Every year, it's the same question. What do we bring to keep the kids busy on holiday? Not too heavy. Not too bulky. Not too expensive if it gets lost. And if possible, something that lasts more than twenty minutes.
We often recommend magnetic games for holidays. But let's be honest – there's what really works, and what works less well depending on the situation. Here's our no-frills guide.
What to bring without hesitation: the magnets
The magnet boards – those that contain the game pieces – are perfect for travel. They are flat, lightweight, and fit into any pouch or case. No need for an entire suitcase. A bag compartment is enough.
For even easier travel, magnets can be carried in a small zipped pouch or bag – they hold very well and don't get damaged.
At your destination, they adapt to what they find:
- The rental fridge – perfect magnetic surface, accessible at all hours
- A metal door – same principle
- A cast-iron radiator – often found in old family homes
- The metal garden table – perfect for playing outdoors in the shade
- At grandparents' house – the fridge is running at full capacity
And if you have a metal garden table, you have a giant play surface for the whole summer. (You don't necessarily think of it – yet it's often children's favorite surface on holiday.)
Magnets can be set up in thirty seconds and put away in thirty seconds. No pieces lying around everywhere (well, fewer than a puzzle). No urgent battery hunt on a Sunday. No screen.
That's what makes the difference on holiday: a game that depends on nothing more than a metal surface and imagination.
What to leave at home (or almost)
The 30x40cm wooden magnetic board – we love it. But let's be clear: you're the one carrying it, not the child. It weighs 600g and measures 30x40cm – too big for a child's backpack.
For a plane or train journey, we advise against bringing it. However, for a holiday home or at grandparents' house, it's perfect. It leans against a wall, doesn't need to be fixed, and offers a large play surface for the entire holiday.
Our advice: leave a board at the grandparents' house. That way it awaits the children every visit – and you no longer have to ask yourself the question.
Which magnetic games to bring on holiday?
It all depends on age and preferences. Some ideas:
- For little ones (3-4 years old) — Dress Me Up, The Farm, Polar Animals, Forest Animals. Themes close to everyday life, easy-to-grasp pieces, no rules – just a surface and characters to move around.
- For middle ones (5-6 years old) — Ocean Animals, Jungle Animals, Professions, The Garden, Dreamland. Richer universes, stories with multiple characters.
- For older ones (7 years and up) — Anatomy, The Life Cycle of a Butterfly, Shapes & Tangram. Games that stimulate curiosity – and for the Butterfly, perfect for the countryside: after learning the stages of transformation, children go butterfly hunting outside. The game continues beyond the board.
- For light travel — take one or two games maximum. Children play better with less than with too much.
The bonus of holidays at grandparents' house
Holidays at grandparents' house are often when children play most freely. No busy schedule, no organized activities – just time.
Magnets are perfect for this. Grandparents don't need instructions. Children play alone or together. And the grandparents' fridge becomes an improvised theatre stage.
If you're looking for a gift for grandparents before the holidays – a magnetic game to leave at their house is an idea that lasts for years. And it simplifies your life with every visit.
In summary
- ✅ Magnet boards – perfect for travel, lightweight, compact, in a zipped pouch
- ✅ The 30x40cm board – ideal for a holiday home or at grandparents' house
- ✅ The metal garden table – a giant play surface for the whole summer
- ⚠️ The board on a plane or train – possible, but you're the one carrying it
- ❌ Too many games at once – choose 1 or 2 themes maximum
Happy holidays. 🌞