2 hr plane ride with 4 kids

[disfan07]

how do you keep a 1 yr old, 3 yr old, 6 yr old and 10 yr old occupied for 2 hrs on a plane? I would love any suggestions that anyone has

 

[Perditamarie]

Here are some ideas:

*mp3 player loaded w/songs and stories

* coloring (love Color Wonder sets)

* magnetic playsets

* leapster or nintendo ds

* movie on portable dvd

* writing travel journal/word search/magazine

* reading

* new and different snacks to try

* pipe cleaners and window clings

 

[tazdev3225]

We bring handheld games, drawing supplies, a favorite toy or stuffed animal, even their favorite books so that you can read to the littler ones. The two older ones should be easier to amuse than the little ones. Also don't forget something for them to chew on during takeoff and landing. It will help their ears to pop and prevent some major pain. The little one could just be a bottle but gummy bears or fruit snacks will work.

 

[disfan07]

Thanks for the suggestions...i forgot about theear pressure thing i guess b/c it doesnt bother me...i do have a ? about that though...the 1 yr old is 9 months right now and doesnt take bottles.but im assuming sippy cups work the sam way for ear pressure...is that true?

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

anything that encourages swallowing will help with the ear pressure... a sippy cup, nursing, pacifier

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

Your kids are my kids ages. We always pack a ton of stuff, but they never or rarely take anything out of their bags. The little ones usually sleep and the other 2 will play gameboy.

Sarah

 

[juliana_sd]

Have any of them flown before? A 2 hr flight goes pretty quick (assuming you don't get stuck in line on the runway for a long time) - my 4yo loves watching out the window on ascent and descent... that's a good 20-30 mins each. Then there's getting a drink and having a snack. You don't have too much time to fill.

We have a 5-hr flight coming up in 2 weeks so we're bringing the DVD player and books and other stuff. Hopefully DS sleeps!!!

 

[dougsmom98]

Yes, I agree with the other poster who said that a 2 hour flight is quick. Figure 30 minutes for the excitement of take off and 30 minutes for the excitement of the decent and you only have an hour to occupy the kids. Usually the drink and snack (if they provide one) is good for another 20 minutes or so. Don't forget the inevitable diaper change and trips to the potty. After the first flight with my kids, I stopped bringing so much stuff because we just never used it. I like color wonder markers like other poster have mentioned. For the littlest ones, I recommend bringing stickers and paper or a sticker book. That keeps my little one entertained for a long time. It is a lot of work for her to get the stickers off the page and it keeps her so busy. Good luck.

 

[delmar411]

I'd second that a 2hr flight doesn't really leave them looking for things to do. I don't think we did anything with the kids and they did great. They did enjoy listening to the different radio stations with the earbuds that the airline gave them. I will say that my then 18mth old was a terror and a half and spent the flight down screaming bloody murder the entire flight(seriously ). He didn't have his own seat and I believe that was the entire issue. If he had been in his carseat, none of that would have happened. This Dec he'll be strapped into that flight harness things, CARES(?) so I'm crossing my fingers that he'll not give a repeat performance of last year.

 

[PA Princess]

We also have 4 kids (3, 6, 11, and 12) and as others have said, we always pack way more than we need. Our flight to FL is 2 1/2 hours and in repeated flights we have never really had an issue with keeping kids entertained. Little ones often sleep and older ones seem to enterian themselves fine for that length of flight.

Often my kids have been entertained by something simple and enexpected.
Last year our youngest was 2 and she was entertained by a small stuffed animal...I and would tell her stories about what the stuffed animal (a moose) was going to do in Disney - she loved it!

I think a huge benefit of flying is that planes are loud, so the pressure to be quiet is removed. My kids can be perfectly entertained for 2 1/2 hours on a plane, but try and keep them entertained and quiet in church for an hour when they are under 5 and I want to tear my hair out.

 

[disfan07]

yeah i didnt think that we would need to plan on bringing much for them for a 2 hr flight but i wasnt sure b/c the only one who has ever flown before is the 10 yr old and he was 3 when he flew so we're not sure how they are going to do with it...now im thinking just some books and coloring for the 3 yr old and the PSPs for the 6 adn 10 yr old...knowing these kids they wont sleep haha....they NEVER sleep