Children On Airplanes????

[daystar]

HI,
DOES ANY ONE HAVE ANY IDEA'S HOW TO KEEP CHILDREN BUSY ON THE PLANE???MY BOYS ARE 12 AND 5....THIS IS OUR FIRST TIME FLYING... SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT YOU SHOULD GIVE YOUR CHILDREN GUM BEFORE GETTING ON TO THE PLANE SO THERE EARS DON'T HURT, IS THAT TRUE???BLUE
THANKS

 

[Mskanga]

Gum works wonders for my kids, they also like to play with clay, they can play with that for hours.

 

[poohbear2]

Yes and No books work wonderfully! My son also brings his gameboy as well as a deck of cards and lots of snacks!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Mskanga
Gum works wonders for my kids, they also like to play with clay, they can play with that for hours.

Ah yes, clay. I cannot tell you how long it took me to get it out of my slacks. I am sure you are careful, but, that would not be my choice of playthings for a child. Most especially after that incident.

 

[alexturner74]

Originally posted by Mskanga
Gum works wonders for my kids, they also like to play with clay, they can play with that for hours.

Clay...bad for aircraft interiors...as well as other people's clothes. Please be careful!

 

[rsschneck]

We have been flying with our DD (6) since she was a baby. Since your kids are older here are some ideas.

Cross words, math books,color books, reading books, kids magazines anything that is brand new. New things keep kids interested for longer mostly because it is new.

Gameboy!!!

Pixter for the 5 year old especially

Laptop or personal DVD player and many movies.

We always bring gum, just in case. Our DD doesn't have ear troubles, but DH does.

 

[CarolynK]

We have found that hard candy works better than gum to pop your ears. I bring Tootsie Pops for my kids. As far as keeping them occupied, we bought a small DVD player and a splitter for the headphones so they can both watch at the same time. Getting them to agree on the same video isn't always so easy.

 

[seashoreCM]

(Don't know whether this is permitted.) If you have walkie talkies (not real cell phones) for the kids to use in the parks, you can let them use the walkie talkies on the airplane if you can't get seats for the family all together.

About choice of movie for the DVD player, you put the DVD in the player and keep the other DVD's in your purse or satchel.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[erikthewise]

Gum may be helpful but it's certainly not necessary. I think most children (like most adults) get by just fine with a few sips from a water bottle, if anything; certainly ours do. If your children don't ordinarily chew gum, no need to take it just for this.

If you anticipate problems, you might investigate "Earplanes".
I think walkie-talkies are unlikely to be permitted inflight.

 

[CRCrazy]

Depends on how long your flight is?

Your 12 year old should be pretty easy - a game boy works wonders with this age! They can't use them during takeoff - but if he has a window seat, boys this age are pretty interested in all the technical details! If he likes to read, a good book is always in order!

The 5 year old will be a little trickier, but still doable! I had my five year old bring a backpack filled with stuff - Crayola Magic Wonder markers are fantastic - they only write on the special books/paper made for them - no marks on anything else, including skin and clothing! Lots of healthy, fun snacks - think a Disney theme! Mine had a bunch of homework from her teacher as she was missing kindergarten for a week - she did some of this on the plane. She slept for a while on the flight out, as we had to get up at 3 am for the drive to the airport. On the way home, she made a friend - they talked the whole way home! She also liked bringing her little playsets - it's more work for whoever is sitting next to her - they have to play too, but she was happy!
You know what toys/etc. keep your son busy - wrap up a few inexpensive things and bring them out at intervals throughout the trip!

If you are worried about ear pain - if your kids were frequent fliers with ear infections - this could be a problem - means they have small, easily blocked ear canals. The tootsie pops work for minor blocks - 2 of my kids use the Earplanes religiously! They really do work, but you need to have them in at least 1/2 hour before you descend - so just don't tell them it's okay to take them out! My doctor also recommends a dose of Benadryl - opens up the ear tubes, and makes them a little sleepy!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
(Don't know whether this is permitted.) If you have walkie talkies (not real cell phones) for the kids to use in the parks, you can let them use the walkie talkies on the airplane if you can't get seats for the family all together.

About choice of movie for the DVD player, you put the DVD in the player and keep the other DVD's in your purse or satchel.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

I don't think you can use walkie talkies after the aircraft closes the door.

 

[dcfromva]

Originally posted by seashoreCM
(Don't know whether this is permitted.) If you have walkie talkies (not real cell phones) for the kids to use in the parks, you can let them use the walkie talkies on the airplane if you can't get seats for the family all together.

About choice of movie for the DVD player, you put the DVD in the player and keep the other DVD's in your purse or satchel.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Using FRS Walkie Talkies on an airplane might seem like a good idea--but they ARE transmitters with a range up to 2miles (on the ground)... Specific permission must be obtained before operating walkie- talkies on an airplane...

Here's a couple of references:
From Advisory Circular (AC) 91.21-1
(7) Prohibiting the operation of any portable electronic devices aboard aircraft, unless otherwise authorized, which are classified as intentional radiators or transmitters.
These devices include, but are not limited to:
(i) Citizens band radios.
(ii) Cellular telephones.
(iii) Remote control devices.

Link to FAA AC 91.21-1 Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft -

FCC Sec. 95.192 Family Radio Service (FRS) Rule 2 Authorized locations.
(a) Provided that you comply with these rules, you are authorized to operate an FRS unit:
...
(3) Aboard any vessel or aircraft registered in the United States, with the permission of the captain , that is within or over any area of the world where radio services are regulated by the FCC or upon or over international waters;
.... complete link

-DC

 

[ducklite]

I have to agree with the other posters, as careful as they might be, clay and Play-doh are not good ideas for planes. Even a small misplaced piece can destroy the next persons clothes if they sit on it. Plus Play-doh has an odor that can cause some asthmatics to have an attack from smelling it.

I also don't like the idea of chewing gum on planes, people tend to stick it "whereever" when they no longer want it, and it can end up on other peoples things and clothes. Yuck. Hard candy, licorice, Juice boxes, anything that needs to be sucked or chewed can serve the same purpose without the possibility of making a mess for someone else.

Back to the OP's question--Gameboys, comic books, a few Matchbox cars, crayons and paper, Mad Libs, playing cards are all quiet and easily portable.

Anne

 

[goofy4tink]

When we flew Boston to SeaTac my dd was 5..her first flight. She packed her own 'flight bag'. She put her books, crayons, coloring pages I made for her, some crackers, her water bottle all in it. Now she (at 9) is a seasoned traveler. She brings food, water, her bear, game-boy, several books and paper and pencils/crayons. We also found the EarPlanes to work well. We've had an issue only once but it pointed out how things can go wrong. So we use the EarPlanes religiously now.
I'm thinking of getting her a CD player for this trip. She's heavily into music.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by ducklite
I have to agree with the other posters, as careful as they might be, clay and Play-doh are not good ideas for planes. Even a small misplaced piece can destroy the next persons clothes if they sit on it. Plus Play-doh has an odor that can cause some asthmatics to have an attack from smelling it.

I also don't like the idea of chewing gum on planes, people tend to stick it "whereever" when they no longer want it, and it can end up on other peoples things and clothes. Yuck. Hard candy, licorice, Juice boxes, anything that needs to be sucked or chewed can serve the same purpose without the possibility of making a mess for someone else.

Back to the OP's question--Gameboys, comic books, a few Matchbox cars, crayons and paper, Mad Libs, playing cards are all quiet and easily portable.

Anne

ITA about gum. God what mess that can make. Few airports even sell it.

 

[dcfromva]

I think Gummy Bears work pretty good in clearing your ears (even better than chewing gum.
It is more the function of swallowing than chewing which causes the ears to clear...

Here is a link for more details...

-DC

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by dcfromva
I think Gummy Bears work pretty good in clearing your ears (even better than chewing gum.
It is more the function of swallowing than chewing which causes the ears to clear...

Here is a link for more details...

-DC

Ah, yes, swallowing. I try that but they keep taking the Bloody Mary away upon takeoff.

Seriously, great post and great link. Thank you.

 

[NotUrsula]

Crayola makes a modeling dough product that is not greasy, it is called "Model Magic" It has a very light odor (not at all as smelly as Playdough). It also does not smear. The one shortcoming of the product is that once the envelope is opened, you can't keep part of it to use another time, so do buy it in the smaller envelopes. It dries to a consistency rather like a dense sponge, very lightweight. Once dry, it can be painted or colored with markers. If your child is best entertained by clay, then Crayola's Model Magic is the one product of that type that I think would be acceptable for travel in commercial aircraft.

For kids who like to color, Crayola also makes a product called "Color Wonder" that is good for travel. Color Wonder markers will only work on specially treated Color Wonder paper; if you swipe them against clothing or upholstery, they will not leave a mark.

 

[madge]

two words--Magna Doodle

keeps my toddler busy in the car, and I plan on bringing it along for our September flight. Stories on tape are also a good idea.

Luckily, my brother is loaning us his personal DVD player. Our flight is just long enough to watch Monster's, Inc. My daughter zombies out whenever it is on

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I just wanted to second what several other posters have said. I usually put together a little activity pack to use on the flight and give things out throughout the flight instead of all at once. I start out with coloring pages, either Disney coloring books or I print out the coloring sheets on the Disney.com website. Next I pull out the headsets and let them listen to their favorite Disney story on tape. After that they're ready for a little more coloring or a snack. Depending on age, travel games like tic-tac-toe or word searches/cross word puzzles work well too. Lastly, wrap a few small inexpensive things that they can unwrap throughout the flight as small presents (just because or for being good). They can be Disney related or something from the local dollar store. Just remember to keep things small, simple and non-distracting for fellow passengers. I received the ultimate compliment last year when several passengers said that my children were so well behaved that they didn't even know they were there! (They were 3 and 4 yrs old at the time!) Sorry about the self-indulging brag