Orange Tree Toys Camping Playset on eBay

Other Orange Tree Playsets

• Orange Tree Toys Zoo Playset
• Orange Tree Toys Farm Playset
• Orange Tree Toys Peter Rabbit Playset
• Orange Tree Toys Adventure Playset

Why These Work Well For Travel

• Lightweight wooden pieces
• Portable carry cases
• Gentle imaginative play
• Aesthetic and calming design
• Ideal for quieter hotel play

Peppa Pig Travel Playsets For Kids

These sets work especially well for toddlers and preschoolers who prefer familiar TV or character worlds.

Hasbro Peppa Pig Carry Along Playset

A fold-out Peppa Pig world with built-in storage and easy-open design for younger children.

Peppa Pig Carry Along Playset on eBay

More Peppa Pig Carry Along Playsets

• Peppa Pig Caravan Playset
• Peppa Pig Ice-cream Shop Fold Up Playset
• Peppa Pig Pop-open Playgroup Set

Why Peppa Pig Carry Cases Work Well

• Familiar characters reduce stress
• Recognisable globally by kids of similar ages

LEGO Cube Sets

LEGO Cube Sets are one of the smartest LEGO options for travel because they are specifically designed to store the pieces inside the cube itself. Unlike larger LEGO kits that scatter bricks everywhere, these compact sets are much easier to manage on planes, in hotel rooms or during restaurant waits.

Many of the older LEGO Friends Cubes were themed around different activities, animals or hobbies, with tiny builds and mini-dolls packed inside colourful carry cases.

Popular LEGO Cube Sets

• LEGO Friends Emma’s Dalmation Cube
• LEGO Friends Olivia’s Jungle Cube
• LEGO Friends Mia’s Soccer Cube
• LEGO Friends Olivia’s Summer Play Cube
• LEGO Friends Stephanie’s Cat Cube
• LEGO Friends Andrea’s Shopping Cube
• LEGO Friends Andrea’s Bunny Cube

Why LEGO Cube Sets Work Well For Travel

• Built-in storage reduces lost bricks
• Compact enough for backpacks and hand luggage
• Good for children who enjoy repetitive building play
• Great for hotel downtime
• Quiet screen-free entertainment
• Easier cleanup than standard LEGO sets

If your child loves LEGO but travelling with large sets feels impossible, cube-style LEGO sets are a much more realistic option for flights, cruises and road trips. We love to carry them inside a little travel pouch. That means if we pick up any LEGO on our travels, the kids can store it with their LEGO Cube and add to their play collection.

Carry-Along Sets for Preschool Aged Kids

Li’l Woodzeez Travel Suitcase Classroom Playset

This set turns a suitcase into a tiny classroom world with miniature animal figures and furniture.

Li’l Woodzeez Travel Suitcase Classroom Playset on eBay

Hello Kitty Bring Along Bestie Travel Case Set

Compact and very portable, this set is ideal for children who enjoy smaller doll-style worlds.

Hello Kitty Bring Along Bestie Travel Case Set on eBay

Why Preschool Carry Cases Work Well

• Familiar characters reduce stress
• Easier independent play
• Smaller pieces but contained storage
• Good for restaurants and waiting rooms

Disney Pack-Away Travel Playsets For Kids

Disney-themed portable toys are ideal for children who love princesses, castles and familiar film worlds.

Fisher-Price Disney Princess Cinderella On-the-Go Toddler Playset

Designed for younger children, this compact opens into a mini Cinderella-themed world with figures and accessories.

Fisher-Price Disney Princess Cinderella On-the-Go Toddler Playset on eBay

Why Disney Travel Playsets For Kids Work Well

• Familiar comforting characters
• Compact folding design
• Good for toddlers and preschoolers
• Great distraction during flights

Cars, Trucks and Vehicle Travel Playsets For Kids

Vehicle-themed travel toys are often some of the easiest to use while travelling because children can play with them almost anywhere.

CAT Little Machines Store N Go Playset

This construction-themed set stores miniature vehicles inside a portable case.

CAT Little Machines Store N Go Playset on eBay

Teamsterz Metro City Packaway Wheel Set with Car

A fold-away race and road playset designed for compact storage.

Teamsterz Metro City Packaway Wheel Set with Car on eBay

Bigjigs Toys Travel Playset

Bigjigs makes several portable wooden transport and town-themed travel toys that fold into carry cases.

Bigjigs Toys Travel Playset on eBay

Why Vehicle Sets Work Well

• Great for repetitive play
• Easy to use on tray tables
• Good for autistic children who enjoy vehicle interests
• Compact enough for carry-on luggage

Portable Roleplay Travel Playsets For Kids

Roleplay sets can be brilliant for children who regulate through pretend routines.

Taylor & Brown Kids Role Play Kitchen Set

This fold-away kitchen playset allows children to create pretend cooking scenarios while travelling.

Taylor & Brown Kids Role Play Kitchen Set on eBay

Why Portable Roleplay Toys Work Well

• Encourages independent play
• Helpful for children who rehearse routines
• Great for hotels and holiday apartments
• Keeps children engaged longer than passive toys

Paw Patrol Portable Playsets

Paw Patrol Wooden Carry Along Control Tower Playset With 8 Wooden Pups

This is one of the better portable Paw Patrol sets because the wooden figures are durable and the whole tower folds into a carry case.

Paw Patrol Wooden Carry Along Control Tower Playset With 8 Wooden Pups on eBay

Why Paw Patrol Travel Playsets For Kids Work Well

• Familiar rescue themes
• Strong replay value
• Easy for younger children
• Durable wooden pieces

The best travel playsets are the ones that reduce stress rather than create more mess and overstimulation. Compact carry cases, fold-away worlds and built-in storage make a huge difference when you are travelling with children.

For flights, cruises, ferries, restaurants and hotel downtime, smaller contained play worlds often work far better than large toys or bulky activity sets.

And honestly? The best travel toys are usually the ones your child already loves at home – just in a version that zips shut before boarding the plane.

Continue Planning Your Next Adventure With Kids

• Our favourite sensory toys for autistic children
• Travel toys for babies aged 6m to 18m
• Travel toys for autistic children
• Travelling with a Nintendo Switch
• Using the Yoto Mini while travelling
• The best travel card for the Yoto player

Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children

• Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
• Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
• Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
• Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
• Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children
• Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
• Still in need of some travel-friendly sensory toys? Check out some of our favourite sensory toys
• Travelling with a baby? Here are some of my favourite baby travel toys

Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides

You can click on each image to go directly to the guide for that topic.

The post Best Travel Playsets For Kids (That Kids Actually Love) appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.

I am going to introduce you to some sensory toys that we have fallen in love with – these will be a bit different than the typical toys that you can find in high-street stores and I am intending to make the post this way because you probably have a lot of those ones that are easy to find already.

The toys I am about to show you are a bit more unique and so far my personal opinion is that the quality of these toys I am about to list is absolutely incredible!

The “Nice Cube” by Nee Doh

As a newly diagnosed autistic adult, I think this is one of the best sensory toys I have ever come across. This is incredible quality, you can squish, pull, push, stamp on this thing and it will still go back into the shape of a cube! It is really nice to squish and so far all of my kids have also loved it.

Click here to buy the Nice Cube on eBay.

The Fidget Bolt

The Fidget Bolt is an incredible little invention – that can provide numerous types of sensory input for both adults and children. I love that there are multiple colours – and if you have more than one you can switch the pieces up to mix the colours.

Click here to buy the Fidget Bolt on TikTok.

Groovy Fruit by Nee Doh

We also love the Groovy Fruit trio by Nee Doh – three small fruit shaped squishies that can be squeezed and stretched even by tiny hands.

Click here to but the Groovy Fruit trio on eBay.

Stretchy Noodles

The stretchy noodles have been a huge hit in our house – even though there are enough in the pack to go around all three of my kids they still end up fighting over them. The noodles as wobbly and stretchy and can be wrapped, tied, pung and stretched for fun.

Click here to buy stretchy noodles on eBay.

Aroma Dough

These playdough-like pouches give an extra kick for the senses by adding aroma to them. Each pouch has a different purpose which and the aroma added to it is intended to help with something – such an anxiety or focus. I love that the dough in in pouches – making it transportable!

Click here to buy Aroma Dough on eBay.

Silicone Sensory Activity Board

This board is so cool! It is a silicone sheet with raised ridges and dots, with silicone worms to squish into the ridge-gaps. You can use the worms to design your own pictures or words or just squish them in wherever you feel like it.

Click here to buy the silicone sensory activity board on eBay.

Fidget Buzzing Magnets

These magnets were something I loved as a kid! You can just move them and spin them in cool ways without dropping them because they’re drawn to each other (obviously, being magnets). We have a pack with a few in it, but the eBay link is just two.

Click here to buy fidget buzzing magnets on eBay.

Magnet Men

My kids absolutely love anything with magnets. We love these magnet men because you can do so much with them and they really don’t take up much space at all if you want to bring them somewhere. I may have to do a whole article on the magnet toys we have because we have lots of different types!

Click here to buy magnet men on eBay.

Bouncy Putty

This is an ideal little kit for travelling. It is so small but offers four colours of putty to play with. Squish, roll, twist, bend… The possibilities are endless with putty.

Click here to buy bouncy putty on eBay.

Take a look at these clear pouches we use to store our toys in at home and for travelling.

Do you recommend any other sensory toys that aren’t well-known already?

The post Our Absolute Favourite Sensory Toys appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.

Why Families Who Travel, Especially with Autistic Children, Need a Yoto Mini

Traveling with young children, particularly those on the autism spectrum, presents unique challenges and opportunities. Keeping them entertained, comfortable, and engaged during the journey is crucial for a smooth trip. One of the best travel companions for such families is the Yoto Mini. Compact, versatile, and loaded with features, the Yoto Mini offers numerous benefits that make it an essential item for family travel. Here’s why families who like to travel, especially those with autistic children, should consider bringing a Yoto Mini along on their adventures.

Click here to buy your own Yoto player direct from Yoto, using my referral link. This link will give you 10% off your first purchase, which has to be over £59.99 which is the cost of a Yoto Mini Player. Alternatively, you can click through to this shoppable video I made for TikTok and purchase it there.

1. Small and Portable

Portability is a top priority when traveling with kids. I always talk about travelling with kids being so hard when they can’t carry a proper backpack themselves, so parents are responsible for carrying everything in their backpacks or handbags. I really love this plain black tote bag for travelling with my kids because its sectioned out and so easy to access.

The Yoto Mini excels in the area of portability with its compact size and lightweight design. It easily fits into carry-on luggage, backpacks, or even a changing bag, making it perfect for on-the-go use. This portability ensures that you can keep your child entertained without lugging around heavy or bulky devices. Whether you’re on a plane, in a car, or waiting in a terminal, the Yoto Mini is a convenient travel companion that doesn’t add to your load.

2. Alternative to Screen Time

One of the biggest challenges during travel is managing screen time. While tablets and smartphones are handy, excessive screen time can be overstimulating and can lead to meltdowns, especially for children with autism. The Yoto Mini provides a screen-free alternative that keeps children engaged without the need for visual stimulation. By listening to stories, music, and educational content, children can enjoy a more soothing and less overstimulating experience. This can help in maintaining a calmer environment, which is particularly beneficial for autistic children who might be sensitive to screens.

3. Doesn’t Require Wi-Fi or Internet

Connectivity issues can be a major hassle when traveling, especially when relying on Wi-Fi or mobile data to keep devices running. The Yoto Mini stands out because it doesn’t require Wi-Fi or internet to play content. Once the content is downloaded onto the device or through the Yoto cards, it’s available offline. This feature is incredibly useful during flights, road trips, or when you’re in areas with poor connectivity. You can rest assured that your child will have access to their favourite stories and music regardless of your location.

I will add a shoppable video as soon as possible for the card holder we use when we travel with Yoto cards.

The stories and music are stored on cards which are the same size as a credit card and be easily stored in a credit card holder.

4. Unlimited Stories and Custom Content

The Yoto Mini offers an extensive library of stories, songs, and educational content. Yoto continually releases new cards, ensuring that there’s always something new and exciting for your child to explore. You can find all of your favourites: Disney, Enid Blyton, Paw Patrol and so much more.

Moreover, the device allows you to create and upload your own content, providing unlimited possibilities for customization. You can record personalized messages, stories, or even educational content tailored to your child’s interests and needs. This feature is especially beneficial for children with autism, as familiar voices and stories can provide comfort and reassurance during travel. I love the idea of getting grandparents to record stories for my children, and having them for years and years to come.

5. White Noise for Overnight Use

Traveling can disrupt a child’s sleep routine, which can be particularly challenging for autistic children who thrive on consistency. The Yoto Mini can also function as a white noise machine, playing soothing sounds on a loop to help your child sleep. Whether it’s the hum of white noise, the gentle sound of ocean waves, or a favourite lullaby, the Yoto Mini can create a calming bedtime environment even in unfamiliar settings. This feature is invaluable for ensuring your child gets the rest they need, making for a more enjoyable trip for everyone.

There are cards you can buy with these sounds, but if you have internet then you can play them by using the Yoto app the project out to the speaker. By using the app you will have access to these sounds for free, and you can loop things to play on repeat.

6. Perfect for Homeschooling

The Yoto Mini isn’t just a travel essential; it’s also a fantastic tool for homeschooling. This compact device can transform educational content into engaging auditory experiences, making learning more accessible and enjoyable for young children, especially those on the autism spectrum. Parents can utilize a vast array of educational cards available from Yoto, including stories, language lessons, and music, to create a rich, varied curriculum. Some of our favourites are the Blue Planet, Green Planet and Frozen Planet series which includes three cards full of educational content.

Additionally, the ability to upload custom content means you can tailor lessons to your child’s specific interests and learning pace, ensuring they remain engaged and motivated. I have created a number of playlists using free audio from all corners of the internet, making a huge and varied library for Travis to use during homeschooling lessons. The Yoto Mini’s portability means learning can happen anywhere, turning travel time into productive educational sessions.

Click here to buy your own Yoto player direct from Yoto, using my referral link. This link will give you 10% off your first purchase, which has to be over £59.99 which is the cost of a Yoto Mini Player. Alternatively, you can click through to this shoppable video I made for TikTok and purchase it there.

We Prefer the Yoto Mini for Travel

While both the Yoto Mini and the regular Yoto Player are excellent devices, the Yoto Mini is particularly well-suited for travel due to its smaller size and enhanced portability. The regular Yoto Player is a fantastic option for home use, offering a larger speaker and additional features. However, for families on the move, the Yoto Mini’s compact design and robust feature set make it the ideal choice. It’s easy to carry, simple to use, and provides all the functionality you need to keep your child entertained and calm during travel.

There is also a travel case available for the Yoto Mini – a great option if you want to protect it from the elements. I haven’t got one of these, and just keep it in my backpack or handbag and sometimes use the handle on the Yoto Mini jacket to hand it from the stroller or car seat.

Additional Benefits for Traveling with a Yoto Mini and Autistic Children

Consistency and Routine: Autistic children often find comfort in routine and familiar activities. The Yoto Mini can be integrated into your child’s travel routine, providing a consistent source of entertainment and comfort.

Customizable Content: Create custom cards with personalized stories, messages, or favourite songs. Familiar voices and personalized content can be particularly soothing for autistic children. Our Machine Gun Kelly card is our most-used card, it has probably been used hundreds of times more than any other card.

Engaging and Educational: The Yoto Mini offers a wide range of educational content that can keep your child engaged and learning, even while on the go. This can include stories, music, and even language lessons. There are also fun games cards, such as recognising the flag of a country.

Sensory-Friendly: Unlike screens, which can become overwhelming, the Yoto Mini provides auditory stimulation that can be easier for some autistic children to process. The tactile experience of handling the cards and the device itself can also be a positive sensory activity. I’ve also found that the Yoto player is a good wind-down activity when bed time has come and gone but the kids aren’t quite falling asleep yet.

Parental Control: The Yoto Mini allows parents to control what content is available to their children, ensuring that it’s appropriate and beneficial. This control can be particularly important for autistic children who may be more sensitive to certain types of content, and who aren’t as aware of what is appropriate for their age or not.

Click here to buy your own Yoto player direct from Yoto, using my referral link. This link will give you 10% off your first purchase, which has to be over £59.99 which is the cost of a Yoto Mini Player. Alternatively, you can click through to this shoppable video I made for TikTok and purchase it there.

If you prefer, you can also purchase the Yoto via TikTok. Here is a link to a recent video I did about it. The video is about a new cable that was released, but the Yoto player is still linked for people to be able to buy it:

Yoto Mini new cable + voucher

5 reasons you need a yoto mini

You’ll either buy from my @themeldrumsworld account or you may be taken to my @moustashiio account – either way I wanted to be clear that they are both run by me. Which one you end up on doesn’t matter, it’s all the same!

For families who love to travel, especially those with autistic children, the Yoto Mini is an invaluable tool.

Its compact size, screen-free entertainment, offline capabilities, extensive content library, and additional features like white noise playback make it the perfect travel companion. While the regular Yoto Player is also a great option, the Yoto Mini’s enhanced portability makes it particularly well-suited for life on the go.

By incorporating the Yoto Mini into your travel plans, you can create a more enjoyable, engaging, and soothing travel experience for your child. Whether you’re embarking on a long-haul flight, a road trip, or a simple weekend getaway, the Yoto Mini ensures that your child has access to familiar, comforting, and educational content every step of the way.

Happy travels and happy listening!

Interested in what other toys to bring when travelling with an autistic child? Read here.

Continue Planning Your Trip With Autistic Children

• Find out about the help available if you are travelling through an airport
• Discover whether a cruise with an autistic child would work for your family
• Find out how to make travelling with ADHD manageable
• Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard
• Check out guides to all of the different destinations we have travelled to with autistic children
• Learn step-by-step how to set up the accessibility feature on Google maps
• Learn more about our favourite sensory toys for travelling
• Discover an app that helps you locate a playground anywhere in the world
• Always alerted at the last minute that the little one needs a toilet? Find a toilet anywhere with this app

Continue Planning Your Accessible Trip With My Guides

You can click on each image to go directly to the guide for that topic.

The post Yoto Mini as an essential for family travellers appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.

It isn’t easy to travel with children, and it’s especially not easy to be travelling with an autistic child. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: toys are an ESSENTIAL when travelling with kids.

I’ve been travelling with autistic children for over 6 years now, and we have been to 33 countries so far. I’ve been through my fair share of travel toys and figured out some clear winners for travelling with an autistic child. Here are my top 10!

Just to note, this is a general list of our top 10 travel toys for autistic children, it isn’t specific to a certain type of trip so you may find that some of them just wouldn’t make sense in certain situations. They are also in no specific order. Number 1 doesn’t mean it’s the best toy available. It’s simply the top 10 but numbered at random.

1. Stamp rocket

2. Pop toys

I have no idea what the real name of these toys is, but the fighter poppers are a great addition to a travel bag for an autistic child. We keep some in our car so they always have access to them.

This exact pop toy is not on TikTok shop but I’ve made a video of another we have which is just a plain square one and I have linked to the store on TikTok to buy it:

Fidget pop toy

Keep in mind that I run two TikTok stores so you may be directed to my travel @themeldrumsworld account or you may be taken to my @moustashiio account.

The silicone toy has many semi-circular areas to push through to one side and then push back through. Again, it can be repetitive, which can be soothing, but they can also provide an opportunity to keep the hands busy. We often use them to count, teach math and teach our baby girl about taking turns.

The biggest selling point about these is they’re small, light and colourful so they’re easy to pack and to find in a travel backpack. They are a pretty obvious choice for travelling with a child with autism because they are designed for that exact purpose.

3. Magnetic fishing games

There are a number of different styles of magnetic fishing games, but the idea is the same for them all: You have a rod with a swinging magnet and you have to catch a fish with a metal blob in it.

This exact model is not on TikTok shop as it specifically came from the Flying Tiger store. However, the wooden fish and rods are almost identical to the ones on TikTok so I will soon get a video of them with a TikTok shop link to buy them.

This game works on coordination and turn-taking and it can be repetitive if you want it to be. Our youngest son likes to tell people what to catch but also replaces the fish every single time it is caught rather than each person collecting the things they caught by making a pile beside them.

We got our travel fishing game in Flying Tiger Copenhagen, the chain store, but in their shop in Amsterdam. They come in a protective tin, which helps keep them safe from damage and dirt – very handy when travelling with an autistic child.

4. Nintendo Switch + games

This is not so much a toy, but it definitely gets played with. Games are often a special interest with autism and they are very engaging and move quickly, so they are really good to keep an ADHD brain focused too. My oldest son has a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

The Nintendo Switch can download games, making it good for when your autistic child is desperate for a change (and there is a way to find free games on the switch, too). But the best part of the Nintendo Switch for travelling is that it works with gaming cards that you put into the console, and they require no access to the internet to work.

We have found there are a few games our youngest autistic son can also play that aren’t too complicated. He likes hole.io and a fruit shooting game that requires matching and aligning fruits to merge them.

5. Magnetic cubes

We use a specific brand called Magicubes and have a few different sets. We usually just travel with a set in each backpack of the youngest of our two children. Our 3.5 year old son, Luke, has a Paw Patrol set. Each side of the side has part of a character from Paw Patrol on it and you can connect them up using the magnet to complete the character. When one character is complete, there are still some that are messed up so it encourages the child to try the next one and therefore provides hours of fun. The fact it can be pulled apart and redone over and over is helpful for travelling with an autistic child because they often favour repetitive toys. The cubes are a good size even for babies to hold and because they aren’t tiny they aren’t easy to lose. Our little girl, Sylvie who is 1yr old has an ocean animal set. Again it is three cubes with numerous animal parts on it that you have to connect up to create one whole animal.

I have done a TikTok video with the MagiCubes – I need to do more for sure as we have multiple sets. The one in the picture to the left is linked in the video and is the ocean animals set.

Make sure to access it via mobile or the shoppable links won’t work.

Just to say, I have two TikTok affiliate shops – so you may go to a link on my @themeldrumsworld account or you may be taken to my @moustashiio account.

I will try to add video of the other sets of MagiCubes we have as soon as possible.

6. Water painting cards

The trick with these cards is that you have a hollow pen that you simply add water to. When using the pen on the cards the water makes the cards change colour to reveal the pictures on the cards. After a while the cards dry back out and the pictures disappear again, making them reusable!

My youngest autistic son particularly enjoys these cards because they have numbers and letters on them, which are one of his special interests. I like them because they are portable for travelling with an autistic child, and at worst all that can happen is a spillage of a small amount of water.

I will get a video and link for TikTok shop for these as soon as possible!

7. Rubik’s cubes

These are specific to my oldest autistic child who absolutely loves Rubiks cubes. He has an entire collection of them at home so it is always a nice idea to bring one in his travel bag. With any child in mind, they can provide hours of fun and challenges – it might be worth looking into some tricks on how to solve them or using one of the Rubiks solving apps to help!

8. Yoto player

The Yoto player is perfect for a child of any age, because you can really tailor it to suit any interest. It is a speaker which plays any story cards which are inserted into it. The cards available aren’t all just stories – there are music and games cards too. I have a little bit of an obsession on collecting cards for the kids and so we have a whole range of them!

Click here to buy your own Yoto player using my referral link. This link will give you 10% off your first purchase, which has to be over £59.99 which is the cost of a Yoto Mini Player.

I personally think that the Yoto is an absolute essential for travelling with an autistic child because it offers so many features that can help with different aspects of managing their day such as: providing routine by using the Yoto the same as they would at home, being able to listen to any stories they like as often as they want, being able to download and make cards tailored to their specific interests, it can be used in times of sensory overwhelm and especially it is helpful with a headset to turn off to the world, to play music they find relaxing or stimulating and also for white noise or lullabies at night to help with routing and drowning out unfamiliar sounds.

9. Dinosaur cups

These cups are fantastic for anyone travelling with an autistic child who likes water play! But you can be inventive and use them for other games – like colour matching and sorting games while travelling. The stackable cups have small holes in them to let water filter out of the bottom. Our kids have used them at the pool and in shower.

These are unavailable now on Amazon and I can’t find the same ones on TikTok, but I plan to do a video soon with similar ones I’ve found.

In this picture, the blue ladle looking thing and the green one are the stacking water play cups.

10. Suction animals, numbers or men

These were by far the most-used toy on our trip to Egypt. I took our number suction toys set and two suction buddies. They can suction to glossy surfaces like the shower floor, wooden floors, cabinets and glass. My kids enjoy pulling them off and pushing them back on but also using them for matching games, colour matching, math games and more stereotypical autistic fun like making huge lines or splitting them by colour or animal type.

I have done a few videos of these toys now. I will link them below. Just to mention, I have two TikTok affiliate shops – so you may go to a link on my @themeldrumsworld account or you may be taken to my @moustashiio account. Both are safe to use and it makes no difference to me which one you buy from.

One of our top travel toys

Most used toy in Egypt

Great summer toy

Make sure to access TikTok via mobile or the shoppable links won’t work. Reach out if you have any problems and I will do my best to help.

If you are travelling with an autistic person soon, make sure you have travel insurance by reading our guide to getting travel insurance with autism.

The post 10 Toys To Bring Travelling With An Autistic Child appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.

I can tell you with certainty that I will be packing our Muffik mini play mats any time we travel with our children with autism abroad now. These could have given the children so much sensory input to make their time in our small cruise cabin to Amsterdam much more manageable. Can you believe they are small enough to be able to come on your next family travel adventure?!

Just to make you aware, some links to products will take you to one of my three TikTok stores. I will link the video that fits best to the article so it could come from any one of three accounts on TikTok: Meldrum’s World, Moustashiio or Meldrum’s Gaming World.

My children are big sensory seekers, and I can’t tell you how hard it can be to amuse them in a hotel room or cruise cabin at the end of the day after lots of family travel adventures. These little mats can create a big sensory experience in even the smallest of places.

We have the big Muffik playmats at home and my autistic children have been really drawn to them since we got them a number of years ago. But they have shown a particular interest for the past few weeks, and my baby has been absolutely obsessed with them. It gave me this brilliant idea that the smaller set can be brought with us on all of our future adventures!

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A post shared by Natasha | Autism Family Travel Guide (@autismfamilytravelguide)

To buy via TikTok, you can click here to open my TikTok page. The Muffik travel play mats are in my showcase, and I’ll link below videos where you can shop directly from the video!

Make sure to access it via mobile or the shoppable links won’t work.

Just to say, I have two TikTok affiliate shops – so you may go to a link on my @themeldrumsworld account or you may be taken to my @moustashiio account. Don’t worry – both are me!

I have made a few videos which include these mats and you can buy directly from any of them:

Muffik mats huge set

Top 5 sensory toys right now

Friday nights are wild

If you are also like to travel with children with autism, join us on Instagram for more tips and advice.

The mats give fantastic sensory input, but they are also highly praised for providing an indoor, and clean version of barefoot walking on different texture you’d normally experience outside – we are big fans of the eggs and pine cones!

The best way to buy these for yourself right now is via TikTok shop – especially if you are new to TikTok shop as they usually have incredible discounts for your first purchase.

Click here to find more advice and gadgets to make travel with autism easier.

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The post Play Mats For Travel With Children With Autism appeared first on Autism Family Travel Guide.