Airplane activities for kids

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Forum -> Parenting our children -> School age children

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amother

OP ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 9:34 pm

Traveling with kids ages 3-11 any items that you have purchased In the past that really kept them occupied please share.

Thanks

amother

Sage

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 9:52 pm

This is what screen time is for

amother

Blushpink ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 10:00 pm

Never actually went on a plane so I don't know if it's allowed but I have a small magnetic board with magnets to stick on I have a sheet with a picture of a tree on it with small pictures of leaves with a magnet in the back then you can put the leaves on the tree let them "fall" I also have a picture of a doll with clothes to dress up with.
Made it myself so I don't mind if a small piece gets lost I just reprint it!

amother

Hunter

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 10:14 pm

I recently traveled with my 2 and 4 year old. Went to a cheap store that sells cheap toys… prizes…. Arts….. my daughter particularly enjoyed a book that when you color with a white marker it colors so no mess there. In general kids get excited when you bring out anything new so I just stocked up….. squishy balls…. Prizes….

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 10:30 pm

Thanks for the responses. We don’t allow our kids any screen time so that isn’t an option and we are flying on a very short notice so don’t have time to,prep anything will definitely go,to dollar tree but for the big boys ages 10 and 11 need something more then prizes

amother

Burntblack

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 10:32 pm

Etch a sketch, new book, maze book, yes and know coloring book. Go to toys 4 u and look at the activity aisle and their trinkets section

amother

↑ Blushpink

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 10:38 pm

amother OP wrote:

Do they like playing games? You can get them the little travel ones.
Also mabe include them in the plans. Like you know boys the plane ride is going to be long. What do you want to bring along to keep busy?
I would also have a secret stash of stuff to take out after they use up theirs.

amother

Broom

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 10:45 pm

For my 3-5 year olds, I bring a small backpack each with lots of snacks and small new activities - playdough, doodle boards, dry erase markers and mini whiteboard, mini magnatiles, scratch art, lightweight books and we have managed 5 hour flights without screen time. Lots of rotation because each activity only lasts 15 minutes

amother

Gardenia

Wed, Nov 06 2024, 11:02 pm

amother OP wrote:

my 11 year old son loooves story cds. can u pick some up with a cd player? or if u have a 24/6 just download them before you fly. also what about good old fashioned travel board games or card games? also handheld electronic games like tetris

for the little ones we flew recently and my three year old kept busy the entire time with a set of mini magna tiles (amazon) and magnet mentchies (picasso tiles also amazon) I got him a little kids traveling board that goes over the tray table to keep everything together for him and bought a tin box to keep it in and it kept him busy for most of the time. he also loved a magnetic board that I bought him. had a picture of a farm under a clear acrylic and a magnetic wand and you have to move all these little pieces around in the farm around the acrylic using the wand. he loved tht too. and of course sticker books. I also boguht him window stickers to put on the airplane window tht we peeled off after. I find the little ones do better with toys than with crafts.

good luck on your trip and a safe flight!

amother

NeonPurple

Thu, Nov 07 2024, 12:41 am

There are lots of books with logic questions and the answers are found using a special clear marker. Dot to dot books (like the 500 ones) word search, sudoku, mazes etc…

See below examples (Toys 2 Discover has these type, and probably other Toy stores):

Melissa & Doug On the Go Spy Mystery Secret Decoder Book With Decoder Wheel and Magic-Reveal Pen
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa.....ss_tl

https://www.ebay.com/itm/296160081780

amother

NeonPink

Thu, Nov 07 2024, 12:45 am

Kids headphones with read along book cd's

Crayola sells colorless markers that become colored on special sheets. Comes with lots of accessories.

Mazes, find an object, color by number books.

Check out Amazon for more travel toy ideas.

mathbrain ↓

Thu, Nov 07 2024, 12:54 am

Recently few a few times.

Each kid takes a backpack with activities/ snacks/ real food.

For 1 and 3 year old, took some duplo (specifically the trains that my son loves), some mentchies, board books, coloring book and 4-5 markers, small toy animals, and a book with reusable stickers. The reusable sticker book kept my son busy for nearly an hour! And he doesn’t usually sit still. We did zero screen time, but was a short enough flight.

Girls 6-9, we did 1 age appropriate book each, coloring sheets, diamond art style activity (with stickers), and books with fun-sheet activities; think dot to dot, mazes, word find, etc

Older boys each took out a novel from the library. They also brought along top trumps (younger kids played as well), regular cards, and brain puzzle books (sudoku, word find, riddles, etc)

↑ mathbrain

Thu, Nov 07 2024, 12:56 am

Forgot, my son also brought along his Game boy. I don’t think he took it out at all though.

amother

Holly

Thu, Nov 07 2024, 5:37 am

check this out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxyujHcjmsE

I went a bit crazy and bought almost all 50 idea since I was travelling for about 50 hours in total. Would recommend to get about 4/5 should be enough.

Baila48

Thu, Nov 07 2024, 10:42 am

I just flew with 2 kids ages 4 and 7. Each child received a book of color by number and a box of crayons. It kept them busy for hours. I also did sticker puzzles and foam sticker puzzles. We took along a perplexus ball and a few mentchies for my daughter who loves to pretend play. My kids were fully occupied and had zero screen time.