Keeping kids busy on the go is an art that takes a lot of preparation and the right entertainment tools. Travel games and activity packs are great on airplanes, car trips and at the restaurant. There is also a wide range of digital games on the market, but – call me old fashioned – I have never been a huge fan of portable video games. I find them alienating and I dislike the image of children lost into a tiny screen completely unaware of the world around clicking away with their thumbs. I don’t deny they do the job and keep kids occupied, but I believe children should be entertained with stimulating activities.  I always opt for portable art & crafts packs and activity sheets, but recently I have opened up to the world of iPhone Apps, which are very different from portable video games. For starters the owner of the phone is the parent rather than the child, and that in itself puts a limit to the usage and more importantly the applications available for kids are interactive and educational designed to stimulate rather than alienate. Stories and interactive learning are always winners in my book.

Lorraine and Annabel, the founders of My Busy Kit developed a cool iPhone App for kids on the go called My Little Suitcase, which is available to buy from the App Store. My Little Suitcase is a fun App that lets children decide the holiday destination and consequently the items to pack for their trip. Once they get there, they can play games with a bouncing ball and make the sun shine at the beach or dress a snowman and make the snow fall on their ski trip. This is a simple and very effective App for kids aged between 3 and 6, which is not only entertaining but it stimulates children’s free choice and independence through imaginary play.

As well as the App, My busy Kits has some fabulous travel kits containing a mix of toys and arts & crafts material to keep kids entertained on the go. The standard kits are suitable for children between 3 and 7, but on request they can be customised up to 10 years old. I like that the kits come in useful transparent bags that can be reused again and again.