7 year old flying alone....any ideas for stuff to do?

[CastleCreations]

Hi all, My 7 year old daughter is flying from Florida to upstate NY and I'm looking for ideas for her for something to do on the plane for the 3 hours. I thought of coloring, but she tends to drop her crayons everywhere, so that won't be an option. Also I thought maybe my iPod, but I wouldn't be happy if it came back broken...so I'm at a loss. I haven't flown in a while, and I'm not even sure if she can brings snacks or not, and what kind of bag to bring. I would hate to pack all sorts of goodies and they put her bag in the overhead compartment. Help please...

 

[brymolmom]

WOW - 7 year old alone...Let's keep her fingers crossed she gets seated next to a Mom or Dad...who will likely help her out.

Some ideas I would do:
- Keep her carry-on VERY simple and basic and light. A backpack from school that will fit easily under seat in front of her (make sure she doesn't get first row seating - no underseat storage).
-LOTS of snacks - anything dry can be brought - goldfish, cookies, M&M's
- can you walk her right to the gate? I think you can even without boarding pass for 'special' travelers which solo young kids qualify (you might need to call airline ahead to arrange this) - if so, buy her a bottle of water AFTER security and put it in the 'holder' on the side of the backpack. Tell her to use it if her ears hurt on the way up or down (have her get it out of the backpack as she sits and put it in the pocket on the back of the seat in front of her as she won't be able to get the bag out during takeoff or landing).
- BOOKS are the best activity I can think of. Buy a bunch of new ones at her reading level and put them in there as a surprise.
-Activity book like a word search with a few pencils in the backpack pocket just in case one drops.
-a stuffed animal or doll that is familiar from home - she might be missing family on the flight- this way she'll have a 'loved one'
-How about a magnetic book - you can buy one at Walmart - take apart (at home, before) the different magnetic characters and put them in the 'book' - different scenes to make up different stories.

That's probably about all I'd do. Don't want her to have too much to keep track of.

Good luck.

 

[playswithstars]

WOW - 7 year old alone...Let's keep her fingers crossed she gets seated next to a Mom or Dad...who will likely help her out.

Some ideas I would do:
- Keep her carry-on VERY simple and basic and light. A backpack from school that will fit easily under seat in front of her (make sure she doesn't get first row seating - no underseat storage).
-LOTS of snacks - anything dry can be brought - goldfish, cookies, M&M's
- can you walk her right to the gate? I think you can even without boarding pass for 'special' travelers which solo young kids qualify (you might need to call airline ahead to arrange this) - if so, buy her a bottle of water AFTER security and put it in the 'holder' on the side of the backpack. Tell her to use it if her ears hurt on the way up or down (have her get it out of the backpack as she sits and put it in the pocket on the back of the seat in front of her as she won't be able to get the bag out during takeoff or landing).
- BOOKS are the best activity I can think of. Buy a bunch of new ones at her reading level and put them in there as a surprise.
-Activity book like a word search with a few pencils in the backpack pocket just in case one drops.
-a stuffed animal or doll that is familiar from home - she might be missing family on the flight- this way she'll have a 'loved one'
-How about a magnetic book - you can buy one at Walmart - take apart (at home, before) the different magnetic characters and put them in the 'book' - different scenes to make up different stories.

That's probably about all I'd do. Don't want her to have too much to keep track of.

Good luck.

You'll be surprised then that anyone five and over is legally allowed to fly by themselves. Normally they have flight crew that are assigned to help them.

I agree with the small backpack and some books.

 

[CastleCreations]

You'll be surprised then that anyone five and over is legally allowed to fly by themselves. Normally they have flight crew that are assigned to help them.

I agree with the small backpack and some books.

I waited until I felt she was mature enough to handle it. Now my 6 year old...that's another story..she gets lost in a Target bathroom...LOL,
My dad was a captain with a major airline for over 20 years, so I'm not concerned about her flying alone. She is sitting in the very rear of the aircraft, and I'm paying an extra 100 dollars each way for her to have some supervision. I didn't even think about her ears popping and her needing gum or water...thanks...I will add that to my list.

 

[Trena]

I used to fly alone when I was little. My parents were divorced. The flight attendants took good care of me. I was never worried.

Don't forget gum, to help the ears pop.

Do you have a personal DVD player? You can rent/return DVD players at some airports. A movie and a new book, would be great.

 

[KristinU]

How about a competitive MP3 player with video like a Creative Zen or a Sansa Fuze? I have a Zen and my DS 5 loves to watch "little black TV" and navigates it awfully well - They both are expandable using SD (Zen) or micro SD (Fuze), so you don't need a big one - you can get in for around $70 (which might be a cool gift for her anyway?)

How about magazines? Highlights, National Geographis Kids, etc. Magazines are fun because of the variety.

 

[RN4Babies]

I totally agree with the personal DVD player and a new movie or two. My dd8 used it almost exclusively on the plane going and coming home. Books lasted 15 minutes, coloring maybe 5 minutes....but the movies really kept her occupied.

 

[Shagley]

Does she have any type of handheld video game system like a Leapster or a Nintendo DS that she could take?

 

[playswithstars]

I waited until I felt she was mature enough to handle it. Now my 6 year old...that's another story..she gets lost in a Target bathroom...LOL,
My dad was a captain with a major airline for over 20 years, so I'm not concerned about her flying alone. She is sitting in the very rear of the aircraft, and I'm paying an extra 100 dollars each way for her to have some supervision. I didn't even think about her ears popping and her needing gum or water...thanks...I will add that to my list.

Just remember that the water would have to be purchased after she has gone through security. The last two times I've flown the flight attendants have offered drinks one being water.

 

[mommy*RN]

Does she have any type of handheld video game system like a Leapster or a Nintendo DS that she could take?

That was my thought too. My DS6 LOVES his DS to the point we have to have "DS free days!".

 

[deva]

Just flew with my 7 yr old and 1 yr old and I took Wikki Stix. They are like those Bendaroos that you see advertised on TV all the time (but the Wikkis are made in USA, definitely nontoxic). Flexible yarn covered in wax - they are just these bendy, twisty sticks. If she's into crafty stuff they are fun. You can buy a kit that comes with card for connect the dots etc.

I also second some sort of DVD player or IPOD.

 

[RedAlfalfa]

They are at some Targets on clearance for $40. My DD & DS love to watch theirs on the car rides to Disney.
The negative is it's hard to find the movie cards now & they only made a handful (I bought most of mine on EBay). Now I put movies onto an SD card but it was tough to figure out how to do it. The good news is I'm computer illiterate so if I can learn how- anyone can.

 

[Perditamarie]

I second the Mix max idea! We love these... you can load it w/music and audio books (free downloads from library if you are a member or books on cd) and also load movies on sd cards.

We use http://magicdvdripper.com/ to rip our dvds and it is easy, if a bit time consuming. I also have found 2 packs of 2 GB sd cards at Big Lots (for $9)...and our Target is also clearancing some Mix Max for $40 as well. They are a nice size and not cumbersome like a portable DVD player that always seems to need a charge.

Definately tuck in some snacks you know she likes, especially if flying during a meal...the snacks on planes always seem to be something you would never eat!

 

[scottishduffy]

When I used to fly alone i would pack a backpack with assorted things to amuse me.

Usually I brought a book, my gameboy, some sort of small puzzle or brain teaser item to work on. When I got to age of making friendship bracelets I would bring the string with me and work on a bracelet to give to friends once I got to Virginia. I carried a CD player with music as well a light snack. I would just pack my own backpack each year and take it on the flight.

The flight attendents always helped me to transfer flights, until I was about 12 and didn't require the 'babysitting' anymore.

 

[triplejen]

I'd also include a couple of sticker books.

 

[SpectroMouse]

Okay- Just looked up the Disney MixMax, thinking it may be easier for my 4 year old than carrying the DVD player and saw this------

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm.


This is on the Disney shopping website!

 

[MoniqueU]

Well I guess I won't start a thread about how I am nervous about my 16 year old flying from California to DC this summer.

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

Okay- Just looked up the Disney MixMax, thinking it may be easier for my 4 year old than carrying the DVD player and saw this------

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm.


This is on the Disney shopping website!

Please don't be scared by the warning! It's on pretty much every hard good sold in CA... and the buildings... and the parks... and well, everywhere and everything. There've been LOTS of threads about that warning right here on the boards. It is just some crazy CA law, basically.

OP - I would be a nervous wreck! The flight's what like, 3 1/2 hours? I'd say some sort of movie player would be perfect. Just make sure that there are some good headphones that cancel out some noise as it is pretty hard to hear over flight noise if you are not on a large jet, and then the player would have to be cranked which isn't good for your ears. You don't need the $100 noise canceling headphones but some cheap noise-reducing ones would likely help.

 

[CastleCreations]

Thank you so much everyone for all of your ideas. It gives me a lot to think about...LOL. I need to get started...she leaves on Friday! eek

 

[2manyprincesses]

Well I guess I won't start a thread about how I am nervous about my 16 year old flying from California to DC this summer.

haha! I think I'd be more worried about a 16 yo than a 7 yo!!

OP ~ Maybe you could take her to the store and let her choose a few new things to do on the plane? Book, DS game? etc. Also, snacks and gum. I flew by myself a lot as a kid and I always thought I was so "grownup" when I got to the other side of security and went to get my water and gum by myself. So I'd make sure she had maybe $20 for traveling $$.

ETA, talk to her and let her know that if you need ANYTHING do not be afraid to use the flight attendant call button. They are there to help you! Also, If you are not able to go through security ask if she can be escorted to her flight and while you are checking her in, point out the uniforms of your airline and let her know if she needs anything in the airport find someone like this!