Chances are, if you have a young one and you’re traveling via planes, trains, and automobiles, you already have a trusty list of items to bring along that aren’t going to create a war zone, can be easily picked up in a few moments, and of course, can provide a blessed hour of peace (or at least a few minutes, depending on how old your young ones are) while you enjoy the scenery. This list of travel toys is very likely not going to include things like finger paints, markers, or Legos, and if it does, shame on you.
When I was growing up in the 80s, my parents generally included on this trusted list of vehicular travel toys the MagnaDoodle, the Etch-a-Sketch, and if we happened to stop by a Cracker Barrel (which you can’t help but at least pass by like 40 of them on any trek through the Midwest) one of those little magnet-based plexiglass numbers where you can put hair on some goofy-looking character (ah, thank you, internet, that would be Wooly Willy). Once my sisters and I exhausted all of those possibilities, we were forced to read (even though we all get headaches doing so when in transport) or, gasp!, converse with our parents.
Unless you have packed a bunch of toys in your suitcases or carry-on luggage that you’re willing to haul out for a short stay, chances are, when you get to the hotel, your children are going to be so tired of all magnetized diversions that they won’t want to look at them ever again. And if you’re not staying somewhere with a pool and don’t feel like plopping them in front of the television, you have a sizable problem on your hands--especially since your nugget(s) have been sitting in a plane, train, or automobile all days stockpiling restless energy.
Well, never fear, a great option for new travel toys is here. And no, there are no magnets in powdered, slivered, or chunked form here either, so rest easy. And did I mention the word “doodle” is actually name? Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the AquaDoodle… The best thing to happen to parents of art-loving tots and the tots themselves since, well, probably the Magna Doodle.
For your information, I spent way too long writing “Behold, the AquaDoodle” and then redrawing it because the water started to dry, thus making it hard for you to see my lovely art. Meh.
Anyway, the AquaDoodle is a somewhat large, easy-to-fold lightweight mat upon which kids can draw to their heart’s delight using the two pens that come with it (a regular one and a wide one) that are filled with water. When the water seeps into the pen, kids can draw mess-free on the mat, which seems to dry really quickly. I have never had to worry about it getting mildewy or anything sitting in my bag, which leads me to believe that it actually be a magic mat as is suggested.
According to the website where it talks about how big an Aquadoodle is, it’s 32 x 32 inches, but for some reason, Bee’s seems smaller than that. I am not about to go measuring it. It’s enough that my adult was sitting here drawing on it and then taking pictures so you’ll just have to take their word for it. It’s big enough for her to sit on while she draws but small enough that it fits very easily into the netted pouch of my carry-on bag.
These puppies are made for short, one-night hotel stays, can be packed easily, are mess-free for art time, and are just all around good things to have. They are not really cheap for what they are and for some stupid reason, I can’t find the simplified version we have anywhere online right now. The ones I am finding now are all fancy with Dora and crap and one I see now is called the SpinMaster Aquadoodle (which no thank you when it comes to reeling after carsickness—even if doesn’t spin) but for your travel toy lists, a simple one will do nicely.
I know you all have travel toy secrets, so ‘fess up….what are some of your favorite crayon-less and mess-less hotel stay toys?
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