Christmas Toys for Travel Joys

Besides decking the halls and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, families are preparing to travel over the holidays. Whether traveling to grandma’s house or creating a new holiday tradition while embarking on a winter wonderland or tropical oasis, packing some toys, books, games and other time-consuming activities will make any trip more festive.

There is no shortage in choices for kids, but below are a few recommendations of toys that are sure to delight kids on their winter road trips and vacation journeys.

Elmo’s Tickle Hands
Fisher-Price lets kids have a chance at being Elmo…well, at least part of Elmo using his silly furry red hands . These funny hands vibrate and hear familiar phrases from Elmo and allow kids’ imaginary play to soar and gets them dancing when the Dance Mode is activated and kids are guided through Elmo’s new dance, step by step. There is even a DVD that accompanies these hands to teach kids the dance.

Matchbox® Mega Rig®Pirate Ship
Ready to sail the high seas and journey into pirate hood and swash the decks? With the Matchbox® Mega Rig® Pirate Ship, kids will feel as though they have joined the pirate clan as they sail away into their next adventure. Creative play is stimulated with the large pirate ship, the giant squirting sea creature, all while defending their treasure.

Uno Moo!™
The grown up card game has been transformed into farm animals for toddlers. Educational and fun, UNO Moo! Encourages colors and animal recognition and teaches kids to shout out when they are down to one figure. Even the adults will like this version and its packaging is ideal for traveling.

Barbie® Glamour Camper™
Now this is one camper that I would consider going on an outdoor exploration. A modernized and glammed out version of the camper many moms will remember as girls in the 70s, today’s young girls are ready for a road trip! Like the Barbie dollhouses, the camper is completely decked out and provides hours of enjoyment from the pop out tent to roasting marshmallows. The compactness of this Barbie vehicle is perfect to take on the road for real!

Barbie™ and the Three Musketeers Barbie Corinne™ Doll
Girl power strikes this holiday season as Barbie Corinne and her friends recreate the legendary Three Musketeers. Hot this holiday season, these princess Barbies are like the Diamond Castle characters and transform their outfits as they take on heroine roles. Barbie continues to be a role model for young girls.

My Toon TV
Kids love having people “watch” them, now they can see themselves in performance action by inserting themselves on TV with their own personalized character. Easy to use (no software required), kids will spend hours pretending and performing and most importantly, laughing as they watch their “character” dance away. Five songs are provided, but the ability to customize with their own music is also an option.

A Family Christmas CD
For car trips, creating a festive mood for this “quality” time together, playing holiday tunes are sure to add a fun element and one that is participatory in nature. Putumayo Kids has a series of international music selections that inspire travel around the world, but “A Family Christmas” CD is one that also has an educational twist on yuletide favorites. A few childhood favorites include a new version of “Holly Jolly Christmas” by Martin Sexton and a jazzy rendition by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy singing Louis Armstrong’s hit “Is Zat You Santa Claus?”.


Blokus® Game
Nothing beats a family game night and the new Blokus game allows entire family to participate. With only four colors, it is fairly easy for kids to catch on to the pattern and learning to keep building their pattern while blocking you in the process. Don’t be surprised if the kids outwit the parents!

The Night Before Christmas: Special Edition DVD Set
No trip should be taken without a portable DVD and with many hotels providing DVD players, The Night Before Christmas: Special Edition 2-DVD collection by Scholastic Storybook Treasures™ is a holiday tradition to be packed. This collection features animated stories about Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other holiday celebrations are narrated by Anthony Edwards and Christopher Lloyd. The second DVD included in the set is The Twelve Days of Christmas, which features a sing-along to this recognized holiday song. Other holiday stories are featured on this disc to build upon children’s excitement – and parents too!

Treasury of 50 Storybook Classics: Animal Antics
This seven-DVD set is a must to wrap up for the holidays and to take on any journeys. Scholastic Storybook Treasures™ features “Harry the Dirty Dog”, “Click, Clack, Moo…Cows That Type”, “Make Way for Ducklings” and more. The collection of animal tales will have kids mooing, barking and laughing with these entertaining and quality animated tales.

Santa’s Game Bag:
Packaged in a miniature version of Santa’s bag, Minimus.biz packs some travel-sized games and activities to make traveling time fly, just like the attached reindeer can do! Available in different age ranges, the 4-year-old product includes pocket size Ohio Art® Etch A Sketch®, pocket size Ohio Art® Doodle Sketch, travel-size CandyLand®, travel-size Memory® Game, and more.

Boggle
Hasbro’s Boggle, the original three-minute word search game, is now packaged to take on the road. The ability to twist and shake and search for words will not only stimulate a kid while on winter break, but will also provide a fun challenge. With a built in timer, a competitive angle is also provided.

Monopoly Go
Hasbro’s Monopoly Go is a compact version of the classic Monopoly game, but is now packaged as a travel-friendly entertaining game for entire family. Taking a break from holiday stresses, families can spend time together by playing games such as Monopoly Go together.

Tag Junior
Leapfrog’s Tag Junior is specifically designed for the younger toddlers to stimulate reading and fun. Like it’s senior product, the Leapfrog Tag reader, the same technology is used, but now little hands have a bigger wand to help guide them through the magical stories. Now our youngest kids can “read” words on study board books in the Tag Junior collection. And for our senior Tag users, just in time with the release of the new Disney movie, “The Princess and the Frog” for Tag is now available and is beautifully illustrated.

Leapfrog Zippity System
Even if you’re travels are taking you to cold climates this holiday season, Leapfrog’s new Zippity System gives you a way for kids to burn off that holiday sugar while learning. LeapFrog and Disney have joined forces to create the Zippity Learning System—a TV-based gaming system for preschoolers that combines full-body movement, music, education and fun. The Zippity system lets kids bring the fun of Playhouse Disney to life at their house. Kids can dance, jump and move with characters from Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Disney Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh and more. Featuring an interactive mat designed for lower-body movement, kids can run, dance, jump and march their way through the eight provided programs coupled with additional ones such as Princess and the Frog.

Never have there been more options, but sticking to the basics of spending time together with games, books, music and movies, families are sure to create new holiday memories this season.

Note: Due to the growing popularity and surge of Nintendo DS games and other electronic games that are easy to travel with, these products will be featured in a separate article.