Part of Our Continuing Series On Travelling With Kids
For trips both long and short, we sometimes need a small item to occupy the time. We have found that we return regularly to one particular boredom buster: The Magna-Doodle!
We love the Magna-doodle because it is easier for young hands to use than the old school Etch-A-Sketch. At a very young age, our Bluey was using the Magna-doodle in the car. (He called it his DS, in homage to his older sister’s Nintendo DS, which she rarely allowed him to use.) It has saved us on many car rides that went longer than Bluey’s expectation or tolerance.
Tip: Keep an eye out at garage sales for the MagnaDoodle, or a similar knock-off version. They come in several different sizes!
It’s a great car toy! It is quiet, requires no batteries, and can last for years. It tolerates drops and spills. And the fun lasts as long as kiddo (or Mom and Dad) can come up with new ideas of what to draw—from practicing letters and shapes, to maps and pictures, or a quick game of hang-man, the Magna-doodle can do it all.
Best of all- your kiddo is not ‘plugged in’- s/he can still talk to you, see the scenery and enjoy the adventure!
Sometimes the old school toys are the best.
Just before heading off for our recent trip to Phuket I saw some small versions of Magna-Doodle for sale in Kmart and quite cheap. Way more cost effective than electronic toys and encourages imagination.