Family Travel Tips

Best Kids’ Cafés for Working Parents in Berlin Trying to work with children around is rarely as easy as it sounds. As a babysitter, I often see parents hoping to answer a few emails, prepare for a meeting, or finish one urgent task while still keeping the day pleasant for their child. These are some of the best kids’ cafés in Berlin where you can enjoy one good hour of relative calm, open your laptop, and let your child play happily in a safe space nearby. Berlin has a strong family café culture, which is one reason Berlin works so well for traveling families.  One practical note before you go: if you have a genuinely important work call, always call ahead first to double-check opening hours, current availability, and whether a birthday party or private event is happening at that time. Several of these venues host private celebrations, and some explicitly ask visitors to check updates before coming. All of the cafés below are easy to reach by public transport, though depending on the area, some are more convenient by U-Bahn, S-Bahn, tram, or bus than by metro alone. If you are planning a trip to Berlin with your children, read our ultimate Berlin city guide here. 1) Little Ones Café, Friedrichshain Little Ones Café is my personal favourite. What makes it special is the layout: smaller children can stay close and play downstairs, while bigger children have an elevated loft-style play area where they can move more independently. One of the sweetest details is that children can peek out from the little windows upstairs and wave to you while you sit below working at a table. The café currently lists opening hours as Monday and Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00, with Tuesday closed, and it also notes that card payment is possible. The Wi-Fi is good, the food is excellent, and the whole place feels thoughtfully designed rather than improvised. Entry is a flat €10 per child, not hourly. If I had to recommend just one of the family-friendly cafés in Berlin for working parents, this would be it. Official link: Little Ones Café Location: Karl-Marx-Allee 92, 10243 Berlin 2) Spielzimmer, Prenzlauer Berg Spielzimmer is still one of the most practical kids’ cafés in Berlin, especially with younger children. The admission is at €2 per hour per child, a large indoor playground, a separate toddler area with a ball pit, free Wi-Fi, and cash-only payment at the moment. What I like most is how clearly the space is divided. Bigger children can climb and move around in a separate area within an intricate and colorful castle, while the little ones have a visible ball-pit zone that you can still keep an eye on from the tables. It is also one of the more affordable spots on this list. The food is simple but good, with waffles, cakes, fruit salad, quiches, small dishes, coffee, and tea.  Official link: Spielzimmer Location: Schliemannstraße 37, 10437 Berlin 3) Kreuzzwerg, Kreuzberg Kreuzzwerg is one of the coziest options in the city and a very good choice if you want something more neighbourhood-based than trendy. The café presents itself as a family café in Kreuzberg with indoor play areas, family-friendly food, breakfast options, and bookable breakfast tables. It is a good place for emails, planning, or admin rather than deep work. The breakfast reservation option is particularly useful if you want your morning to feel smoother and more organised. You should also plan to bring cash. Official link: Kreuzzwerg Location: Hornstraße 23, 10963 Berlin Five children playing in a ball pit at one of the best kids’ cafés in Berlin 4) Café Mi Mundo, Spandau If you are staying in western Berlin, Café Mi Mundo is well worth knowing. It is generally open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 19:00, but always check Google in case opening hours change because of a closed birthday party. This is a quiet family café with indoor play corners and a ball pool, plus a large sandbox, swings, and bobby cars outside. It is a place children can enjoy whether it is sunny or rainy. It feels especially useful when you want a gentler outing away from the busiest central neighbourhoods.  Official link: Café Mi Mundo Location: Hauptstraße 34, 13591 Berlin 5) Mini Me Kindercafé, Charlottenburg Mini Me is a strong option for energetic children who need movement more than quiet toys. The café has an indoor playground across several levels with a ball pool, play corners, and a party room. It currently lists pricing at €4 for the first hour on weekdays, €5 for the first hour on weekends and holidays, and €1 for each additional half hour. For some families, this kind of place works better than a prettier café with only a tiny toy basket in the corner. If your child needs to climb, run, and stay active, Mini Me can actually give you more usable work time because your child is genuinely engaged. The café menu also includes salads, finger food, pasta, pizza, smoothies, and cakes, so it works well as more than just a play stop. Official link: Mini Me Kindercafé Location: Damaschkestr. 4, 10711 Berlin 6) MiniCity Kindercafé, Friedenau If your child loves miniature role-play houses, MiniCity is a great pick. The café is an indoor play concept built around role play and tiny domestic settings. Children pay €4 for the first hour Tuesday to Friday, €5 on weekends and holidays, and €1 for each additional hour. Current opening hours should always be checked on Google, though current opening hours are  Tuesday to Friday 14:00–19:00 and Saturday to Sunday 11:00–19:00, with Monday closed. This one feels especially good for children who love imaginative play. It is less about simply letting off steam and more about entering a little world. That can be great for working parents because role play often keeps children happily occupied for longer than expected. The place also offers great cakes, coffee, and fruit plates! I suggest

Travel Toys For Kids: That Actually Keep Them Busy on Planes and Trips     Best Travel Toys for Kids (Quick List) Sticker books Magnetic games LEGO or linking cubes Card games (UNO, Top Trumps) Small figurines (animals, cars) Blank notebook + crayons Inflatable beach ball Travel board games Here’s the conundrum; you want to travel light, but also keep the kids amused. What travel toys for kids can you pack that fit in your suitcase without compromising on entertainment value? Here’s a few tips based on my own travels with my daughter and working with families and observing what the kids love to play.  Read: How To Raise Travel-Happy Kids by Kate Orson Observe Your Child’s Favourite Toys   Watch your little ones at home and notice the toys that keep them occupied for hours, especially if they aren’t too big! Toy cars, animals or figures; the things that inspire imaginary play can mean your children get so lost in their world they forget to ask, ‘’are we nearly there yet?’’   Choose Small, Space-Saving Toys It goes without saying that anything you bring needs to be small; sticker books are one of the best travel toys for kids because they’re so thin, packing in a lot of entertainment time for their size. For younger children reusable sticker books are great. A beloved story book or two can be perfect for a plane ride or keeping the bedtime routine.  Choose Creative But Compact Toys  A tupperware of random lego pieces can inspire creativity more than a fixed design. If you’re worried about losing the pieces, linking cubes are a great alternative, and suitable for 3 plus. A simple pad of blank paper is one of the most versatile travel toys for kids. Draw whatever your child asks you to, play noughts and crosses, or make paper aeroplanes. Playdough is a bit messy, but it can be great for an airport, or in the kitchen or terrace of an Airbnb. Choose Magnetic Travel Toys For Kids  Whether it’s a magnetic travel-sized board game like snakes and ladders,  magnetic shape sets, or a play scene, these are the perfect travel toys for kids to keep them occupied on a plane ride or car journey as there’s less risk of losing the pieces.  Travel Games For Kids  For older children card games are fantastic travel toys. Uno or a simple pack of playing cards are classic favourites. Monopoly Deal is a mini card version of the larger game. We’ve loved playing games of Top Trumps with cat and dog breeds, which sparks conversation as well as lots of fun.  Physical Play  Something that can be used outdoors is perfect for those moments when kids just want to let off some steam. A small ball, or frisbee is ideal. A beach ball can be stored up compactly, and that has the advantage of being light enough for indoor play too.  Read: Here’s what clients and parents have to say about Tripsitta. Ask the Kids For Which Toys They Want To Take  When I was writing this article I asked my daughter and her cousins what travel toys for kids they would recommend. They all said ask the kids themselves! With older children it can be great to give them some agency, and it’s a good lesson in learning how to compromise when there’s a minimal luggage allowance.  Go With Less  Resist that urge to take everything, even if you feel under pressure! Part of the fun of travel can be seeing what children come up with for fun when they’re outside of their daily routine. It’s amazing to see how creative kids can be with a few toys, and lots of imagination.  And when they’re bored of everything…  Often boredom isn’t about needing another toy, distraction or entertainment. It’s usually about needing a sense of connection with another human being. One effective antidote to boredom is to spend some uninterrupted time with your child, playing something of their choice. Even just ten minutes of connected play can make a difference. After soaking up your warm attention they may be more able to come up with ideas about what to play.  And when nothing is working… When you just want a break, or to enjoy a city tour or uninterrupted meal without the kids in tow, then why not book a Tripsitta babysitter for your holiday? They come with their own Mary Poppins bag of toys, so your children can enjoy the novelty of something new. Just reach out if there’s anything we can bring to your booking.  Read: Why Hire A Holiday Nanny FAQ: Travel Toys for Kids What are the best toys for kids on a plane? Magnetic games, sticker books, and small figurines work best because they’re compact and less likely to get lost. How do you entertain kids while travelling without screens? Creative toys like LEGO, drawing pads, and card games encourage imagination and keep children engaged for longer. How many toys should you bring when travelling with kids? Less is often more — a small selection of versatile travel toys can keep kids entertained without overpacking.

How To Raise Travel-Happy Kids Written by Kate Orson Kate Orson is a parent educator and author of Tears Heal: How to listen to our children. She also works as a Tripsitta babysitter and holiday nanny.  Any parent of a young child knows that routine can be the bedrock of a stable family life, but what about when you’re struck with wanderlust, and craving adventure? Should you wait till the kids get older before seeing the world or jump on a plane this summer? As an expat mum living away from my home country for the last twenty years, travel has been part of our family life since my daughter was just a few months old. While there may be some stresses and upsets along the way, it’s perfectly doable to travel with young children. Sometimes your plans might need a little tweaking to make them child-friendly, but there can still be plenty of fun to suit all ages and stages! Here are a few tips for helping to help holidays go smoothly. Big Feelings Change, newness and exciting adventures can trigger big feelings in children. Maybe they have a meltdown because it feels overwhelming, or they spend the morning whining, and their negative mood threatens to spoil the day. A crying, moaning child is often seen as negative in our society, but despite how challenging it can be, it’s actually something very positive! Your child feels safe to express their feelings and tell them what’s going on for them. In times of intensive travel, your child soaks up a warm connection with you, and that can actually allow them to feel safer to let big feelings bubble up to the surface. One of the most important things to understand as a parent is that crying, and tantrums are a healing process, a natural way to release stress and tension. When we sense our child on the verge of a meltdown we might try to do everything we can to distract them, cheer them up, or try to talk them out of crying. We might give in to their demands, when we really want to say no, or tiptoe around their emotions to try and prevent them from having a tantrum. However, this can end up backfiring and they spend the whole day in a negative mood that affects everyone’s enjoyment of the trip. One of the most helpful things you can do for your child is actually simply allow them to express their feelings freely, without trying to stop the crying. Move to a quiet spot, or your hotel room. Offer your child hugs, don’t try to distract or ‘fix’ the problem immediately, but just listen. If they want something you don’t really want to give them right now such as an ice cream, or a new toy, gently tell them no, and hold the limit without budging. Oftentimes children pick a ‘pretext’ to get upset about to process deeper feelings. For example maybe your child has some fear triggered about being away from home; but they want to stifle their feelings with sweets or a toy. The problem isn’t really not having the toy, so when we say ‘no’ to a want, it can actually be like a gift, allowing our child to express their deeper feelings of fear and upset. You may find that after a short cry, they are feeling much better, and everyone is able to enjoy the rest of the day. Connection Time Another principle to bear in mind is how children thrive on a strong sense of connection with you. While they may be sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, and are away from their usual routine, they still have you! One way to help your day go smoothly is to start the day with some ‘special time.’ Set a timer with your child and tell them it’s ‘special time,’ and they can choose to do whatever they want. Even ten to fifteen minutes can make a difference. For this set time shower your child with attention as they play something they love with you. Maybe it’s with toy cars or some stuffed animals they’ve brought with them. Maybe they want to draw with you, and just have your warm attention 100% on them for a while. Special time is a great way to start a day off right. Your child absorbs a strong sense of connection with you as their safe base. This attachment is fundamental for children to feel confident to go off and explore the world. A small dose of child centred-time can also help them be a bit more flexible about what you want to do! Travel with kids is always going to be a little different. Days of adult-centred activities may be a thing of the past (unless you hire a Tripsitta of course!), but time spent supporting your child through big feelings, and short bursts of child-led play can make all the difference. To learn more about Kate and her experience and background, you can discover her Tripsitta profile here. She’s available for local babysitting in Florence, Chianti and around Tuscany, and is also happy to travel for holiday nanny positions.