toys for airplane

[jamen65]

HI I am looking for some ideas for things the kids 21/2 & 4 to play on the airplane small if possible. They need to be occupied gor about 2&1/2 hours
Thanks

 

[deeshie]

Hi,

I'm dealing with the same dilemma (2 1/2 DS). Last time he flew was last November, so his interests have changed somewhat, but here is what I'm planning on for our Sept flight to WDW:

Clifford sticker books (I bought this two book pack at a discount warehouse store. I figure one book for the way down, one for the way back)

Crayons and a coloring book (my friend is taking color wonder markers, they mark on the special paper, but no where else, personally I cannot stand the smell, so I'm sticking with crayons)

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (it takes a while to read, and he will listen to it two times in a row)

Game Boy (we have a Blue's Clues game for him. He hasn't yet figured out how to play, but he's happy pushing the buttons).

SNACKS

Previously flights he has slept, walked the aisles with Daddy, flirted with the flight attendants. Actually, based on our last flight, my biggest concern is to stop him from kicking the seat in front of him!

Good Luck!

 

[D'AngelosdoDisney]

Oh jeezzzzzz.. I forgot about kicking the seat in front of them... Yikes, I have a 2 1/2 year old that does that in the car. I guess that is the least of his bad habits... I am not looking forward to flight to and from.... Maybe it will be one of his good days!!

 

[njziggy]

Bring a few unfamiliar toys ( happy meal size) that they haven't played with for a while. My DS also like to listen to stories/music on a cassette player...actually I think he just likes pushing the buttons but, it does keep hime busy. Most of all, pack a small blob of funtac( we keep it in with the crayons)...this works great for holding crayons & small toys ON the tray table...less picking up for you.

 

[pumba]

and his favorite was anything that he hadn't seen before.....we even got an inexpensive game ...hand held type.....and he didn't know what he was doing.....but he enjoyed it......then color crayons and color books......and also stick on ones too........just as long as they have never seen them before....that is what counts......have fun

 

[jamen65]

Thanks everone
njziggy that funtac idea is the best thing I have ever heard I pick up a lot of stuff

 

[skeezixspud]

Crayons seem to break too easily on planes and they melt in cars.

My 4 yo LOVES viewmaster reels, he can look at them for hours. He also really likes those little puzzle-track wind-up toys you can often get at dollar stores. The base is a 6-piece puzzle that is like a map with tracks, and there is usually a little wind-up vehicle of some sort that follows the track. Transformer figures are also popular on trips; DS has a Buzz and a Zurg that have a million hinges and flaps, but no loose parts.

Put everything in ziplocs & forget about the original boxes.

 

[kissafrog]

One of my sons favorites is a miniature etch-a-sketch, he likes shaking it especially. Also, although most parents hate it, those party favor size cans of play-doh are great. He loves to squish and roll it, and it usually entertains for about a half hour.
Try taking off his shoes if he's a kicker. If it hurts the toes, they lose interest quick (plus it doesn't make the "cool noise" shoes make).
Hope these help!

 

[padams]

in scraps of wrapping paper or the Sunday (color)comics. Unwrapping will help keep them occupied. Good luck! Pamela

 

[Disneycrazymom]

These are great idaes. Where do you get the funtac? That sounds like great stuff. I think someone said snacks but I'll say it again. My kids never want to wait for (or eat ) the airplane food. I like to bring Lunchables with a drink so they can eat when they want to. Also you can order a Kids Meal on some airlines. Once it was actually McDonalds.

 

[mchames]

...along the same lines as the Etch A Sketch is the small Magna Doodles. My 3.5 yo and 18mos. old DDs love them. The latest version have a clip which is great for hooking onto carseat straps so you're not constantly picking it up off the floor. I also keep them hooked to my diaper bag for quick and easy access. These new ones are made out of a translucent plastic and my 3.5 yo loves looking through the back at the mirror image of whatever she draws. Just drawing backwards keeps her entertained for a good long time!

We also do Color Wonder (though they really do smell, especially on the ariplane), sticker books and magnetic playboards are good too.

A surprise snack or two that they don't normally get at home are a good diversion as well. I've done Pooh fruit snacks and the Princess fruit roll-ups. Nothing keeps them quiet like something they have to keep chewing. LOL

Mary
PS- I like the Funtac idea, too.

 

[aprincessmom]

Pipe Cleaners -- you can do such amazing things with pipe cleaners and you can pack tons of them easily. What can you do with them? Well we've made people and a certain mouse then made up a story to go along with them, made letters then spelled words, made shapes and turned them into elaborate pictures on the tray table. It made the time fly!

 

[Dr. Happy]

Hi There,
For our recent trip, we culled the travel game section of Toys-R-Us and found some really neat travel games for our daughters, ages 2 and 6.

A travel size Crocodile Dentist was an unexpected hit. We also found a very inexpensive Tic-Tac-Toe game with turning wheels (believe or not, $1.79!) for the older one. We also found a pocket size Connect Four, magnetic checkers, a great pocket Magna Doodle with a nice handle and attached stylus, and several card games like Old Maid, Go Fish, and Dino Match.

A really big hit was the Silly Putty (in the large size eggs). Our younger one loved pulling and stretching the putty and making imprints from the inflight magazine.

Give those a try. Also, you might want to pack some unique kids snacks.

 

[pooh2001]

Find a Disney themed "find it" book. I found one (large size though) at Barnes & Noble. It's
a Tigger and friends find it book. The book may be useful also during "dead" times at the
hotel room. My 6 year old loves it.


Also Mc Donalds is having Pooh & Friends toys in the kids meal.
When you are not with your kids - order a kids meal using drive-through.
Do what you wish with the meal - SAVE the TOY for the plane ride.
Suggestion - get as many kids meals and the number of your kids.
Each will want their own toy if under the age of ten.


ps-
I love the silly putty idea ! Thanks DIS'ers.

 

[pnelson]

I don't know if this is an option for you. But when my son was smaller, we booked one seat in front of him, and either my husband or I took turns trading off sitting there. That way we didn't have to worry about him kicking the seat in front of him. It also gave the adult sitting alone a little break, (except for having his/her seat kicked of course).

 

[jamen65]

we have 2 kids and we are in two rows I didn't eaven think about the kicking thing this is the first plane trip with our kids. I do however my DH getting kicked all the way home from Disney from our honeymoon. It was not fun

 

[deeshie]

My DH actually thought about the seat in front idea, but it was too late (all seats booked).

Anyway, I have to tell you all what happened last time we flew. We did not anticipate the kicking problem at all, since on the previous trip DS was still too short. Before we took off, the problem became apparent. I repeatedly asked DS to stop (yeah, really effective with a 19 month old), took off his shoes, even held on to his feet. The woman in front of him turned around, and asked rather nastily could I stop him from kicking. I apologized profusely (I really did feel bad), and explained that he was very young. So, we take off, and the woman put her seat back! I figured at that point she was on her own. She eventually got up and moved, but left her seat reclined.

Thanks for the suggestion on the magna doodle and the silly putty! I'm going to add that to the list.

 

[Disneymomma]

I got small travel games at the Disney Store (Winnie the Pooh Tic Tac Toe), and another with Mickey Mouse. I also got Disney Sticker/ Coloring Books at Dollar General for $1.00 and a new pack of crayons. My DD really love stickers and coloring. However, we used these more in the airport than the plane. On the plane, she took about 30-45 min with the brunch that was served, looked out the window alot, and talked. Way-down =excitement/anticipation talk
Way Home= excitement and anticipation talk about what things to tell Daddy/freinds first.
I also developed the pictures down there, so we looked at those on the way home. We had two early flights too which also resulted in a little "nap time".

 

[BuzzMe]

We had a delayed flight and my kids bought a sticker book at the airport that had all different funny, blank faces and pages of sticker 'features'(eyes,noses, etc.). They are older(13&17) but thought this was the funniest thing and it kept them occupied for quite some time.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Pnelson's recommendation was a great idea! Now, combine it with a previous post (suggesting the shoes off) and viola. The perfect flight for one parent!

I was told by my ds rx to give a small dose of Benedryl, 1/2 hour before take off. It clears up their noses allowing the ears to pop less. Also, the decongestant allows them to be a little sleepy and restful.