How Do You Keep Your Kids Entertained On Long Flights?

[Mr Wes]

I have a 6 year old that I gotta keep busy during a 5 hour flight. On our last trip we carried a portable DVD player but it is now broken, and because were on a budget I can't (not allowed) buy a new one. Any ideas?

 

[evanthep]

Borrow from a friend. Check with your airline to see if they have tvs on the plane.
I always go to the dollar store and buy a bunch of little junk toys. I wrap them with a lot of tape (so that takes time). I give out every 30 minutes or so. Seems to work, and the stuff is so cheap, who cares if you lose it.

 

[kissthemouse]

Do you have a laptop that has a DVD drive?

A few things (other than the standard books/coloring books) I always bring on planes...

~ DumDums (for take off and landing for ears - and "entertainment" in a pinch)

~ Bandaids - they double as stickers...that way, my kids can stick them whereever they want, and at the end of the flight, they peel right off, unlike regular stickers (although your 6 YO should be plenty capable of having stickers and using them appropriately )

~ Magnetic Dress Up Dolls - can find at Walmart

~ Bendaroos/Wikki Sticks (can make letters/words out of them, or can make animals, flowers, whatever...and they stick to the tray table so you won't have to be picking them up off the floor the whole flight!)

I'll come back if I remember any other good ones...

 

[shafke]

You can try some travel games also.
You can get Trouble, Connect 4, Battleship, etc.
Coloring book and crayons also work.

 

[kissthemouse]

Oh...you can also, in most major airports, RENT a portable DVD player and return it at your destination...you may even be able to get a deal if you prepay for one for your return flight...??

 

[ParrotBill]

A collection of
thigns to read
things to do
things to color or draw
things to eat

we make up a specific bag for these things to go under the seat in front of our daughter.

I also had a cheap music player for her at that age loaded with disney songs and music from favorite TV shows & CDs

 

[Tomh]

I don't have to keep my DS5 occupied for a 5 hour flight, but I do have to keep him, and DD14 busy for a 20 hour drive, though that is certainly different than a flight. One thing that DS5 absolutely loves is a simple pad of paper (it's a small pad, purse sized, as opposed to note book sized) and a mechanical pencil so he can draw. He will often occupy himself for quite a bit of time that way, and if he has someone that will draw with him, all the better. He loves to draw a shape on the paper, then challenge someone to turn it into a drawing. Then, someone draws a shape for him, and he makes it into a picture (he'll often copy the picture that was previously drawn).

For the car drives though, the DVD player is indispensable.

 

[Tomh]

I don't have to keep my DS5 occupied for a 5 hour flight, but I do have to keep him, and DD14 busy for a 20 hour drive, though that is certainly different than a flight. One thing that DS5 absolutely loves is a simple pad of paper (it's a small pad, purse sized, as opposed to note book sized) and a mechanical pencil so he can draw. He will often occupy himself for quite a bit of time that way, and if he has someone that will draw with him, all the better. He loves to draw a shape on the paper, then challenge someone to turn it into a drawing. Then, someone draws a shape for him, and he makes it into a picture (he'll often copy the picture that was previously drawn).

For the car drives though, the DVD player is indispensable.

 

[katlamar]

I Spy books!
great little riddles to read & then finding objects in the picture...both dd's love them (6 & 3).
Do you have a leapster???
blank paper & crayons/pencil
Snacks!

Have a wonderful trip

 

[Ktharee]

Benadryl! totally joking!

Lots of great ideas already. For a flight that long there will most likely be some movie entertainment.

Bring some park maps (if you don't have actual ones, you can get some to print online) and go over the itinerary/dining plans/etc.

A deck of cards (to play a simple game of war) or the kids cards (Go Fish, Old Maid)

Encourage a little "resting of the eyes" so you will be nice and rested when you arrive at WDW!

Good luck!

 

[Big Daddy Incredible]

Our flight to WDW is 2.5 hours. We chew up at least a half hour just talking about what we are going to do once we get in the parks.

I have really come to appreciate the actual flight to WDW and back. There is no place to go for me or my kids so we get a lot of great time to talk. It is so easy to get distracted when at home.

But all of the suggestion already on here are good. We have also used most of them ourselves.

 

[RMulieri]

We buy card games like crazy eights or go fish, coloring books, magnetic dolls etc.We never even bring the Dvd player.

 

[MissionWDW]

Benadryl! totally joking!

LOL....I was going to say dramamine (sp)!


Great suggestions from everyone. I only have a 2.5 hour flight, but I plan to bring coloring books, my laptops for them to watch DVDs, Nintendo DS (DD). I'm praying the 2 and 3 year old nap...lol. I like the idea of wrapping up dollar store toys really good with tape. I may actually use that idea.

 

[jrc-elpaso]

I've seen pocket sized Etch-a-Sketch and other toys like that too - not too expensive.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

I've moved this thread to the Transportation board.

 

[redhead09]

Well, for me, this has been an easy one....our 4 1/2 has flown to Europe 5 times and AZ about 6 times to visit Grandparents....so, here is/was my strategy.

1. Bring snacks
2. She likes to color (so crayons & books)
3. We too used to bring the portable DVD player....now she is liking portable handheld games (she like VSmile) however, your child may have a Ninentendo Ds or other handheld device.
4. Husband usually travels with his laptop - so perhaps a game or movie on that.
5. We like to play Uno or Go Fish.
6. On the longer flights, we have always brought a craft to make (she like those loom things where you can make pot holders etc - may not be the thing for child if a boy).
7. Like others mentioned - there may be a movie on board
8. Did I mention...SNACKS?

Also, if your flight is early in the morning, he/she may be tired...so maybe a little game of "lets see who can keep their eyes closed the longest" - I usually win that one!!!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I've seen pocket sized Etch-a-Sketch and other toys like that too - not too expensive.

I agree this kind of toy is fantastic for this age group, except the toy I would suggest is slightly different. It's one of those magnetic write boards. Try Target store. They are under $10, esp if you find them in stocking stuffer seaon (or some other seaonal variety), and compact. Not only that, but they are magnetic on the back- so you can stick them on your fridge and use them to write notes, grocery lists, etc. You can use them as flash cards for words or math....

I think maybe the name is Magna-Doodle. The 'pen' is on a short plastic cord, so it's would be hard to lose. And if you should lose the toy, then you are only out about $10! plus, it is a creative active toy, rather than a passive activity like watching movies.

I also like that this toy doesn't make any noise!

One more trick that helps in our family...I'm not a huge fan of McD's, but lots of airports have them (and other fast food). It is one time when a Happy-type Meal might be just the thing....

 

[Candy Apple]

Bring books to read to him. A long flight is a great way to read a long book and spend some quality time with your child.

 

[jerenaud]

I admit, I've grown dependant on the seat tv systems. I hardly hear from my 5 year old while I'm busy with the 2 year old and the baby (I usually travel without my husband). Do American carriers not normally have seatback televisions? I was planning to use Delta out of Edmonton (to MCO) - does anyone know if Delta has TVs? Otherwise I may just spend the extra $160 and go with West Jet...

Erica

 

[frannn]

I usually pack a carryon backpack for DD6. We also fly Jetblue, but the buttons to change the channels usually keeps her busier than the shows themselves. We bring new toys that she's interested in. Last year, her backpack contained mini wrestler dolls (kept her busy for a while), a crayola set where the markers only write on the special coloring book, a mini magna doodle, Disney fruit snacks, a mix max with Disney movies, stickers and paper from the dollar store, and an Enchanted storybook. Her actual luggage had more stuff, and we took our travel dvd player, which we just used in the resort with her movies, so we could watch the regular tv. This year I'm paring it all down due to the airline luggage limitations.