The Screen-Free Travel Hack That Changed Everything for Us
I love to travel, but when we travel as a family with young kids it definitely has its challenges. I don't want my kids to have too much screen time, don't get me wrong we watch TV, but we try to limit and be strategic. So I bought my kids old school MP3 players and it completely changed how we traveled. Screen free success! Steal my life hack and have a fantastic vacation.
TRAVEL
7/3/20252 min read
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Screen Free Travel Essentials
Traveling with young kids can be amazing… and overwhelming. Between snacks, spills, and airport meltdowns, there’s often that moment when you wonder, Why did we leave the house? Maybe we'll just go back home.
As a mom who values slow living and screen-free rhythms, I’ve always struggled with how to keep my little ones calm and content on long flights or train rides—without handing over my phone. But this last trip, I finally found something that worked. And honestly? It changed everything.
🎧 Our Low-Tech Travel Must-Have: MP3 Players + Comfy Headphones
We recently invested in two simple MP3 players and soft, padded headphones for our kids—and it was a total game changer.
No apps. No Wi-Fi. No overstimulating blue light. Just easy songs that we downloaded that we know the kids love and can listen to wherever we are.
🌿 Why This Screen-Free Option Worked So Well
✔️ Independence
Our kids felt in control—they could press “next,” turn the volume up or down, and pick what they wanted to hear.
✔️ Calming and Familiar
We pre-loaded the MP3 players with:
Fun songs they already love
Rain sounds, which they sleep with every nap time and at bedtime
✔️ Zero Internet Needed
No connection? No problem. Everything is stored on the device—perfect for plane mode, rural road trips, or screen-free evenings in a hotel room. My thought especially was in France I'm not going to pay for an data for them to have videos or songs on a fancy device. I wanted completely old school yearly 2000s level!
✔️ No Battles Over Screens
Because this was the travel treat, there was no negotiating about shows or fighting over a shared tablet. Just peaceful, private listening. We've been on trips before when my mom has very graciously brought her tablet and the kids fought over who could watch a show. Each of my two kids have their phone "Ipod" and headphones so they can select what they want when they want.
✈️ Where We Used Them
These came in handy during:
Long flights and car trips
Train rides between cities
Quiet time at the Airbnb/hotel
Even at restaurants
They helped set a rhythm and gave our kids something cozy and familiar in a brand-new place. Plus our waitstaff everywhere commented on who nostalgic they were!
💡 What We Bought
Here’s exactly what we used (affiliate links included):
🎵 MP3 Player with Simple Buttons and Expandable Memory
(The controls for this are a little bit weird, but the battery life is amazing)
Pro tip: Use a small zipper pouch or case to store their device and headphones, and keep a backup charging cable in your day bag.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with kids doesn’t have to mean screen battles or overstimulation. Sometimes the most effective solutions are the simplest ones.
If you’re looking for a peaceful, low-tech, and screen-free way to make travel smoother for your family, I can’t recommend this enough.
It's now part of our packing list for every trip—and one of my favorite discoveries this year.