Best activities for airplane ride?

[Kyle+Breanna'smom]

We have not flown since having our second child. I was just wondering what are the best things to bring onto an airplane to entertain our kids? What things are ok to bring on a flight with all of the restrictions? We have a portable dvd player which will help a lot but I also need some things for them to play with. I was thinking play doh? Coloring books and crayons? What things do you bring or recommend? My son will have just turned 5 and my daughter will be 2 1/2 at the time of our trip. Thanks!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Well, I wouldn't do playdoh, b/c it's messy and the smell may bother people.

Our boys were 5 and 7 when we started flying and the dvd player and small video games seemed to be the best thing for them. I have also taken crayons or colored pencils with coloring and activity books; magnet games (kind of like paper dolls or complete your own landscape style things); pencil games like tic-tac-toe; and a cd player with music and/or books on cd.

I don't know how many of those will work with your toddler, but they should keep your older child occupied.

 

[hmgray95]

Color magic stuff is great because it will only write on the paper (so you don't have to worry about it getting on them or the plane table and seat. For your 5 year old, Highlights makes some fantastic magazine type puzzle books that will keep him occupied for hours. Some of the puzzles are with stickers, and others are hidden picture puzzles, some are mazes. etc. My DD 5 loves them....I keep them in my cars so that when we are out to eat we always have something to keep her occupied while waiting for the food. And because they are a magazine, you can just throw it away when they finish all the puzzles. You can only get them through a subscription....it's around $11 for two books and they ship them to you every 6 weeks (I think), but they are worth every penny in my opinion. I do know that you can order two on a trial basis, and cancel the subscription if you don't like them.

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

were taking our portable dvd player- best investment i have ever made!!! plus books, coloring books and little travel magna doodles. all things you can get at the dollar store. i was thinking about play doh, but as a pp said its messy and all my 2 yr old does with it is tear it apart. i do not want to start my vacay by cleaning the plane!!

 

[CyndiLooWho]

Ooh, the travel magnadoodles are great! We kept those in the car for years, and they were always good for some quiet time out of the kids.

 

[PHXscuba]

5-year-olds are pretty good at entertaining themselves (and being either bribed if truly necessary). I'd bring a few familiar things (maybe let him pick a couple small things to "help" pack) and get a few trinkets from the dollar store or the like. I love Magnadoodle, Color Wonder, books on tape, etc.

2-year-olds are tougher. Maybe she'll fall asleep?! The Magnadoodle is great for that age too, plus stickers. I found a bunch of simple finger puppets at IKEA that amused my son for a long while, a couple at a time.

On a plane, just like at church, my rules are 1. nothing loud, 2. nothing messy, 3. nothing with a lot of pieces

Unless the flight is really long, I've found that by the time they get on, check everything out, eat something, play with the new toys, eat some more, go to the bathroom -- you're there! I'd definitely use the 2-year-old's car seat -- they seem to understand about having to stay restrained when it's a familiar seat.

PHXscuba

 

[stacy6552]

I find playdough and crayons problematic, as both can be a major pain (messy and little things to drop and loose). Honestly, I think a bunch of DVDs and a steady supply of snacks is the best way to go. A gameboy could help without adding to the stress. You could get a etch-a-sketch on a keychain for the baby...Easy care kind of things, nothing high maintenance.

 

[debster812]

Color Wonder markers and paper

Portable DVD player (WITH headphones, as it's so loud on planes, you'd have to be blasting it to hear it, and your neighbors may not want to listen in)

Pipe cleaners

Scotch Tape for the little one. I kid you not. My 4 year old neice entertained herself on the flight from BOS to MCO by peeling off pieces of tape, and balling them up. She had a small plastic bag to dump them all in.

Digital Camera. Let them snap away as many pics as they want. You can delete the majority of them....

 

[Kyle+Breanna'smom]

Thanks so much for the great ideas! I think you are right, the play doh is probably a bad idea now that you remind me how messy it can be. Crayons may be a mistake as well? Our flight is about 3 hours which is not too bad but I just wanted to provide some entertainment! Great ideas!

 

[deva]

Wikki Stix - I kept them hidden and saved them especially for the plane ride! Now they come out at restaurants.

 

[MrsJD]

We have a portable DVD player with earphones, but on our last flight we learned about the wonder of the Ipod. Since she isn't allowed to touch it normally, she was very much into being able to listen to her songs on it. Plus it has two earphones, one for each of your kids. Load it up with Disney songs and it's that much better.

 

[PixiePlanner]

I know DD has strung fruit loops on string and thought it was the greatest thing, better than a candy necklace because it was bigger!

Could be messy, yes, but it might work.

 

[Lilo'sMommy]

sounds like you've got some great ideas! I was able to go to the dollar store and pick up a bunch of little things that will keep my boys occupied (stickers, finger puppets, pie cleaners, coloring books, etc), but the key with my kids is to hide it from them and not bring it out until the flight. Even if it's not something fantastic, the fact that it's new seems to hold their attention longer. Hope this helps!

 

[amberg@eastlink.ca]

thats exactly what ive done!! i bought it brought it in while they were in the bath and then hid them in my carry on! so once i break em out itll be like cool new toys!!!

sounds like you've got some great ideas! I was able to go to the dollar store and pick up a bunch of little things that will keep my boys occupied (stickers, finger puppets, pie cleaners, coloring books, etc), but the key with my kids is to hide it from them and not bring it out until the flight. Even if it's not something fantastic, the fact that it's new seems to hold their attention longer. Hope this helps!