Summer holiday essentials: how to keep children entertained on long journeys

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Keeping children occupied during long journeys - and while on holiday - can be a challenge, but there are plenty of ways to entertain little ones, from colouring books and card games to smartphone apps.

Secrets and stories

Whether you’re in London, Paris or New York, Lonely Planet’s City Trails books will entertain and teach youngsters at the same time. Filled with stories, facts, and attractions to visit, the guides reveal “secret” sculptures, bridges, swimming pools and parks, as well as aspects of the cities’ history. £6.29 (shop.lonelyplanet.com).

On the cards

Gobbit is a fast and frantic card game that demands strong levels of concentration – and good reflexes. The cards feature four animals in three colours, which “eat” one another based on their colour and their position in the food chain. Slap your animal to defend it from a predator’s attack, or slap your opponent’s animal to “eat” it and claim their pile. £14 (rulesofplay.co.uk)

Snap happy

Available in various colours, the Polaroid Snap instant print digital camera is ideal for children who want to make memories on holiday. The 10-megapixel camera is pocket-sized, so ideal for travelling, and prints 2x3inch pictures at the click of a button. £89.99 (polaroid.com).

Appy travels

Released last month, Toca Life: Vacation is a smartphone game that allows children to experience checking in for a flight, boarding a plane, jumping into a hotel bed and digging for treasure on the beach. With four locations and a set of diverse characters, the app has a child-friendly interface with no in-app purchases or third-party advertising. Available on iOS and Android, £2.49 (tocaboca.com).

Get wordy

From the makers of bananagrams, Zip It is a compact word-race game which features 24 letter cubes that players use to race against one another to create a Scrabble-esque word grid. The travel pouch includes clever scoring zips so that players can keep track of their points – no need for a pen and paper. £14.99 (winningmoves.co.uk)

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