Travel, Travel Products, Wish Lists and Gift Ideas

2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Travel Gifts for the Little Ones

A typewriter with a letter for Santa

Welcome to my 2018 Gift Guide Series! Each day this week I’ll be sharing a small, carefully curated selection of items for a targeted audience or a specific price point, all with the theme of travel. Though I’ll always advocate for taking a trip over giving tangible items, I understand that many families still feel that tug at their heartstrings to wrap gifts to exchange with loved ones (mine included). The items here have been selected for their aesthetics and functionality, as I hold a personal belief that the best gifts have both. And as always, I’ll only ever share items that I own or would own, promise.


This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links (at no additional cost to you!). Thank you for considering shopping through my links this season - it means the world to me!

While Michael and I don’t have kids of our own, I do have five school-aged siblings to whom I love to give presents that will (hopefully) spark wanderlust within them when it’s their time to venture out on their own. Here is a selection of gifts targeted to kids of all ages, meant to inspire a desire to travel and also to keep them occupied during downtime when they’re away from home:


TRAVEL GIFTS FOR KIDS + TEENS

Top Row
Born to Explore Bodysuit* | Ceramic Lunch BowlKnitting Kit*
Middle Row
Airplane Activities Box* | Instant Camera | Kid's Two-Week Travel Journal
Bottom Row
Atlas of Adventures Travel Alphabet Printable | Little Passports Subscription

Why these items

Born to Explore Bodysuit* | Support a small maker and start them right with this cute graphic bodysuit! I love the clean, modern print and the statement is tough to beat.

Ceramic Lunch Bowl | Yes, it’s just a bowl, but it’s a nice, minimal, well-made bowl that can grow with them. From starter cereals to teenage snacks, they can tote just about anything in this sleek, travel-friendly bowl.

Knitting Kit* | In need of a few hours of quiet, or is your family shifting away from technology when you travel? Keep older kids or teens occupied with this knitting kit from Wool and the Gang (before you ask, knitting is definitely cool again). Choose a color they’ll like, and allow them to see a project through to completion while you’re on the road. Save 20% when you sign up via my referral link.

Airplane Activities Box*| This box of activity suggestions is a great option for keeping young minds occupied while on a flight. Have them flip a coin and follow the prompt for hours of distraction; your fellow passengers will thank you.

Instant Camera | Give responsible teens the opportunity to hone their photography skills with the world as their subject. An instant camera provides the same satisfaction of instant results as a phone or digital camera, but the added challenge of choosing just the right shot the first time.

Kid’s Two-Week Travel Journal | I’m the first one to advocate for keeping a journal while you travel and I think that’s doubly important for kids to keep a journal. They can record their memories of their travels now, and have something to look back on when it becomes difficult to recall many of the details of their journey as they get older.

Atlas of Adventures | Books have the powerful magic of transporting kids to other destinations without leaving home. This one takes kids all over the world exploring well-known destinations, natural wonders, and important cultural events.

Travel Alphabet Printable | A beautiful print for a nursery or any young child’s room, this design highlights the world from A-Z. Plus, it makes a great last-minute gift as it’s print-at-home!

Little Passports Subscription | This gift keeps on giving all year round, and they’ll be certain to think of you each time they open their Little Passports box. Each box is filled with collectibles and information about the country chosen that month.

*this item is no longer available and I've linked a similar product


Looking for more? You can find all of my gift guides here.

What childhood holiday memory is most dear to you?

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