Creative Alternatives to Screens During Holiday Travel
Holiday travel comes with its own kind of chaos — airport delays, long car rides to grandma's, unfamiliar living rooms full of relatives. A tablet is an easy way to keep a child calm through all of it, but a small, travel-ready coloring kit can do the same job while doubling as an icebreaker with cousins once you arrive.
Why Consider a Screen-Free Alternative
Screens make a lot of sense during holiday travel — long layovers and unpredictable delays are exactly the kind of stretch they're good for. The idea isn't to remove that option, just to pack something else too, for moments when a quiet table activity fits better than a glowing screen in a crowded gate area.
Coloring as a Simple Swap
Coloring travels light, works without a charger during a long flight delay, and holiday-themed pages tie naturally into the season, which can make the activity feel like part of the celebration rather than a distraction from it.
Other Creative Options to Mix In
- Pack a small folder of seasonal coloring pages and a tin of colored pencils — easy to carry through security and light enough for a backpack.
- Bring extra pages to share once you arrive, so it becomes something to do with cousins rather than a solo activity.
- Use it during long waits at the gate or on the road, alternating with a device rather than replacing it outright.
Tips for Making the Swap Stick
- Keep the travel folder separate from everyday supplies so it's always packed and ready for a trip.
- Choose colored pencils over markers for travel — less mess, less chance of a leak in a bag.
- For more travel downtime ideas, see creative alternatives to screens during sick days at home, which covers other low-energy, low-mess activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it realistic to avoid screens during holiday travel?
Not entirely, and that's fine — long delays are exactly when screens tend to be genuinely useful. A coloring kit is simply a backup, not a replacement.
Will older kids use a coloring kit during travel too?
Often, yes — especially with more detailed seasonal designs rather than simple ones aimed at younger children.
What if there's no table to color on, like on a plane?
A clipboard or a hardcover book underneath the page works as a makeshift surface in a tray-table-free seat.
Conclusion
A small seasonal coloring kit gives holiday travel a calm, portable option that works in an airport, a back seat, or a relative's living room. For more ideas, see why coloring beats scrolling on holiday travel.