Last-minute
travel toys

CORRECTION Tuesday, December 28, 2004 » Ian Falconer is the author of the "Olivia" series of children's books. A column on Page C3 Friday incorrectly listed the author as Ian Calder. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

On the checklist for a holiday trip or family vacation with your kids, don't forget the bribes -- I mean, the last-minute travel toys.

The secret to keeping your sanity and avoiding utter chaos might boil down to two words: portable entertainment.

Handheld electronic games are a good diversion for family members of all ages, said Peter Tabilang, Radio Shack's advertising and marketing director for Hawaii.

"They're an economic alternative to some of the more pricey games like Nintendo and GameBoy," Tabilang said.

He keeps the prices on Radio Shack merchandise in Hawaii the same as on the mainland, which gives customers a break.

New handheld games like the ABC Sportsmaster, casino games, the TV Guide game Quizmaster and Mattel's new Classic Baseball and Classic Basketball offer something for adults and children of all skill levels at a nice price -- about $24.99 down to $8.99 for some.

"They're great travel toys, especially on a plane, and even in the car," Tabilang said.

Radio Shack also carries Child Guidance toys, including some that are light enough and small enough to entertain a toddler or younger child on a trip, he said.

Demand for travel toys always picks up in the last few shopping hours before Christmas and beyond New Year's Day in Hawaii, he said.

"We have an extended holiday season from Thanksgiving to late February for Chinese New Year's," he said.

"Boredom is your enemy," said Robert Slye, who recalls vividly the first plane trip that he and his wife, Tracy, made with their three children when the youngest one, now 7, was just 2. "People would look at us getting ready to board and you could hear them silently praying, 'Oh, please, don't sit next to me.'"

Now the Slyes, who co-own ToysAhoyUsa.com, of Barrington, R.I., don't have to worry much about travel entertainment. Their daughter, 12, "will read like there's no tomorrow," he said. Their sons, 11 and 7, are big game video game players.

Besides books and video games, Slye recommends "Wikki Stix. They're like straws and you can make bendable figures with them, and they're inexpensive, about $5.99 a package. Card games like Uno, the matching game, are good."

One of the cutest new travel toys for girls ages 4 and up -- and one with definite "Mom appeal" -- is the Olivia Fold-Up Bedroom Set. The toy features a small plastic figurine of Olivia, the little pig who stars in Ian Calder's delightful "Olivia" children's books. Tiny furniture, a bright red blanket and a plastic pet cat complete the set. (Price: $14.99. ToysAhoyUsa.com ships to Hawaii, with three-day UPS Air an option.)

"It's adorable and it's perfect for travel, especially for girls about age 4. That's a hard one," Slye said, recalling the "fidgety fours" that beset even the most adventurous travelers.