Hold onto your Kindle, iPad and other precious devices at the airport and keep the kids entertained with these TSA-approved toys instead.
Little Ones
Stuffed toys, plush blankets and other comfort items in your carry-on are perfect for the little ones and completely TSA approved. Help younger kids feel the same comfort as home with small toys and dolls, preferably soft and bendable for easier transport, so they feel more at ease during long delays and layovers.

© Nadezhda1906 | Dreamstime.com
Kids
Mesmerize the kids with a new-and-improved slinky called the Mozi. This toy combines the slinky you once knew as a kid with a modern fidget-spinner twist for today’s youth. Watch the kids spin the Mozi in a continuous loop from their own arms or pass it to a friend or sibling. The simple and distracting fun utilizes science and math into everyday play — much like a Rubik’s cube. Shop the geometric arm spinner in several colors and watch the kids entertain themselves.
Help kids reduce stress while stimulating their minds with some adult coloring books and Sudoku challenges. These can be purchased in the airport or brought from home. Find something challenging and fun so they can engage their minds and each other between flights.
Teens
Older kids such as tweens and teens may already have a slew of items they’re planning to occupy themselves with on the trip. Most traveling teens have their tech preloaded with content from shows and movies to podcasts and audiobooks. Since you know they will have their phone, check out some online games you can download and play together like Words With Friends. Sync up and enjoy some friendly competition while passing the time in the airport.
Get the kids engaged in the packing process. Ask them what they would like to bring and see what comes to mind. If there is a TSA-approved version, this will give you time to find it and plan for the trip.
When packing toys for the kids, keep in mind the TSA’s rules and regulations. All carry-on luggage including children’s toys, blankets and bags go on the belt for X-ray screening. To avoid delays, make sure you pack small compact toys as equipment that doesn’t fit through the X-ray machine will undergo a visual and physical inspection by TSA officers.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedNorth America
Sep 3, 20266 Winnipeg, Canada, Destinations for Family Travel
It’s time to start dreaming of your next family trip. Here’s some destination inspiration for you. Take a visual journey through Winnipeg, Canada, with us.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Hotels
Sep 3, 20263 Caribbean, Latin American Marriott Hotels for Multigen Trips
Multigenerational travel continues to grow in popularity, with family travelers moving away from traditional getaways for meaningful trips with family members of all ages. The Caribbean and Latin America are growing destinations of interest for this type of travel, and three Marriott properties offer opportunities for multigen families to create lifelong memories.
Destinations
Sep 2, 2026Look Past the Traditional Classroom with Scott Dunn’s Back-to-School Itineraries
Parents looking to provide their kids with hands-on learning experiences going beyond textbooks by visiting unique destinations with family-centric approaches will find that and more with Scott Dunn's private, expert-led itineraries. These experiences provide lessons the classroom cannot.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Destinations / North America
Sep 2, 2026Visit an Old-Fashioned County Fair in Maine
Celebrate autumn with a family trip to a traditional New England county fair. These annual celebrations of agriculture and country life are filled with sights and activities for the whole family to enjoy, from admiring prize pumpkins and meeting live animals to witnessing horse shows, listening to country music and dancing, and doing craft demonstrations. Most fairs also have carnival rides and hands-on activities for kids.
ShareThis