[j7ake]

The issue is you don’t know which of the 0-5 dollar products to spend that will make them excited.

A strategy is therefore to buy lots of cheap stuff and experiences, and let the kids have the option to choose. Then throw away the stuff they don’t care for.

If you buy expensive things, you tend to try to force that thing onto the kid, which can be counter productive.

[millzlane]

Pen and paper are my go-to. Throw in a "wow that's beautiful!" And they will draw all day.

[Doxin]

If I may amend, try a "Wow, that's beautiful! That must have taken a lot of work!" and you might keep your kid drawing long-term. It's nearly always better to praise effort over skill IMO.

[Loughla]

We took a trip to North Carolina with our at the time 5 year old. The only things we took for entertainment was one of those pens with 4 different inks and a pad of paper.

Kept him occupied for the 16 hours.

[janalsncm]

In this case she asked to take the bus. I suppose that could’ve gone south, though. I think kids are generally delighted by novelty.