Stuff to pack for quiet time in room, plane?

[aj2hall]

Any suggestions for items to pack to keep my 6 & 8 year old busy on the plane and for a little quiet time in the hotel? Neither of them will take a nap, but I'd like for them to have a little break/ rest in the hotel in the afternoons. I'm thinking about bringing books. coloring books, puzzles , card games and maybe a small board game or 2. Any other suggestions?

 

[brymolmom]

My kids are younger...but I've found I usually end up with too much of that type of stuff. I'm really trying to cut down for our trip next week. I always bring a couple of new toys (to cut down on wanting souveniers while there) with us that I get from home but they don't use until the plane or we're already there. This year its a light up toy each and a Disney fan each. That plus we usually allow one souvenier purchased on the trip....between these 3 things - they will occupy their time in the room for my little ones. But for the plane and before bedtime reading -we'll be bringing a couple books and likely a couple coloring books - and some small Disney figurines. That's it for us. I will be very surprised if you end up using those board games...

 

[tjmw2727]

I agree with the pp - you won't need as much as you think you will. A book to read and a new coloring book and crayons each - if you can find a combo coloring/puzzle and sitcker book thats even better. For the plane we like stickers and sticker books, suduko and way to many games of hangman and tic tac toe

You didn't say if they were boys or girls but my dd's love a few polly pockets and will play with them in the room or in the pool. If you have boys a few matchbox cars would probably be the same. You will probably also be able to pick up something at the gift shop.

Even though they don't nap you may find that hitting room for an hour of say Disney channel and a rest that they will end up sleeping a bit or at least laying on the bed to watch. If we did an early morning at the park following by lunch and pool time at the resort my dd's would at least rest if not sleep.

Then a quick shower and out for the night with everyone refreshed.

TJ

 

[Liberty Belle]

At the trading card section in Target, Walmart, etc, they sell cards with pieces of pirate ships that you put together. These are fun for my 14 year old and 4 year old.

 

[pweyl36]

My kids do not take naps either,but they do have to lay down on the beds.
9xs out of 10 they end up sleeping.

 

[Dizneydaz]

I let my DD7 bring along a few, selected, beanie babies and Littlest Pets. She can play quietly with them for hours. One great thing about LPS is that since they have a magnet on the bottom, they will stick to anything metal. A few years ago I brought along some of those magnet sets that you can play with animals, or dress up figures, etc. (about $5 at Walmart) She had alot of fun removing the magnet figures from the sheets and then enjoyed playing with them (and still does) Added benefit is that the magnets come in a smallish metal case that the LPS stick on wonderfully! Keeps them from getting lost on the plane.

One thing we learned (the hard way) is remember how many toys you bring along (3 beanies, etc.) and NEVER leave your beloved stuffed animals in your bed. Sometimes they disappear with the laundry, never to return again. No matter how many calls you make.

 

[amyhughes]

We bring a bag with Mickey on the side.

In the bag we have in Ziploc bags a WHOLE lotta stuff!

Coloring Crayons and Books (1 for each boy)

Leapster L Max, two Cartridges a piece

Pirate Book for Parker (the black covered one with the ruby for the eye!)

3-4 Big Picture Books for Thom to flip through.

Baby Einstein Discovery Cards

Those Crayola Wonder packets with markers (2)

Measure Up Cups (From DT)

Asst board books, Puppets, Disney Movies on DVD ( I usually put them in a small CD case, the boys choose which ones they like the most!)

All this fits well into a shoulder sling style bag. Plus the boys know that is their pass the time bag!

 

[CindyW]

I am just echoing the great advice you're already been given!

Definitely have stuff to keep them occupied, yet quiet and restful. Coloring books, simple games like tic tac toe and hangman, any small toys they can't get enough of at home etc.

Don't overpack it! If a puzzle won't keep your kids busy for more than 10 minutes at home, it won't be much help to you when you want a longer break at the resort.

One thing that I do for plane trips that my kids really like...
Print out a big (8X10) picture of each child, maybe some of other people or group shots, but nothing too busy. Put each picture in those page protectors that are clear - the thicker plastic kind that aren't opaque work best, the thinner kind don't last as long. Now get a set or two of dry erase markers! The kids can now draw on faces, color hair, make horns, give freckles... anything they can think of! Easy fun that, for mine, can last a long time as pictures are being passed around.

Your 8 year old may be open to keeping a journal / log of stuff to do, stuff done that day, what his/her favorite thing was, what heshe wouldn't want to do again. Your 6 year old may want to join in - if the handwriting isn't that great you can encourage picture drawing as a way to tell his/her story!

Have a great trip!

 

[poohfriend77]

We'll definitely pack a lot of the things already mentioned, but don't forget that some games don't require anything but your imagination. My DD4 LOVES to play I-spy and word games (we think of rhyming pairs, or as many "b" words as we can think of, for example). Plus, we spent 30 minutes one day last week (just at home, but it was HOT and rainy so we were stuck inside) playing "guess which hand the quarter is in." She was having fun long after I was bored silly. I guess my point is that mom and dad's undivided attention can be better than toys sometimes.

 

[BUCKEYE MICKEY]

My DD's love pipecleaners on the plane. A bag of assorted colors are under $5 and you can make sooo many things. Just throw away once they've been used or straighten them out to use again.

 

[macrosswife]

My DS is 4, but I also teach Kindergarten (5-6 year olds)...here are my suggestions...

The Dollar Spot at Target has a plastic pretend "town" map, plastic buildings, and matchbox size cars. I bought the "map", 4 of the buildings, 4 cars, and even a white bag meant for toiletries to hold it all. DS had a great time spreading it all out and playing with it.
When we went to Disney in January, I found a set of Matchbox cars that were safari themed since we stayed at AKL. That occupied him for many, many hours!

I bought him a travel Etch-A-Sketch, and a travel Magna-Doodle, both of which worked very well in the car. (I read here on the DIS boards of a family that actually takes the Magna-Doodle with them to the water parks...they can leave each other notes about where they are. They also make magnetic ones, so you could leave notes on it and stick it to your door.)

At school, the girls and boys all love the Travel Lite-Brites, Uno game, and the pattern blocks. If you use the Travel Lite-Brites on the plane, be sure to buy a Sterilite shoe box (~$0.99) for them to set in their lap so that the pegs don't fall on the floor. (Although my son would find a way to upend the whole box, I'm sure! )

HTH!!
~Kimber

 

[TALB]

My boys love to play with "guys", so I always stop at the Disney Store before we go and pick up some of the figures that are from their favorite movies. Last year we took Pirates of the Carribean and Nemo. They play with them on the plane, in the room, and I always stick a few in the backpack in case we have a wait at the resturants. Another thing I do to get them to "rest" during the afternoon break is "bribe" them with a Disney dollar if they rest on the bed quietly. If I can get them to lay quietly then they usually fall asleep even though they are older and no longer take naps at home.
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