It seems only fitting, after writing my last two blogs, to follow up with one for older children.  Personally, I find travelling and entertaining older children less work. Partly because I enjoy some of the activities/games that they enjoy (I guess I’m just a big kid at heart).

So, here are 10 activities that I’ve enjoyed doing with my kids when they were this age and we were travelling or waiting in a restaurant for food.

1. The Robot Factory

This is a colouring book that’s different from other colouring books. Each page is split into three sections. The top section has robot heads and shoulders, the middle sections have robot bodies and the bottom sections have robot legs. When you colour in a section, you can turn the sections on other pages so that it can have a variety of looks. If you are bringing colouring activities on holidays, don’t forget to pack some colours (and a sharpener if it’s colouring pencils)

2. Colour your own Postcards

Postcards are gradually becoming a thing of the past, but it doesn’t have to be that way! These packs of ‘Colour your own Postcards’ have 10 postcards in each. Enough to keep your child busy on a plane journey or in a coffee shop, and great for them to write little messages to friends and family about how they are enjoying their holidays! I stock a pink packet and a green packet.

3. Colouring Pencils

If you are bringing colouring activities for your child, don’t forget to pack some colours for them to use. I have found that a lot of good restaurants give out colouring pages to children to use while they wait for food to be served. I have also found that they give out blunt or broken crayons. These are fine for younger children but older children find it hard to keep within lines using chunky crayons. And, if you are bringing colouring pencils, it’s wise to pack a sharpener too!

4. A Kite

I feel like I harp on a lot about the pocket kites I stock, but that’s because they really deserve it. They are small, light and have no rods, so they are hard to break. They also fly so well (check out all the reviews they have on my page – it’s not just me that loves them!)

5. Return Ball

These tennis balls on an elastic tread attached to a wrist band are fab if there’s no other kids around to play with your child and they are wanting some outdoor time and a challenge. The aim is to throw the ball to the ground and then catch it as it springs back. Once mastered using both hands, then try using your dominant hand and then your less dominant. I think you’ll find that everyone will want a go!

6. Eduludo Shapes

If you’re staying in Ireland this year, then plan for some wet spells, when playing outside isn’t an option. If your child loves solving puzzles and working out where shapes fit, then this Eduludo Shapes activity will be right up their street. It’s a children’s version of Tangrams where you have to figure out how to use the wooden shapes so that you complete the pictures shown on the cards.

7. Marble Games

Not every travel game has to be for playing in a small area/on a table. Often it’s just something to entertain our children, while we try to have some down time ourselves. Marble Games would be perfect for this. It’s small to pack and can be played indoors and outdoors on flat surfaces. It’s the kind of game that if you produced it when other kids are around, it would help break the ice and they might join in too. Hey presto – your child now has other kids to play with and you can rest even more!

8.  The Matilda Card Game

The characters in this card game are based on the Roald Dahl book, Matilda. This is a fast moving game with the winner being the person who first gets rid of all their cards.

9. Scratch Art Keyrings and Bookmarks

Creative children will love spending time designing bookmarks or keyrings using these scratch art kits and there’s plenty in each pack if other children or adults want to do them too. They make lovely ‘holiday gifts’ for friends and family too!

10.  Pipolo

Pipolo is a bluffing card game that the whole family will enjoy playing in the evenings or on a wet holiday day.

I hope that helps you as you plan your break away with your seven or eight year old.  If you are also travelling with younger children, take a look at my last two blogs:

Card Games you’ll want to play with your children,

Travel Activities for 3 and 4 year olds and

Travel Activities for 5 and 6 year olds.

Have a lovely holiday,

xx Suzie