Camping and Caravanning with CONNETIX

By Lisa Lee

We’ve been on the road for 2 months now, and with limited space, we packed only the essentials—including very few toys. One toy that made the cut was our set of CONNETIX, which has proven to be a fantastic choice. When it comes to travel-friendly play, open-ended toys like CONNETIX are ideal. They’re compact, easy to pack, and incredibly versatile, so kids of all ages can enjoy them without needing much else. CONNETIX invites cooperative play, perfect for family bonding, and works wonderfully for quiet, independent moments. Plus, they’re handy for all sorts of little tasks around the van or tent! Here’s how we’ve been making the most of our CONNETIX on the road.

1. For Younger Kids: Free-Play Building

Bring out a large camping mat and let your kids start building. Whether it’s towers, castles or imaginative play scenes, they’ll stay happily occupied—and it won’t be long before neighbouring kids want to join in too! You can relax near your tent or van while the kids are entertained and safely within view.

On rainy or cold days, CONNETIX can be just as easily enjoyed indoors. Spread the fun onto a cozy bed or a soft surface, and let their imaginations run wild. From creating tiny worlds to constructing grand designs, the possibilities for play are endless—whatever the weather!

2. For Quiet Time: Create DIY Board Games

Need a break from the excitement? Use CONNETIX to make simple board games right at your campsite! Lay them out as a checkers board using shells or rocks as the game pieces or get creative and invent a game of snakes and ladders, or even Sequence. These DIY games are perfect for calm, focused play without the need to pack extra games. Want some more inspiration? Check out our boardgame blog here.

3. For the Whole Family: Target Knockdown Game

Bring everyone together for a fun, friendly competition! Divide into two teams and set up tiles as small targets, standing upright in a row. Teams take turns trying to knock over the other team’s targets with a soft ball. The first team to knock down all of the opponent’s tiles wins. It’s easy to set up, and perfect for an afternoon of laughter and friendly rivalry.

4. For Organising: Daily Rhythm Cards

Use CONNETIX as a way to keep track of your daily rhythm on the road. Stick tiles on your fridge or another magnetic surface, and use them as “rhythm cards” to display the weeks’ schedule. This simple system helps kids stay aware of the day’s plans (and cuts down on the “when are we going to the waterpark?” questions!). Want to learn more on how to use CONNETIX as a daily organiser? Check this blog.

5. For Decorating: Window Photo Frames

Give your van a cozy, personal touch with CONNETIX window tiles as makeshift photo frames. Display photos of your adventures on your fridge in the van, creating a mini-gallery of your journey. It’s a sweet way to reflect on the trip or bring a little piece of home into your travelling space.

6. For Playing Cards: Card Holders

Playing card games is a very popular holiday activity. However, with little ones can be tricky when they struggle to hold all their cards. Use CONNETIX as handy card holders—perfect for young hands and keeping family game time frustration-free even when there is a little breeze!

7. For Learning: Multi-Purpose Educational Resource

When you’re on the road for a longer period and need to homeschool your child. Leave the bulky educational resources at home, and bring CONNETIX and chalk markers instead. They make an excellent hands-on learning tool. Practice Literacy, Math and Science right on the tiles! Check out our educational blogs for more in-depth ideas on how to incorporate learning on the road.

8. For Science Fun: Magnetic Treasure Hunt

Turn your adventure into a science exploration! Go on a magnetic treasure hunt and see how many items your tiles can stick to around the campsite. It’s a fun way for kids to engage with their environment and make predictions about which objects will be magnetic.

If you’re interested in more treasure hunt style activities you might like our CONNETIX on the move blog too.

9. For Family Challenges: Build-Offs and Domino Races

Create some friendly family competition with CONNETIX challenges: Who can build the tallest tower in one minute? Can you make the longest domino chain or a star shape using only one hand? These playful activities are great for family connection and friendly competition, no matter your location! To create a fun competition, we often add a dice, you can add the number of tiles you rolled. Who has the highest number after 5 or 10 rolls?

10. For Nature Exploration: Leaf and Rock Observation Boxes

Use CONNETIX to build small observation boxes for nature discoveries! Encourage kids to carefully collect leaves, flowers or non-living objects like interesting stones. They can construct clear-sided “nature boxes” to examine their finds up close, making it a fun, hands-on way to explore the local environment and appreciate nature’s little details.

With CONNETIX, camping and caravanning can become a playground of creativity, learning, and fun. Being easy to pack and versatile, they’re the perfect travel companion for families looking to entertain and connect through play.

Lisa Lee

Lisa is a qualified teacher working at a school for students with additional needs. She is the mumma of a wonderful and wild son. She loves day trips, traveling and good coffee. She is passionate about learning through play enjoys setting up open-ended educational play activities.

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