Puzzle to Go – perfect for trains and planes!

As a kids travel store, it is always exciting to discover a new product which fills a gap in our offering. Mudpuppy bring us some of our favourite kids travel journals, but we have recently expanded our range to include the ‘Puzzle to go – airplane’.

Such a cute puzzle, it would be perfect if the only travel it did was from the bedroom to the family room…however, it comes complete with its own drawstring bag and is destined for travel further afield!

Age 3+

Packaging Size; approx H 16 cm, W 13 cm, D 3 cm

Puzzle size; 30.5 x 23 cm

Details;

drawstring bag
36 pieces
greyboard puzzle 90 % recycled, packaging 70% recycled
printed with non toxic inks

It depicts a happy animals travel scene. The red aeroplane is piloted by a bird, with other furry passengers enjoying the view. Don’t forget to send the included postcard to a friend or maybe even post it home to greet you when you get back from your trip!

In stock now at Little Gulliver.

Need a travel table? Check out the Playette – Kids travel tray.

Loom Bands and Bananas!

I love how simple life is as a kid. When the latest craze takes hold it is all encompassing and exciting.

I started writing this post earlier in the year, when at our school the craze was all about Loom Bands and Bananas. I decided to complete the post now, because if you haven’t tried either of these activities yet, consider them – for kids travel, both are fun and easy to do.

Though the craze has waned, Loom Bands are still a great activity. You take some coloured elastic or silicone bands and 2 pencils and its fairly simple from there. I had to help my 5 year old with some of the looping, but our (then) 6 and 7 year old were fine to make them themselves. We’ve had them made in footy colours, favourite colours, crazy colours etc and have given them as gifts and even swapped them at school. (Looms are available from craft stores if you are wanting to try a trickier style bracelet). To make a basic ‘fishtale’ style, watch the video below (or google – there are heaps on You Tube).

Now, the banana thing is even better. I had vaguely read about arty folk drawing on bananas over the years but had never thought much of it – until the kids started asking me to draw on theirs. I do admire people who can draw and after I made a few attempts, the interest in mums banana creations has waned. That’s Ok, I’ll get over it.

Here’s some ideas in the Daily Mail to get you started, (although my creations are normally a ‘Princess’ or an inspirational message for the school banana, such as “don’t forget to bring your drink bottle home).” These use tooth picks, but again, there are less creative and easier ways (pen anyone)?

So, if your kids haven’t discovered either of these activities yet, try it out. Both can be lots of fun for your next long weekend and are fun activities for travel with kids too.

Awesome kids travel gear – conveniently delivered to your door. Visit us at www.LittleGulliver.com.au

Kids and Adult Headphones and Earphones review

With kids now focused on technology from a young age, it is not long before we start wanting them to don a comfortable and quiet pair of headphones!

For the kids, some experience with using headphones is also handy before commencing a long car or plane trip, when movies, games and music may be readily available. Yes, we have experienced those moments when words like “please watch another movie kids” or “why don’t you play more angry birds?” have been uttered. Knowing how to use a good set of headphones and ensuring comfort levels prior to the trip is a useful piece of advice.

Little Gulliver continues to add to our range of child friendly headphones and earphones. We offer volume limited, noise isolating and full volume headphones and earphones suiting all ages (from Ages 3+) and design styles.

MOKI (formerly Moshi) Volume Limited KIDS Headphones

The Little Gulliver (test!) kids use volume limited Moki kids headphones around our home. They have also used them in the car on long trips (Melb to central NSW) using entertainment devices. At ages 4, 5& 6, the kids loved them and we do too as the headphones have withstood quite a bit of rough use!

We’ve received a small amount of feedback that because of background noise in certain cars and planes the volume restricted headphones can be a little too low, however, we’ve not personally found this to be the case. If choosing a set of headphones specifically for plane or car travel please just bear this in mind. We’ve been told the volume limited aspect may be affected by where you are sitting on a plane (closer to engines etc) and the type of plane.

Features

a single cable down the left of the unit makes them easy to put on and off, with an ideal length of 1.2m
they adjust by a sliding movement on the headpiece
the volume restriction means that you can safely let you kids manage their entertainment without worry
though they are designed for kids, they would easily fit an adult
obviously I love these headphones and, coming in a range of bright colours, I think they are the ideal 1st headphone

MOSHI Volume Limited Headphones

These headphones have a different look to the kids style, but could certainly be worn by kids – the volume limited technology is the same as in the Moshi Kids headphones. The design however, is more adult-like (maybe even a little cooler!) and in the way they are adjusted on the head (with the padded headpiece adjusted by sliding a chrome adjuster up or down).

Popular with teenagers who are likely to use headphones regularly for their music and gaming interests – they are able to keep the volume at a consistently safe level.

Features

padded headpiece and cups, have a great look for adults
single cord lessens tangles
while can adjust to a child, will also fit a larger adult size

MOSHI Pro Noise Isolating Earphones

These earphones give a full volume sound, while taking away noisy backgrounds. They can be used for ages 5+.

For younger kids I would recommend headphones above earphones, some kids seem to prefer them as they can be more comfortable than placing the buds in the ear. Check with your kids though – we gave ours a choice and 3/3 choose headphones. I thought the earphones would be easier to look after and was surprised the kids were so assertive about what they wanted!

These pro noise isolating earphones are stylishly designed. They have an alloy housing and an anodized surface, so don’t have the plastic look of many earphones on the market, being a good quality piece. The high frequency response and the soft silicone ear-buds provide superb sound reproduction, whilst reducing the influence of surrounding ambient noise. I would say these are great quality for anyone looking to upgrade earphones for their smartphone / ipod or general travel use. Being noise isolating, they are ideal in busy noisy background environments like planes and trains.

Features

They have a 1.4m cable
silicone ear buds for long use comfort
great for everyday use, taking up little space
includes 3 sized silicon earpieces

MOSHI Volume Limited KIDS Earphones
Earphones can be a good option for kids who don’t like to have things pulled over their head. This set from Moshi are specially designed for kids, fitting safely in the ear and have the volume limited feature. Because they take up little space, earphones can also be a convenient option. They readily find a spot in a handbag, backpack or carry on luggage.

Our kids were given a choice of the Moshi volume limited head and ear phones and all 3 chose the headphones – so perhaps the headphones are considered more stylish/more exciting by the small folk? Some kids love the earphones, it seems to be a very personalised decision for each of the young users!

These earphones also differ from others in that they don’t have a silicon earpiece, which is a design feature specifically for young wearers.

Features

designed to be worn safely – cannot be forced into the ear canal
specially made for kids aged 3+
small, so easy to carry and have on hand
volume limited

Moki Poppers Headphones

The Moki Poppers are a favourite around the office amongst young and old(er) users!

Great designs, comfy ear cups, padded headband, full volume capacity and solid construction mean our test units have been pumping out the sound for a long time now.

Excellent sound range and bass at a great everyday low price. Huge range to choose from – Sparkles, Rockstar, Claw (!), Purple Dino, Monster Truck, Hearts, Martians and more.

There is a Pop, Pop, Popper for everyone… Full range is here

Funkyfonic’s Headphones

The funkyfonic’s are a full volume headphone with cute colours and designs. Ideal for kids (or adults) wanting a funky look, with no need for limiting volume. These headphones do have a cable from each earpiece (unlike the Moki single cord design).

Features

recommended for 6+ to adult
the headpiece folds, so can be compact for travel
the earcup flips, therefore a parent can check noise level without removing the headphones from the child

Styles available

ladybug, skull, frog, owl

DCI Earphones

From the maker of Funkyfonic’s, the crocodile and owl options are simply adorable! And certainly earphones are a compact option for travel, easily finding a home in a small space. These are a full volume earphone.

Features

comes with 2 sets for silicone tips in 2 sizes; standard for adults and small for kids 6+
kids will love the designs – fancy a crocodile head coming out of one ear and a tail out of the other?

Pom Pom Earphones

A cute and fluffy earphone option. The pom pom earphones come in four squishy colours are a full volume earphone.

Features

come with 3 size silicon ear tips to fit ear sizes from ages 6, small adult and adult.
colours available: pink, light pink, white, purple

Moshi Neon Headphones

Great headphones for everyday use. They are full volume headphones with a stylish look. I personally think they are the best looking headphones we have! They were popular last Christmas with customers grabbing them for tweens upwards. The colour looks great with ipods and iphones.

Features

4+ to adult
easily adjustable
comfort and style – if you’re not looking for a volume limited feature
dome style holds firm, while still comfortable on the ear

***

We’ll be continually updating our range. Please let us know about your experiences using your headphones and earphones – what you like/dislike how is the sound for you? Who have you bought them for? What would you recommend?

Check out our full range of electronics at Little Gulliver Play / Electronics today!

Make your own Travel Journal

I’ve always loved a good travel journal.

It may be genetic as my Grandma travelled with a journal everywhere she went and recorded every detail. As a child, she also gave me my very own travel journal for our first big family trip. I was quite little and the family went on a wonderful camping trip to Uluru. Its lovely to read back on, apparently I was quite impressed with a box of Smarties given to me in Alice Springs (the little things)!

If you like to be a bit crafty, there are some great printable and free options online to make your own kids travel journal. Its a lovely activity to get the little ones excited about the trip and help them understand there will be times when you’re away for “quiet play time.” And that this quiet time may be during a long plane or car trip when they really don’t feel like sitting still! Voilà – time for the travel journal.

One thing about making your own journal is that you can tailor them to individual personalities and locations; post questions for them to answer or pictures for them to colour throughout. Its a great way to encourage a little creative writing or drawing practice, which can be tailor made for your trip.

Here’s some favourites;

Blue’s Travel Book

Diego’s Field Journal

Dino Dan Field Guide Scrapbook

Disney Kids Travel Journal

Dora’s Family Vacation Travel Book

Dora’s Travel Journal

Journals for Kids / Travel Journal

If all this looks like too much work (on top of the packing and organising you have to do for your trip) don’t despair, Little Gulliver has a great range of travel journals for all travellers.

Click for Little Gulliver Travel Diaries & Journals range.

Featured: Tray Kit Travel Journal

The gorgeous TrayKits can now be complimented with a matching Travel Journal. Great even on its own, the Travel Journal comes with a fold out wallet, activity Book, 40 stickers, 6 coloured pencils, a rubber, pencil sharpener and ink stamp. And don’t forget to trace your footsteps on the fold-out world map!

Pink star and blue stripe available…

Magic Pen Books, Yes or No?

Magic Pen Books, Yes or No? Yes. Definitely yes!

What could be better than a handheld activity, which is mess free, can be personalised to your child’s interests and keeps them busy for hours? Welcome to our Play category and sub-categories of Draw and Colour or Stickers and Magnets. Here you will find a number of different ‘magic pen’ style books, you’re sure to find one to suit your holiday.

We’re very proud of our extensive range of mess free activities, here’s a closer look;

Colour Wonder

Mess free colouring on the special colour wonder paper. The markers only work on the color wonder paper provided; it cannot mark other paper, walls or clothes! Colour in the pictures and don’t forget to make your own masterpieces on the back too.

They kind of remind me of how highlighter pens work on normal paper, it has a bright florescent feel. My tip for younger kids or if travelling with a few kids would be to buy a pack of the individual sheets (some are in a bound book), that way you can take a few on board. Put the rest in your luggage for the return trip or hotel room. I generally only take a selection of the pens also, and leave some in the pack in case they get lost. A pencil case is great here, to keep kiddy things together and maybe a zip lock bag.

Colour Wonder is more unique, as it comes with a selection of different coloured markers, each revealing their own colour (kind of like normal textas). Whereas all of the other varieties of “magic pen” books (described below) come with one marker only which reveals a surprise colour or activity.

Magic Pen Painting

Use the Magic Pen to produce a rainbow of colours. Just choose a theme the child likes, and they’ll be able to colour in the beautiful scenes outlined on the pages. The booklets have tear out pages, which can be coloured separately or in the book.

When travelling, I generally let them choose a scene or two at a time and save the rest for later. Depending on the child or the age, I generally also hold onto the lid of the pen (though they do last well uncovered if they do go astray)! They are a great little travel size too.

Check individual descriptions, but they are generally 3+

Water Wow

Reveal bright colours, patterns, and hidden surprises with just WATER! Just fill the enclosed water pen dispenser with water, and “paint” with the water…It is the ultimate in clean colouring and both the pen and paper is re-usable. It is a book of 4 doodle boards to colour and 4 play and learn game pages, with seek and find activities. The papers special coating dries in 90 seconds, so you can colour it again and again.

There is a wide variety of characters available to suit boys and girls of different ages…Dora the Explorer, Disney Princess, Spiderman…hours of fun to keep kids occupied on planes, trains and rainy days. They also make a great gift! It is a great alternative to the popular Aquadoodle Travel n Doodle, which, sadly is no longer being manufactured.

These sell out quickly (we try and keep a variety in stock), so check back regularly for your favourites. Also, check individual descriptions for details and age ranges. The Spiderman pictured is recommended for 3+

Invisible Ink and Sticker Book

The Invisible Ink with stickers is fun, as you can match up pictures with stickers as part of a puzzle. For instance in ‘Bugs’, we can colour in the picnic basket and then colour the ants, while filling in the “I am an ….” (ant is the answer)!

The Lets look at Bugs pictured is 5+. We also stock a range of Disney-themed Invisible Ink Sticker books which are generally for ages 3+.

Surprise Ink

If you love Super Hero’s, then you’ll be happy with the Spiderman Suprize Ink currently in stock. This 5+ book comes with magic marker and a variety of games, pictures and activities. Watch images magically appear as you colour and keep busy with activities such as “help Spiderman get through the maze” and games such as “Venom Vengeance.” Great for older kids (or younger may suit if an adult is happy to assist in explaining the object of the game).

Color Blast

The color blast comes with its own mess free rainbow marker and 24 page picture games book.

Currently, we have the ever popular ‘Littlest Pet Shop, Magic Picture Search’ in stock. Fun activities such as “colour the squares in this order” and look for a hidden picture on every page. The Littlest Pet Shop pictured is recommended for ages 4+

** I have done my best to describe all the items we currently have in stock. We are selling out and adding more items regularly – so check individual items on our website for general descriptions and recommended ages, as they may vary to the above. And, as always – please do not hesitate to contact us donna@littlegulliver.com.au with any questions. We are always happy to help!**

We hope you’ve enjoyed discovering just why our ‘Magic Pen’ style books are a holiday favourite. Don’t forget to check our Play / Draw and colour and Play / Stickers and magnets range for these and lots more ideas!

Great for travel – Fisher-Price Doodle Pro

Keep handy by attaching to a backpack or belt

I put a lot of thought into taking our first flight with our first child. I was concerned about safety…if we have car seats in cars then what do we do in planes? I found the CARES Harness and our business Little Gulliver, was born.

Very soon afterwards, our baby grew into a toddler and siblings came along. The next travelling dilemma developed – how do we keep someone who never sits down (or stops talking) occupied during long trips? How will I manage? The result – Little Gulliver now has a well stocked ‘Play’ range with products from Magic Pen, magnets, sticker books and even kids headphones! All tested and popular with our 3 children now aged 3, 4 & 5.

A great, all round favourite travel toy that works across different personalities and age groups is the Doodle Pro. We stock a ‘travel’ size and carabiner ‘clip on’ size Doodle Pro. Being Fisher-Price, its built tough and has top quality drawing capacity. If you’ve ever used a different brand you will notice the difference immediately – tough casing, sturdy pen and clear writing surface. Its built to last!

Kids love the Doodle Pro for independent play, but parents can become involved when you want (or need!) to occupy the child with some fun games together. You can find them here in our Play/Draw and Colour Category.

Favourite games for families to play on your Doodle Pro Clip On are things like;

ages 2-3; draw a car and add the wheels, draw heads and fill in the faces and scribbling (fill in the whole cover and wipe clean)
ages 3-4; draw planes, houses and trees, letters and numbers
4+; practise your name, Dots and Boxes (how to play here). And you can’t go past Noughts and Crosses. The possibilities are endless!

Here’s some feedback;

“Little kids love this! It’s just like drawing without the mess of the paper and pencils. It’s easy to wipe out and start all over again. It’s Fisher Price so you know it’s good quality.”

“great idea no paper no mess …this toy is a good investment”

“Less messy than crayons or paint but allows same type of creative ideas.”

And when you get home? You could keep the doodle pro clip on in your luggage so its ready to head off next time OR keep it in the pocket in your car. Doodle Pros love driving too!

Visit http://www.LittleGulliver.com.au today to see our range of travel gear for kids. We’re always happy to help.

5 ways to light up your holiday

Whenever we’re travelling with our kids we tend to end up in the dark! Something about holidays makes you tend to relax, stay out a bit later and venture into theme parks and places with ‘dark’ spots. That’s why we’ve introduced so many great ways to light up your kids, your belongings, their belongings and even your accommodation during your next holiday.

Here’s some suggestions from our ‘Light it up‘ category;

: Glow Stick Bracelets 5 pack

1. Glow Bracelets;

Our kids had to best time lighting up their triple bunk, on a recent holiday, with their glow bracelets. Our eldest (proud top bunk occupant) was very impressed that it meant he could easily navigate the steps in the dark if he had to go to the toilet. The connectors mean they are easy to join together to make a bigger glow necklace or join onto backpacks and strollers (or bunk steps)! etc.

Glow Light with Carabiner: Glow Light with Carabiner

2. Smart Glow Light;

We’ve also introduced glow lights with handy carabineer clips. The clips can be used on your own gear and also attach neatly to our 3-in-1 Lanyard. Effectively you can light up anything you like!

The picture shows them in blue, but they also come in pink, red and green. They come in a pack of 1 and have an extra long life of 8 – 10 hours.

: BOING Magic Light Ball

BOING Magic Light Balls;

If you find yourself at concerts and amusement parks and the kids want to buy every flashy, sparkly souvenir there is, then the Magic Boing Light may be for you. What I love about it is the batteries are replaceable (though it comes with some to start you off). It has its own lanyard and you simply squeeze to change the colours.

Wear it, drape it, play with it and light up those dim spots!

: Swivel Night Light

4. Swivel Night Light;

And for apartments and motels the handy night light is a must-pack for us. Little Gulliver range 2 different styles. This one is directional, meaning you can swivel it to face any direction you like. Face it away from sleeping children or towards a midnight nappy change.

You never know where a power point is going to be located and this night light lets you limit or increase the light a little, based on where its located. You can turn the direction of the light to face toward or away from the kids if you like. And it has an auto sensor!

5. Auto Sensor LED Night Light;

We like smart things! This light also switches on when its dark and off when its light.

Its a good, small size LED which gives plenty of light to a child or parent in an unfamiliar night environment. We always travel with this night light. It is always handy somewhere – a hallway (navigate the way to a bathroom) or light up an unfamilar bedroom.

Venturing through aquariums and museums – you can be in broad day light and all is well. Then, the next display is in the pitch dark, just as the baby cries in the stroller and the toddler runs…where is everyone? We hope you enjoy our ‘Light it up’ range. More to come soon.

Free kids ebooks

Then there’s the cost…but Project Gutenberg Australia has made many classic works available in the public domain. They’re available online to download or read from your browser. Once again, for free!

This link is for children’s literature, but there are titles available for the whole family.

http://gutenberg.net.au/children.html

Titles include;

The Complete Adventures of Blinky Bill by Dorothy Wall
Dot and the Kangaroo by Ethel Pedley
A Book for Kids by C J Dennis
The Glugs of Gosh by C J Dennis
Peter Pan by J M Barrie
Lucy Maud Montgomery–“Anne of Windy Poplars and other books in the “Anne” series. Click on author’s name to access these ebooks.
Stories by Mark Twain
Stories by Beatrix Potter
The Doctor Dolittle stories
Stories by Robert Louis Stevenson–Treasure Island, Kidnapped, etc.
Stories by Daniel Defoe–Robinson Crusoe, etc.
Raggedy Ann and other works by John Gruelle

Fantastic!

Kids Travel Toys – Inexpensive Fun On The Run

Kids travel toys do not need to be expensive or even have batteries to entertain. Follow these tips to create inexpensive travel activities for your kids.

Subscribe to kids’ magazines? Hide a few issues and pack them for the trip. If your kids pick them before you, head to a bookstore and select up a few new ones for the journey. While you are there, check out the selection of coloring/activity books to give as fun surprises along the way.

Visit your local library before the trip to stock up on new reading material. The library is also a wonderful source for audio books and DVDs but be sure to test them before the trip just in case they are scratched or damaged. Traveling at night? Include a book light in your travel bag. Keep the book light hidden until it gets dark to save batteries. Be sure to store batteries in the book light turned the wrong way so they do not get drained if the light is turned on accidentally during the trip. Remember to rotate them before using!

Use maps for fun and learning on the trip. Have children mark the route from home to the final destination and estimate the trip time. City maps are used to discover fun sites and activities in the destination city. Teach kids how to use a map legend to find parks and museums in the destination city or pitstops on a road trip.

Crayola Rainbow Twistables

Create travel journals using inexpensive notebooks or templates from the internet. Include pages for directed questions such as: favorite site, favorite restaurant, and best day. Also include blank pages for coloring and drawing pictures. Journals are also great for school age kids that need to complete homework on the trip.

Search for free travel activities and games on-line. There are downloads for a wide variety of travel games and activities.

Travel toys do not need to be expensive to be fun – these tips will help you create an adventure to remember on your next trip.

Colouring books crayons, pencils, pencil cases and more are all available in our Little Gulliver Games and Activities, Draw and Colour, and Stickers and Magnets section. Great ideas from The Kids Travel Store with only $6.95 delivery to your door!

Ten Tips for Keeping a Toddler Busy on a Plane

So, you’ve packed the bags, cancelled the papers and are really looking forward to being away for a couple of weeks free from the usual routine but you’re really anxious about keeping your young kids occupied on that long plane flight.

So this is a CARES? — So, the seat belt goes through this loop?

Besides packing a few great new travel toys that your toddler hasn’t seen before, you’ll want to have some airplane activities that won’t break, get lost or cost the earth.

So here are some practical tips for travelling with toddlers and preschoolers that will help you to relax, enjoy the journey and help you all arrive with your sense of humour!

1. Bathroom

Make sure that your toddler has used the toilet before boarding the aircraft as they are spacious and much cleaner compared to the aircraft ones! It’s also a good idea to carry a supply of baby wipes and be sure to put them in a place where you can easily reach them throughout the flight.

2. Seat choice

Only choose bulkhead seats if your baby needs a baby bed as the armrests can’t be moved. Normal seats are far better if your baby or toddler wants to lie down on the seat with their head on your lap as the armrests can be moved up which is far more comfortable.

3. Ear pressure

If your baby is breastfeeding or on a bottle, give them the breast or bottle during take-off & landing as it is the best thing for their sensitive ears. They will be more relaxed and far less distressed and you will feel more at ease too.

If your child is older, then carry cotton wool or ask for earplugs as soon as you board the aircraft. Make use of them for take-off then save them for landing as the crew may not have any fresh ones left by then. Or play a yawning game with them to see how many times they can yawn on take off or landing as this helps pop their ears so the pressure doesn’t cause them discomfort.

4. Food

Carry a supply of biscuits, water, juice & healthy snacks for your toddler. Raisins are great for keeping little hands and minds occupied for quite awhile and also carry milk packets (the UHT small packets) yourself. Airline snacks run out in flight and milk is a shortage very often too so bring your own so you won’t panic if they run out.

5. Bottle heating

If you ask the crew to heat up your baby bottle check the temperature of the liquid yourself periodically and don’t depend on the crew as they are extremely busy. Most crew in Economy Class are not mothers themselves (as they are very young) so they don’t necessarily know the right temperature for your child’s feed. Airline crew are most willing to help but it’s always best to take responsibility for your own child’s bottle.

6. Health

If your child has a cold it’s a good idea to see a doctor before the flight to check if your child is fit to fly. Toddlers flying with a cold can experience terrible pain during take-off & landing and it’s also dangerous to their eardrums too!

7. Clothes

Always carry a change of clothes for your child and it is a good idea to carry a change of top / t-shirt for yourself too. You never know when you will need it…

8. Rubbish

Get a carrier or plastic bag from the crew, to put your rubbish in as you go along. It helps to keep your area clean and more organised. Also take fragranced bags with you to dispose of your nappies before putting them in the toilet bins provided.

9. Books

It’s always a great idea to carry reading books (new ones as well as old favourites), colouring books and crayons, as well as an ipod with their favourite songs and stories to listen to.

If you can carry a portable DVD player they are usually a big hit with toddlers. If you bring your own DVD player and your child’s favourite DVDs then you will have full control over the content and also the timing of their video entertainment which is good for maintaining a healthy balance about how much they watch. Another alternative might be to play their DVDs on your laptop.

10. Games to play

Toddlers often get naughty when they experience long delays to their journey, so being prepared is half the battle.

* Pack a goody bag filled with activities to keep them occupied and busy and include things like play dough, a few blocks, some small board books, a little car or your toddler’s favourite teddy. You could also wrap each item in wrapping paper a few times too and play pass the parcel with them, to add to the fun and excitement.

These ideas are best and most effective for keeping your child occupied during the normal waking hours on a flight as they encourage your child’s imagination and creativity.

* Put some fun pictures onto your digital camera of the people and places you are going to visit or pictures of a recent trip you’ve been on, like to the zoo, for your child to look at. During the flight, you can relive the fun and tell stories about where/who you’re visiting. It will keep your little one busy and relaxed which will make the flight a pleasurable one for all of you.

* When the flight attendant delivers drinks, ask for a cup, a couple ice cubes, and a straw. There are endless games you can make up with this combination as ice is fascinating to toddlers. Make sure that the ice doesn’t end up in their mouth though as it is a choking hazard.

* Bring a book of Finger Rhymes to teach your toddler. Great ones are “Finger Rhymes” by Marc Brown and “Little Hands, Finger Plays & Action Songs: Seasonal Activities” by Emily Stetson and “365 Games Smart Toddlers Play” by Sheila Ellison

* Learning how to fasten and unfasten an “old fashioned” seatbelt, jacket zipper and poppers or buttons on their clothing (or a carry on bags) can keep them occupied for a long time too.

* And don’t forget the old favourite of peek- a- boo if you’ve got friendly neighbours and “I spy”!

It’s all about relaxing, imagining the journey going really well a couple of nights before you fall asleep, so your unconscious gets ready for the journey positively, and planning ahead. It’s also about being flexible and relaxed when unexpected things happen that you have no control over. Toddlers will pick up on your vibes so lighten up, chill out and have a brilliant holiday!

This great article comes from www. Parenting Australia.com.au

Sue Atkins is a Parent Coach and Author of “Raising Happy Children for Dummies” one in the famous black and yellow series and mother of two children. She has written many books on self esteem and toddlers and her Positive Toddler Taming CD and ideas book is available from her website. To find out more about her work and to receive her free monthly newsletter bursting with practical tips and helpful advice for bringing up happy, confident, well-balanced children from toddler to teen go to => http:/www.positive-parents.com