MONTESSORI AT HOME: 10 Travel Activities for Toddlers + Preschoolers

[@jenniferdasilva1071]

Just took my children to diggerland (4, & 2 years old.) Thank you for the tips! They never got board and I always had an open ended activity readily available. The magnetiles on a metal tray was absolute genius! 🔥

[@hkandm4s23]

For young toddlers I highly recommend the "poke a dot" books for in the car. The full size ones are quite large but they do make some cards and mini books that are good for travel. Honestly I just bring one of the large ones though because my daughter loves it so much is worth the space.

[@karissamagana4533]

How did you teach Kylie to play chess and checkers?? That is amazing and want to play with my nanny kids but I’m not entirely sure how to teach them

[@annakab8221]

Great timing with this video we are traveling tomorrow with an 18 month baby and when I saw the video immediately I changed or add some activities for the car 😁

[@fluffyka1986]

I've been watching this channel for some time now and I love everything about it! My recommendation for a activity for a camping trip would be bugnoculars. You put in a bug and can look at it up close. My 2 y.o. loves it!

[@sarahbeth717]

You are the Montessori Mom genius!!! Thank you so much for sharing. ♥️

[@sthephanenieva1533]

Just ordered a couple water wow books, I'm sure my daughter is going to love them, she LOVES any activity involving water. Also, would be a lot to ask a Family Vlog of one of those library trips? Thanks a lot for all the effort you put on this channel, Ashley. I really enjoy it ☺️💛

[@fosterfamily8235]

One of her "Single Parent For A Day" videos does go into the library a bit! Not sure if it's what you're looking for, but it's out there :)

[@sarahrosen4985]

Thank you so much for all the info. If it were my girl ( 3 months younger than Mia) after the first day, we would have pinecones, rocks, leaves, feathers and 'stuff' from the ground to play with for the rest of the trip. 😁 I would bring collecting bags and storage containers for our new nature collections.

[@crazymom468]

Great idea though! Hope Ashley also have similar plans....

[@LenaSandul]

Perfect timing as we have a long road ahead to see the granny with our 14 month old. I was dreading the long ride, but thanks to you I have some ideas as to what to bring with us☺️ Thank you!

[@basmael-salviti1561]

Your timing couldn't have been better for this! We're taking our 19-month-old on his first road trip tomorrow!

[@jazzlynnelizabeth6189]

I needed this video! We're about to go on 4 road trips in the next few months, two are 12+ hours in the car.

[@AmmaraSHAH773377]

I honestly was just thinking of the time you flew across the country with Kylie and now you'll have 2 litlle kids to keep entertained if you were to fly again. I thought of skiing you for this exact video if i were to go on a plane alone with my girl for the first time this is like you read my mind hahaha. Thank you so much for this video. Can't wait for my first trip whenever that will be. You are truly such an inspiration to someone who has no real guidence around that is not just screen related. Wherever i feel myself slipping into bad habits and bad communication methods i watch one of the vlogs to be inspired again to the more healthy way of parenting as it gives me the exact picture of my future life that i want to build with my family.

[@MariaandMontessori]

We're *hoping* we will be lucky enough to travel this year via plane 😭 definitely hoping to keep it no screen while we do so too

[@christinawong7093]

Great ideas I just bought a yoto player in preparation for a long road trip coming up. I also appreciate the cookie sheet idea for magnatiles. Genius!

[@zk.13]

Must try! My daughter loves the cookie sheet with magnatiles, she makes it a house for a small ball and tries moving it around the magnetic house

[@alexh4935]

Melissa & Doug lacing toys also work well. They are essentially just a board, usually in an animal shape, with holes and a shoe-lace style yarn that you can thread in and out to create a border for the animal. No mess, easy to undo and redo again. Perfect if your kid is interested in fine motor skills right now. Also, they make felt activity boards that have different fasteners -- zippers, buttons, laces, etc. This is a great travel toy.

[@lilacheart_]

Another really cool one is getting a small dry erase board with madness on the back (like the ones you might have on a fridge) for the cookie sheet!

[@bridzs333]

We took the Guess who boardgame to a road trip and my preschooler loved it. She was able to have the board on her lap while i had the cards and she kept fireing questions at me :) For toddlers i love sticker books.

[@zk.13]

I just wanted to update you on my daughter because I feel now like you are a friend:) she is almost three now and she loves singing and playing a couple of toddler's songs on the piano, I feel so proud of her , and blessed with your tips in parenting because it definitely helped us communicate and know how to approach her ♡

[@shanemcintosh532]

My kiddos love the Mercy Watson series. 🐷

[@Sophie-qg5vy]

Great video. Much needed since my toddler gets bored in the car. I would recommend the pop it rainbow fidget toy, my son absolutely loves it.

[@rosalindreloj7928]

One easy read chapter book series my 4yo loves is Katie Woo by Fancine Manusckin!!! There are over 40 books and it is so sweet. Each book has 4 stories in one! If you see it at the library, I hope you try it out!

[@AR-k39]

Thanks for the magnet board idea! My 3 year old played with it for 40 minutes on our road trip for day one! I bet it will be a hit the rest of the trip as well. My 9 month old had fun with the cookie sheet and magformers

[@crazymom468]

Next week we are also planning for a long drive for which I've ordered write and wipe book and story books like monkey puzzle, campbell book, which are interactive, wow books went out of stock by the time I proceeded with the payment. This video will be of a great help for us. Thank you Ashley

[@Kaenasmr]

As a new mom I learned a lot from you. Thank you for everything that you share with us through your vlogs 😇 what are your thoughts on baby proofing?

[@haniyyahahmadbonvini1980]

Fantastic travel activity ideas, Ashley! Many of these have worked for our almost 2 year old, especially when traveling overseas. Other car activities she loves are the locks and latches board, dressing boards, and the SGILE magnetic drawing board (available on Amazon). It’s like an etch-a-sketch only with a stylus. This has kept her occupied for up to an hour, easily! It’s one of the few plastic toys we have for her that’s proven it’s value for a few months now!

[@josellineyvoneolais660]

This is perfect! We are taking our 15 month old on her first adventure next month and we need all the entertainment ideas for the drive!

[@MajaJofl]

Hey, I just found your KZbin Channel while looking for Montessori ideas. I can recommend the brand “smart games”. They have a lot of logical games. We love the magnetic books with logical riddles (starting at age 4+) for travelling. Thank you for your ideas and greetings from Germany

[@neumannce]

I downloaded a few KZbin videos, audio books from the library and music (including the white noise she hears every night at bedtime) for my daughter on the ipad. Connected to her Bluetooth headphones she can listen to her "shows", books or music without the screen. I keep the ipad by me in the passenger seat and can change the options for her when she asks.

[@laniehrlich9271]

Amazing! Thank you Ashley 💗 We’re taking our 2.5 year old on a 8+ hour flight in a few weeks. I’m going to need every trick I can use 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@bdazzlefromage]

An update after your trip on how these worked out would be cool! 👍

[@MariaandMontessori]

If anyone is traveling on a plane soon, the overhead headphones also somehow help with ear pressure for the little ones! My brother was really sensitive to it so our only saving grace was clearing out his nose and those headphones to release the pressure!

[@JessicaNWheeler]

I used to love the Berenstain Bears books when I was a kid!

[@buzzi2k]

Have a wonderful holiday!

[@milleniumslayer]

Thx!! Perfect timing

[@amberlynnmahorney4618]

As a kid I loved bringing a few smaller stuffed animals or a baby doll. Having another little buddy the join the fun haha

[@katieweicht4719]

Ahh perfect timing! Thank you!

[@sueyates3555]

These are really some great ideas Ashley. Thanks for sharing it will be a big help. I hope you have a fun camping trip.

[@drmahimapandit3728]

Super cool ideas. We used water wow for many trips. ❤️

[@cocowhite588]

You read my mind or what? Omg thank you for this video!!!!

[@aasthadave2121]

Perfect timing! Thank you for all your tips Ashley! Love ur videos 😍

[@amazingrace4u]

Wow I learned about so many cool toys! More of these types of videos, please!

[@MaisyDaisyTyler]

The baking tray is a great idea. I think il take some magnatiles and a sheet with us. May also try those water pen books. They're called something different here but I've seen them. The bags are a great idea. I've also got some scratch art and velvet colouring for my son as well as a variety of fidget gadgets which work well for my 5 Yr old.

[@weronyqa]

I recommend wooden lacing/threading toys. Also nice abacus can be fun

[@anastasiadavy790]

I also like "Secret decoder" and "Scratch art" in the series On the go by Melissa & Doug. And both my girls just adore the magibook by Vtech, it's an interactive book, screen free and very interesting, plus you can choose many different books of various topics. I think tangram puzzle magnetic can be also of interest for Kylie. My toddler of 17 mo adores her small phone with the music (she pushes a button with an image and it plays kids songs and some classical russian fairy tales). Though it's a battery operated toy, but when the road becomes too long, I think we prefer to listen to this thing, than the child's cry😅 I

[@balesshippolova]

I can't wait to see the blog of the trip. We plan on visiting Colorado in a few years when are kiddos are a little bigger.

[@CarmanCheung]

have the best time with the campervan adventure! we have one and tried to use it whenever we can with our 2 year old. she knows we are going on an 'adventure' when we take the van somewhere :) I am so looking forward to the vlog!!

[@nishaniekanayaka]

Vereeeeeeeeeeeey helpful Thank you so much 🥰 We love your wonderful sweet kids.

[@Azia222]

We used stick notes in plane to stick it on the planes window. That activity took almost hour for my kid :)

[@oliviab3807]

Love these!

[@christinathorsen4274]

Loved this! Thank you!! 🙌

[@flaviabalzarro5043]

Thanks a lot for sharing these ideas! I'm a mom of a 18 months old boy and I was looking for the right activities for him! Would you recommend any books in particular for his age? With a short and simple story maybe? Thanks! Just subscribed to your channel, it's so interesting and inspiring! And your girls are amazing!🥰 A hug from Italy,Rome!☀️

[@Shanvan3000]

We're actually packing for our vacation right now so this was perfect timing! Great ideas ❤️

[@philippapay4352]

How many days will you be camping in the mountains? How many hours is it in the car each way to get to & fro? The mental/memory work of card-playing is good for some relaxation physically after a hike or swim. It looks like you're covered for life outdoors.

[@aylarose6344]

I used to love wikki sticks & totally forgot about them! Thank you for bringing them back to my memory so that I can share them with my kiddo. Also I loved all of these activities.🤍 They were all things I wouldn’t think of on my own so you are a life saver mama!🌟 Just wondering, where are your kids when you film? Must be nice not having them around to distract you from making these sit down type videos.🙌

[@briannanicole3370]

I believe she usually films these videos at night after she puts the girls to bed 🙂

[@philippapay4352]

P.S. When travelling one can interact with children by having them all look for how many bulls among the cows they can find in the farmland pastures or what different wildlife signs they are finding as you get deeper into wilderness, so they know what creatures are around that region. They may not see hogs kept as livestock, but are there goat herds among the cattle? There may even be signs that indicate there are waterfalls or whitewater nearby.

[@MsShohamr1]

Hi, thanks for all the tips, they're great! Tried the Yoto link but dont see the discount - is it still valid?

[@martaharo9605]

Super cool ideas, Ashley. 🙂

[@gaelenoconnell-bidabadi]

HI Ashley, great ideas, thank you! I also have a burning question! I have a 2.5 year old - we're still working on patience. What is your advice (and the Montessori approach), please, for when items a child is playing with on a car ride fall out of reach while the only parent in car is busy driving? We never do screen time so I give my daughter items, some of which are like what you've suggested here, but she frequently drops items and loses patience quickly, asking me to pick them up and hand them back or to give her new items when my hands, of course, are busy on the wheel trying to keep us safe. I've tried: distractions, asking her to take deep breaths and count, switching to playing music she likes, explaining in simple/kid/even funny/whimsical terms why my hands are busy and when I might be able to help her but she has a great memory, great persistence and little patience.

[@HappyHealthyandFree]

Awesome stuff! With your littles would you get two magnatabs or just one and encourage taking turns? Looks like there will be plenty to play with. Our boys 2 and 4 always want to play with what the other person has. Especially when I redirect one, the other then wants the “new toy or activity”

[@TSCStag]

Ashley! Forgot to respond to your last video. Whatever happens to this channel whether it stops or not you and your husband (and children) have alterned my family’s life for the better. Besides the awesome new furniture in the apartment (and some items) your parenting tools are used consistently too. The cost must be so high - I could not do it - so I want you both to know that. And Mike’s advice to me to have fun with my kids and be silly serves as a good daily dad reminder. It is the simple things.

[@crazymom468]

I got few as seconds and got few in give aways. But, I m actually spending more to keep my toddler entertained than my friends and relatives.

[@jeniw2804]

Can you provide the link to the audio book ur daughter falls asleep listening to? Trying to cut tv time! Thank you

[@jadelightsword]

I am assuming you will take photos and videos of your trip. Would you play those back for your girls, or would you consider that screen time and try to avoid it? Just curious.

[@buzzi2k]

If anyone doesn't have access to water wow books that come with the water pen, you can also buy an 'aquabrush' that watercolorists use 🙂

[@lindasreading]

What do your kids do with the Schleich animals?

[@lmtorr22]

Mind blown - didn't even think about cookie sheets being magnetized!

[@hkandm4s23]

Oh I'd like to also recommend these little eye spy cards on a ring available on Amazon. We have the around the house set, but they also have an "at the park" set. Great for outdoors. They have pictures so we have used them since my daughter was about 18 months.

[@sarahrosen4985]

Thanks for the recommendation! These sound great.

[@accailiaagathism]

I didn't know these were a thing, thank you!

[@milenas3797]

Can you provide a link to them? Thanks!

[@cocowhite588]

There are also car seat tables for toddlers. Have somebody have tried one? Are they good?

[@victoriamccormick825]

They sell the water woo books at dollar store not Melissa Doug brand though..

[@neydinhaify]

👏👏👏👏👏amazing

[@nusibabetamar6775]

Can’t believe I am the first watching this 😍

[@jeniw2804]

Can u provide the link to the safari animals

[@briannanicole3370]

I know hers are the schleich brand thats what we buy too. Tractor suppy carrys alot of them or you can buy directly off the schleich website.. amazon carries them too but sometimes the price is jacked way up on certian animals so just watch out for that if you do buy off Amazon (they are pricey anyways but worth it imo) we just bought a 4 pack off amazon recently and it had a baby elephant a baby chimpanzee an adult lion and abult zebra for like 20$

[@jeniw2804]

@@briannanicole3370 thank you. How about the magnet pad? I can’t find it

[@briannanicole3370]

Your welcome! And the magnic pad im not sure about mabey try looking on amazon for that too? Lol

[@briannanicole3370]

Amazon does have them I just looked! I just typed in magnatab and it pulled some up

[@vivianpolikar4446]

That is great. A lot of nice ideas. I travel a lot and bring some of the same things every time :). Question: my son loves playing that he is cooking. I thought about buying kitchen and food toys but I think it is so nice that he just plays with what he has and this is great for imagination and minimalism. Is my thinking correct or is it better for him to have some stuff?

[@LissaxKristine]

Why not get him some real kitchen items? Places like Target and Walmart sell mini utensils. Let him use those and his imagination to "cook," but also provide him with empty food boxes/cartons, etc. The kids at the preschool I work at love using the caps from food pouches as "food" in their play. Plus, if you provide things like real utensils, maybe some inexpensive bowls/plates, a mini cookie sheet, etc, those items can also be used in the kitchen for real cooking projects.

[@gracequinndemenna1]

I have a question. My husband is Korean and I worry, since our kids will be half, about race conversations with people. Has anyone approched you about your daughters not looking like they are your biological children and how did you handle it? 🤔