What to really pack for a holiday with young children
When parents prepare for a holiday, a striking amount of attention goes into what disappears into the toy bag. A favourite cuddly toy is a must, along with a few books for the journey, something to build with, something to colour in and a game for "when things get tough". That preparation makes sense.
We want our children to feel comfortable in a new environment, and we try to think up solutions in advance for moments when they are bored or have to wait. Yet almost every holiday shows the same picture. The carefully chosen toy bag stays closed surprisingly often, while a child can lose themselves completely in a handful of shells, a bucket of water or a stick found along the way. To many parents that feels almost contradictory. Why does a child leave behind toys they play with every day at home?
The answer starts with the way young children learn.
💡 Did you know
Young children stay focused far longer, on average, on play with natural materials (such as sand, water and stones) than on toys with a fixed function.
The American developmental psychologist Alison Gopnik describes young children as little researchers. They build their knowledge of the world not only through explanations from adults, but above all by observing, experimenting and making connections themselves. A child letting sand run through their hands discovers that wet sand sticks together and dry sand falls apart. A toddler turning a shell over and over is investigating shape, texture and sound. To adults these look like small things, but to a young brain they are important learning experiences.
That is exactly why a holiday changes the way children play. Where adults mainly see a different location, a young child experiences an environment that is almost entirely new. Different smells, different sounds, an unfamiliar bedroom, a beach where the waves keep moving, or a wood full of materials that are not available at home.
The psychiatrist Daniel J. Siegel explains that the brains of young children are still very much developing, particularly when it comes to planning, impulses and emotions. That means a day full of new impressions is not only fun but can also be tiring. Many parents recognise that moment at the end of the day: a child suddenly reacting with anger or tears over something small. That is often not “difficult behaviour”, but a sign that their head is full.
Once you understand this, it also becomes clear why toys play a different role on holiday. They do not have to compete with the surroundings; they can support what a child is already discovering.
Practical tips: what should you bring?
Instead of bringing lots of toys, it helps to choose deliberately. Below are a few practical guidelines that tend to work well:
1. Choose open-ended toys
Toys that can be used in more than one way stay interesting for longer.
Examples:
- Stacking stones or blocks
- Magnetic tiles
- Wooden figures or animals
👉 Tip: choose 1 or 2 sets that are small and fit easily in a bag.
2. Bring something for the journey
Travelling (car, plane, restaurant) calls for different toys than being on location.
Handy for the journey:
- A small book
- Colouring book + pencils
- Sticker book
- Magnetic game
👉 Tip: keep these toys separate and only hand them over during the journey. That makes them instantly more interesting.
"Children do not need a full toy bag to enjoy themselves, but room to discover what is already there."
3. Bring something familiar
A new environment can be exciting. Something recognisable helps enormously.
Think of:
- A favourite cuddly toy
- A familiar book
- A small game from home
👉 Especially handy at bedtime or in moments of tiredness.
4. Leave room (literally and figuratively)
You do not have to plan everything in advance. Let your child think along and choose. Ask, for example: “Which 3 to 5 things do you really want to bring?” Putting that choice in your child’s hands does something important:
- Your child feels ownership over what comes along
- The toys they choose are usually genuine favourites
- There is more involvement in the play
- You avoid a bag full of things that end up unused
On top of that, your child learns something valuable: choosing means you cannot take everything. That often makes play more creative.
👉 Tip: keep it deliberately small. A few favourite items plus open-ended toys is usually more than enough. And just as important: literally leave room in your bag and in your schedule.
Bringing less = often more play
When you look at the toy bag again with this in mind, the question you ask yourself changes too. Not: "How many toys shall I bring?" but: "What helps my child to discover, without taking over their play?"
Good holiday toys are light, flexible and open-ended. They connect with what is already there, instead of determining everything.
And perhaps that is the most important conclusion: you do not have to organise the play. You only have to create the right conditions.
Your child does the rest.
