I have traveled with kids quite a bit. I really favor eating out over dining in and, as I am the main breadwinner, I am not the most domestic. My mom-type needs are to find all the low-effort cool items. Here are a few of our favorites.

NOTE: They all need supervision, I am not as chemical conscious as I would like to be and I did not look into the quality of any of these items.

1.  Snacks- mini Lunchables (meat, cheese and crackers), coconut roll ups, nuts, seeds, beef jerky and dehydrated fruit (it does have added sugar, so be mindful).

2. Containers- I like the food storage cubes and ziplock containers for both food and activities. Chip clips from the cashier area.

3. Activities (car travel)- Bug Catcher kits (cage and net). When we stop at parks or rest stops along the way I let the kids putz around hunting for critters, both real and imaginary. Bubbles are always a great choice to kill some energy, costumes are fun in the car, and color kits. I am pleasantly surprised that the Dollar Stores carry Crayola products that give details about washability and edibility to ease my mind.

4. Activities (Air Travel)- Piggy Bank kits (money and a modified container) are easy to make and you can incorporate pretend play as well as items on hand, Stickers are great to add to coloring and you can also buy some blank craft canvases in the craft section to sticker. I use the containers to hold the stickers and I cut them in squares instead of leaving them in sheets so that they are not used as fast and don’t get lost as easily. Lastly, modeling foam. It is sold by color and I especially like the ease of cleanup and low smell as compared to Play-Doh. I also store it in a container.

5. Cool Other Stuff- They have an awesome Curél Band Aid kit. They sell Sharpie markers, Superglue, Tide (in case I need to sink wash any clothes) and I also like to get a pack of Charms Mini Pop candies for take-off and landing or altitude changes to distract from ear popping. I sometimes buy their Advil tablet packs for pain relief to keep in my purse as well, it isn’t a big steal on price but the individual packets are handy and I always appreciate having it in my purse/diaper bag when I need it.

Post-COVID, the Dollar Store is more than a dollar, but I still find these items to be cheaper than at other stores and I find that their stores are pretty easy to find even in smaller towns. I hope that some of these hacks come in handy for your traveling needs!

Whitney B