Ideas for toys on the airplane? 5 hour flight..

[studentmom]

Hi everyone,
Was wondering if anyone had tips for little toys or distractions that I can bring for my kids, ds3 and dd5? Especially for the 3 year old?

We have our DVD player, but the power will only last so long. We have color pencils, sketch pad, color books, her my little ponies and a couple of little poly pocket toys (Mc Donalds). Ds is not one to really like to color a lot, so I'm not sure what would be good...

Hope you all can help, this is their first plane ride (and my second). Thanks.

 

[Tess'smom]

Sticker books usually worked when my dd was younger. My dd loved them and was not into coloring books for any extended period of time. Maybe some small Disney figures that they could play with? What about decorating a dollar store autograph book for the park? Making cards for the characters is a good activity and she gave them to her favorites in the park and they loved them.

Good luck

 

[studentmom]

Thank you!
I will have to try those ideas, especially the stickers.

 

[kpk89]

Try the Color Wonder fingerpaints! They are so cool. Colorless, unless used on the special paper.

Little board books to read to her, or even just teaching her some finger play songs (where is thumbkin?etc)

Other than that and what you've already said, you have it pretty covered. I don't like to bring a ton of toys because they'll end up getting lost down on the floor.

Of course, our flight is only 3 hours. But if you've got a DVD player (we didn't) that might cover the extra time!

 

[wrldpossibility]

We've had luck with the travelsized magnetic play boards. They're at Toys R Us and lots of other toy stores. Those would be great for both your kids. A walkman with books on tape also work well. My older boys don't like to color much either, but they love maze and puzzle books. Maybe your 5-year-old would like those? Also the hidden picture books from Highlights are, well, a highlight of our plane trips.

Good luck! We have a 6-hour flight (with a 2-hour one before that) to get to Disney in Dec.!

 

[SylviaL]

I just bought some floam and my boys (3 & 5) loved it. I found it on sale at a teacher's supply store but I just saw a recipe on one of the DIS boards--I think it was the budget board. Anyways, it's similar to play-doh but they are styrofoam beads. DS3 loved to ask me to make animals--whales, turtles, elephants, etc. It really entertained him for a while. I only let him play with it on the plane or at restaurants. DS3 loves stickerbooks. He has a fire truck one that has traveled with us on like 3 trips. Border's has a good selection of them. Also, snacks can keep my kids busy for a while, too. Good luck!

 

[Fabinva]

Ok this is kind of an expensive toy but both my kids love their Leapster, I got one for my son when he was 4 so he could learn the Alphabet letters and how to write them and kept it away from my daughter thinking she was too young for it but shortly after she turned 3 her grandmother bought her one and I'm amazed at how good she is with it, both my kids like books and stickers but that's not going to keep them entertaint for 5 hours, I'm taking the Leapsters with us but doubt we'll need them much, good luck!

 

[Hope73]

Call me a mean mom but when I travel I want it lite and easy. Our plane is about 4 hours and I just tell my kids that they have to bee good and live with it.

coloring books: I run off disney printable pages
Twistable crayons from crayold pack of 24 mini I love them
Game boys they each bring a game boy with games and movies
I found a very small dry erase board about a half of sheet of paper this was a hit.

 

[keishashadow]

they make miniature etch a sketches, lots of young kids have never seen them; anyone remember the odd thing they used to make with a man's face where you'd use a magnetized wand to drag facial hair onto it?

How about a new disney book with lots of charactars & pics.

don't forget that old standby---thumb wrestling.

 

[studentmom]

Thank you all, very much!! I really appreciate these ideas. I'm going to have to show this thread to my dh, too.

 

[minniebeth]

Someone else posted on another thread that Target's Dollar Spot has Disney items. So I went and checked it out today...they have Princess and Pooh note pads, sticky notes, pens, pencils, stickers, and Princess magnet dress up sets. I bought some for my DD for our plane ride and will bring them out for her as a surprise on the plane.

 

[rparmfamily]

You got a ton of great ideas! All I can say is forget being able to relax or read on the plane, you'll be busy entertaining your child and keeping him happy. I just flew in May with my DS3 and DD5 and we flew Chicago to Honolulu (over 9 hours!!!!!!) and I was BEAT when we were done from keeping them happy. I brought a whole carry-on of snacks, new workbooks (DD5 loves these), sticker games, flashcards, puzzles,crayons (no markers--to messy),etc and the DVD player of course.

I'm bad mom, but at one point (about 4 hrs into the flight) I did give them each 1/2 tsp of benedryl. The both slept about 2-3 hrs, which really helped, because then when they woke up we only had a few more hours to go. WHEW!

Good luck!

 

[LaraK]

Get an old purse and fill it with "adult" stuff (some old business cards, a wallet, keys to nothing, some pens, a pad of paper). Kids love to go through their parent's stuff...pre-cook it a little and let them go for it...you can even splurge and throw in a couple chapsticks.

 

[shelleyr25]

Our most recent flight was on JetBlue, and I must say, nothing beats those personal Direct TV's on the back of each seat!! It was a life saver, no arguing over what channel to watch...both kids were silent for 3 hours straight!! It was our most relaxing flight with the kids yet!!

 

[Schmeck]

Just remember to check the most recent, updated lists of things that are banned on flights - no one wants any unhappy kids that just had to throw some cool new toys out because of new safety regulations! Can floam and markers be brought on board yet? Or is the gel ban still in effect?

 

[jodifla]

Ok this is kind of an expensive toy but both my kids love their Leapster, I got one for my son when he was 4 so he could learn the Alphabet letters and how to write them and kept it away from my daughter thinking she was too young for it but shortly after she turned 3 her grandmother bought her one and I'm amazed at how good she is with it, both my kids like books and stickers but that's not going to keep them entertaint for 5 hours, I'm taking the Leapsters with us but doubt we'll need them much, good luck!

I second the Leapster. It's a great toy, and one they can play with a long time. For trips, I get a new cartridge....and when the real boredom sets in on the journey, I whip it out and put it in. He's fascinated and busy for the rest of the trip. I only use the Leapster on trips, so it remains "special" and new to him.

 

[all4fun]

Just remember to check the most recent, updated lists of things that are banned on flights - no one wants any unhappy kids that just had to throw some cool new toys out because of new safety regulations! Can floam and markers be brought on board yet? Or is the gel ban still in effect?

I wondered the same thing about Floam. I think pens would be ok. You can check out the most current info on www.tsa.gov. The ban on liquids and gels is still very much in effect. hth.

 

[SylviaL]

We had no problems with floam on our trip from O'hare to LaGuardia and back. A fellow traveler sort of questioned the silly putty.

 

[dismama]

We leave in about 2 weeks and we have gotten DS some color wonder stuff, view master with toy story, franklin, and some marine life disc. We are debating etchasketch. We are also thinking some little tonka cars and maybe playdoh if we can carry it on. I am planning to wrap some of the stuff up like presents and let DS open one every hour or so of the flight. I am also putting some in our checked bag so he will have a few new things to play with on the way home. At target they have a kids version of uno with curious george and some disney characters on the cards, we are thinking about getting this also so we all have something to do together.

 

[Schmeck]

Will they let you take on wrapped things, or make you unwrap them at security? Can you take wrapped things in your checked baggage on domestic flights? I know the international ones that go to Norway will unwrap everything to inspect it.