In between the laughter, snacks, screen time, exploring, oh – and don’t forget bathroom trips! – you’ll need to fill the void with something that will hold their attention on a long-haul flight. So it’s best to come prepared with some of these ‘tried and true’ flight activities for little ones you haven’t seen yet. The first four listed held our kids’ attention the longest on our 15.5 hour flight to Dubai.
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Portable LCD Writing Tablet
Avoid screen time and keep your little ones occupied with these portable LCD writing tablets from TekFun.
They are super cute in three different characters. My daughter loves her unicorn one.
I like that the pen is connected and the entire tablet can clip onto a backpack, so nothing will be lost! That’s a huge plus in our house.
A toddler could use this independently after showing them how to erase the screen with an easy-push button.
Make Your Own Monster Truck
Our son and daughter stayed busy for awhile making scenes with these monster truck stickers. They are even excited to do them at home, when they aren’t stuck on a plane for hours.
I know, $10 seems like a lot for stickers. But the set is so big that I actually divided them into several separate baggies and kept about half of them at home. I added small pieces of construction paper (that I cut myself) to the baggies we took with us, so it was all ready to go (because the set does not come with that).
I’ve also added race car and fire truck versions to give you some variety, but there are all kinds of themes on Amazon.
Triangular Crayons
Our two-year-old was most occupied just coloring and playing with these triangular crayons – triangular so they don’t roll off the tray table.
These are one of my “go-to” flight activities for little ones you haven’t seen yet, especially for my art fanatic toddler. Our son at that age wouldn’t have played with them long. Remember that mom of two to be! I know it sounds like common sense, but every child is so different.
Add some coloring pages and stickers like this My Little Pony set, and you’re just that – set!
Play-Doh (Oh No!)
Ok, I’m still skeptical. We don’t even have play-doh in the house because it’s so messy. But they don’t play with it often at home, so while traveling it’s such a special treat.
Our daughter plays about 30 minutes with this Peppa Pig set. I just packed in a small ziplock bag: a few pieces, one or two small pots of doh, and a popsicle stick (because she loves pretending to cut). You could also use a disposable sticky placemat on the tray table for easy cleanup.
Actually, the placemat could be an activity in itself. Grab some stickers and go wild.
I Can Just Picture It
Anything to do with a camera will entertain your little one for awhile. Ours have always loved looking at photos and videos of themselves. Please tell me this is normal!
They also have fun taking photos, so a kids camera is worth it if you don’t want to sacrifice your own.
I haven’t tried this but a kids polaroid is something our son has specifically requested. Instant gratification, right?
Activity Books
Grab some activity books or interactive books.
Our son at age 5 loves mazes.
And both of them like to delay ni-night at home with ‘search and find’ books. Elle and I searched her “Toddlers Around Town” book for awhile on our recent long flight, too. It’s bigger than I’d like for the plane, but I already knew it would be worth bringing.
This Will Stick, If Nothing Else
If you can’t decide what to get, just go with stickers (and of course a kids tablet). You can’t go wrong with both of those.
Our oldest really likes the safari and dinosaur scenes, our three-year-old loves the princess scenes from Melissa and Doug, and they both love making cupcakes in these mini books perfect for travel. I mean, who wouldn’t?
That’s Plenty of Flight Activities for Little Ones You Haven’t Seen Yet
That should keep your kids occupied for, well, the next four minutes. Kidding. Four years really. That’s more than enough. I always bring way too much, and they really only do about four activities over a span of a long haul flight. The rest is snacks, sleep, screens, and walking or even exercising (in place, quietly). After you’ve decided what to get from my list of flight activities for little ones you haven’t seen yet, keep reading for more activity ideas and travel toys you haven’t seen yet.
