keep kids busy on a train

tinkerbellsmum_2

hi
has anyone any ideas to keep a 2 and a half year old busy on a train. we also have a 9 year old but shes not to bad to keep busy?

balletshoes

how long will you be on the train?

photome

Talking

Looking out of the window and talking about things you see etc, kept my son amused at that age and gets them interested in the world around them

tinkerbellsmum_2

its 3 hours

Livingthedream

9 year old, mobile phone/Ipod/Itouch with a couple of films on it (ask on the techie part of the forum how to get films converted). 2 1/2 year old, lots of colouring books.

If your on a Virgin train, go to the shop they have special kids bags (Free), which will keep the 2 1/2 year old busy.

ab7167

I regularly do 4 hours with my 2, (3.5 years and 16 months currently) and my usual tactic is colouring books and dangermouse on the iphone for big girl, and a long string of toy cars tied together so they can't get lost for wee boy. And lots of food! Feed them into submission! Don't forget family railcard, also even though your little one doesn't need a ticket you can buy one for her to get the seat reservation, with a railcard it might be worth £10 or so for her to have her own seat? I buy a ticket for big girl, 3 of us in 2 seats is doable, but with a 9yr old you may want more space.

I saw a mum with 2 kids on the train and they had playdoh out - braver woman than I, I fear...

tinkerbellsmum_2

thanks great ideas
i've already brought our tickets i didn't even think to buy one for him.

vicki+1

make up a treasure hunt. a simple one. look for a tree, yellow car etc. get the 9 year old to help the 2 1/2 year old. a prize when its completed

portable dvd players, colouring, take some cellotape and a bit of cardboard and make a ramp for the cars on the table.

tinkerbellsmum_2

oww i like the ramp idea he would love that. gonna put a film on my netbook and take that.

artichoke

hi

i regularly do 3 hour train trips and car trips with my 2 age 5 and 6 now but we have always traveled like this since they were babies ...

my favourite site is
http://www.momsminivan.com/

as it has loads of free prinatable games - treasure hunts / car bingo etc..

If you have booked a whole table then playdough/ plastercine is good...

we also have magnetic mini playmobile sets that i only bring out for travelling (they come in a box with a magnetic board so you can not loose the pieces)..

My biggest problem on trains has been when I want to go to the toilet - its ok on big intercity trains with a big toilet we can all go into at once - but on some trains there has just been a single toilet which means i have to leave them outside in the corridor while i go which i do not feel happy about.... so if it is a single sized toilet i just doin;t drink anything:o

hope it goes well


art

tinkerbellsmum_2

thanks hun great ideas gonna look for the playmobiles.
i'm ok with toliets cause my husband will be there so he can stay with then and little ones still in nappies

great site to