10 Best Tips for Keeping Toddlers Entertained on a Plane
Traveling in itself can be a hassle. Add kids to the mix and it can be a nightmare. We’ve all been on a plane with babies crying the whole time but there are ways to keep the little ones entertained and happy for most of the flight. Here are some tips to keep toddlers entertained on a plane.
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1. Magnetic drawing board.
These are great for drawing shapes and letters. I got mine at the dollar store and both kids had a blast. The little one pretty much scribble the whole time. We did try drawing shapes but she’s more of a free spirit. My 4 year old son worked on writing letters. They work on that in school so we kept up the practice. Here’s a link to a good magnetic drawing board. Ours broke after the first trip.
2. Sticker books.
We’ve been on plenty of flights where our kids played with stickers the whole time. It’s best to put the stickers in the sticker book for mess free fun. One flight we did not have a book and the flight attendants were pretty pissed that we put stickers on the back of the chair. I assured them I would clean it up but I’m sure many other passengers fail to do so. I would never. These Melissa and Doug Sticker books are our favorite! We love Melissa and Doug toys.
3. Mess free coloring books.
They sell them at target and perfect for coloring without worrying about getting the seats dirty. For plane travel, thesesmaller mess free activity pads are perfect! They are light weight and compact for those small tray tables.
4. Legos.
A small lego pack can go a long way! We like to get new small packs like these, so that it’s a new exciting activity for the kids. It’s a sure way to keep toddlers entertained for a while. We take extra ziplocks and then pack them away when they are done. We have also seen other families put them in a little pencil box. I definitely want to try that for next time.
5. Tablet
We don’t leave home without their tablets. Before flying make sure to download their favorite shows. Unless you want to pay for wifi in the air, there won’t be service. Download enough episodes or movies to last the entire flight. We also download extra because sometimes the hotel Wi-Fi doesn’t work too well. These are great tablets for kids.
6. Headphones.
Be courteous of others on the airplane. They don’t want to hear kids shows the entire time. Having headphones like thesealso helps to block out all the noise on the airplane.
7. Fidget spinners/ toys
Little hands need lots of stuff to keep them busy. Fidget spinners are great for keeping hands busy. The ones that have suction cups at the ends are great and the ones where they can fold them into shapes are also great. We got a whole bunch from dollar tree.
8. Their favorite stuffed animals for hugging and napping
Nothing comforts more than your child’s favorite stuffy. It prides the perfect amount of comfort when a child is tired or even scared. Plane travel can be scary for kids who don’t know what to expect.
9. Playing games like “I spy” or cards.
My kids are a little young for regular card games but “I spy” is a great game for toddlers. It’s good for children’s cognitive development and helps them develop memory and language. It also means that you and giving them attention and plaything with them. The more attention they get the better for keeping toddlers entertained on a plane.
10. Lots of snacks.
Eating snacks helps keep little hands busy. It helps with adjusting their ears during take off. Lollypops are especially good for take off and landing. Pack their favorite snacks and new special snacks or candy for being good.
Hope this list helps the next time you need to keep toddlers entertained on a plane. For more tips on traveling with kids, check out our page here.
