My last long-haul flight was from San Francisco to Munich with my three-year-old son and ten-month-old daughter. After boarding early, I rushed to install the car seat, disinfect everything, get organized, and safely buckle us all into the seats where we remained for 12.5 more hours (there was a one-hour technical delay, go figure). Leave it to my son to ask before the plane even took off, “Mama, are we almost there?” Are you planning a long flight with a toddler? Worried you’ll be ripping your hair out? Well, relax. You’ll be just fine. You can easily keep your child busy and happy, as long as you come prepared! Here is how to keep your toddler busy on a long flight (ages 8 months to 5 years) with the best airplane activities for toddlers and little ones.
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The kids’ Fire tablet used to be my end all, be all. I know, I know, don’t mom-shame me! That child has known his ABC’s and been able to count to ten since he was two years old because of those fun educational apps. It is still the easiest time-killer when traveling, from read-aloud stories to educational apps, puzzles, doodling, a tablet has so much in one.
However, as my little one has grown, he likes his interactive time more than screen time. So don’t rely on the tablet. Also, you’ll need a bag of tricks for the plane and the hotel room.
These airplane activities for toddlers are best for ages 8 months to five years old. I tried to order the list from youngest to oldest in terms of appropriateness.
Start with that before you start throwing a bunch of toys at them.
Their own seat is totally worth it for a long flight.
If you are looking to buy some cheap entertainment, Amazon is always a great resource without having to go out of the house and madly search for all of this. (I may earn from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate, if you make a purchase using an Amazon link in this post. This is at no cost to you, and it helps keep this site running. So, thank you so much!!)
Dollar Store Knick Knacks Make Great Airplane Activities for Toddlers
The Dollar Store and $3 dollar section at Target have a plethora of small toys for busy bodies on planes. Look in the toy section and party favor section.
I have found tiny travel size of these: mini dinosaurs, stickers, puzzles, memory games, coloring books, learning workbooks, flashcards, construction vehicles, rescue vehicles, books, crayons, post-its, playdough, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and so much more.
Check there often as the selection changes.
You don’t have to spend a lot to keep your cuties happy. Some things are probably already laying around your house. Go check out your junk drawer and get creative. Keep reading for ideas!
Fine Motor Airplane Activities for Toddlers and Their Busy Hands
For those little ones, bring anything that keeps their hands busy.
These suction spinners and pop toys should do the trick. Maybe they will even hypnotize little Ella to sleep!
Buckle toys are easy entertainment for toddlers (and preschool/kindergarten age actually), one of my “go-to’s”:
This travel-themed airplane buckle toy is cute, and this 4″x4″ mini one is petite for the plane.
I’d recommend this one if you want all of the bells and whistles (figuratively, not literally, don’t worry), but still small enough to bring on the plane:
Similar to a buckle toy, a Montessori “busy board” has a ton of fine motor and learning features that your little one will stay “busy” with and want to encounter:
I also found this simple backpack version of a busy board, which should fit a 7″ kids tablet inside, too!
Buckle toys and busy boards are great airplane activities for toddlers. With so many kid-friendly buckles, clasps, buttons, zippers, colors, you name it, they are bound to stay happily (and quietly!) busy for a while.
Until they are onto the next…
Make Your Own ‘Fine Motor’ Game
From age 1 to about 2.5, my little guy would stay busy for hours with any one of these activities:
1 – Bring a small, clean and empty spice container with the bigger holes on top. Have your little one try to poke q-tips or colorful pipe cleaners into each hole. When they finish all the q-tips, empty, and repeat!
to get some quiet time at home.
This kept our little one occupied for at least 15 minutes on planes and restaurants. That’s hours when you are entertaining a toddler!
Watch the fun Instagram tutorial reel here.
2 – I happened to stumble into this next one by chance, and my toddler loved it for about a year. I know this sounds weird but get one of those weekly pill organizers. You can put a little pom-pom or something else small but safe inside each one. Help your little one open and close each box, again, and again, and again.
Eventually they can do on their own. You can also use this to teach the days of the week! Two birds, right? Here’s a cute IG reel to see what I mean.
3 – Cut shapes out of felt and have your little one pull them on and off of a crazy straw. Or use a regular straw if that’s all you have or if the crazy is just too crazy (difficult) for them. See my Instagram reel for our kids’ reactions while playing this.
4 – Buy or cut numbers out of felt, punch holes in the numbers, and have them loop a string through the holes. I think I bought a zipped pouch of this exact activity in the dollar section at Target awhile ago and my son still has fun with it.
This kept my 10-month old intrigued for my last 10 desperate minutes before landing. Whew!
An LCD Drawing Tablet
There are a lot of these LCD tablets on the market but this one from TekFun is better for travel. It’s smaller and can clip onto the outside of a backpack, so it won’t take up room inside of it he bag. Or you could clip it in front of them on the airplane so it’s ready to go when you need a quick entertainment strategy or distraction!
The character tablets are super cute yet indestructible, and toddler friendly with a ‘pen’ that attaches to the tablet, so it won’t get lost.
These are great for avoiding screen time, and even better your little one can do it all by themselves. My three-year-old and six-year-old both love drawing pictures over and over. For older children, you can also use it for games like hangman, tic tac toe, or Pictionary.
We’ also use it to make homeschool activities more fun.
My daughter loves her unicorn tablet so much she brought it everywhere with her for two full days, and I mean everywhere – including the dinner table and to sleep with her!!
Anything That Sticks are Good Airplane Activities for Toddlers
…but isn’t actually “sticky” or messy. We’re talkin’ post-its, stickers, window gel-clings, blue painter’s tape, and even just regular ole’ Scotch tape.
He stayed busy for at least 20 minutes,
plus another 20 minutes of showing it off.
Your child will have fun sticking away on bags, paper, the window, tray table, whatever.
Bring mini toys and they can tape them to the tray table. Create a mini dino-land! Get creative!
Just make sure they are easily removable before they get too sticky-happy.
To easily pack the tape, roll it upon itself backwards into small rolls.
Good Old Fashion Coloring
Don’t forget the triangular crayons so yours aren’t flying off the tray down the aisle.
Crayola Mess-Free coloring pages are safe and easy for traveling also. Does your kid love Blippi as much as mine used to? If not, there are the usual Disney character pages and more.
Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pads
These are my favorite, by far! Well, my son’s favorite I should say.
The jumbo water pens are easy to hold for younger toddlers.
They provide 2-in-1 entertainment because they usually also have look and find items to search for after coloring is complete.
Sounds like common sense, but be sure to buy stickers and Water Wows related to your child’s interests. And if you aren’t sure, you might want to have them try it before you leave for the trip. My son played with a space-themed one for only 15 minutes on our trip to Austin. But he will play with the vehicles one for an hour. Now mama knows!
Reusable Activity Scenes – One of My Favorite Airplane Activities for Toddlers
Colorforms Travel Sets are fun, reusable sticker scenes that are flat and ultra-light – perfect for travel. Melissa and Doug is another great brand that has all kinds of themes like farm, jungle, etc. Our son plays with these for about 20-30 minutes!
Amazon also has Sponge Bob, Frozen, and Despicable Me in the “On the Go” smaller versions.
Actually, Pretty Much Anything ‘Melissa and Doug’ Brand
These two are geniuses when it comes to entertaining kids. From their water reveal pads to reusable sticker pads like this cute dress-up one, you are bound to find something your little one will love. If your son is like mine and obsessed with vehicles, then he will love this color blast pad.
‘Look and Find’ Books Will Keep Your Toddler Busy on a Long Flight
Flying to Disneyworld? Stock up on Disney’s Look and Find books set. I don’t think I need to explain these ones, do I?
My Newest Discovery… WikiStix
We like these funny little things so much we do them at home. A toddler or pre-schooler will likely need your help though. It’s a mess-free way to create things.
I ordered them because my three-year-old and I recently made creatures out of pipe cleaners. His latest challenge for me… a snail. I think I s-nailed it.
His favorite wiki-stix challenge – a fire truck. You got this flying mum!!!
Snacks! (But Turn Snack Time Into Fun Airplane Activities for Toddlers)
Snacks, snacks, snacks. We’ve heard it before. But it is true. Bring a variety of snacks, and some new ones to get them excited.
Food when flying is probably the biggest time-eater. Draw out that snack time by turning it into a game.
Or let your little one fiddle with the container for 25 minutes. That usually is the best entertainment for a baby (Puffs container, lids, airplane cups, milk bottles, whatever you can find that’s safe with your supervision!)
Have them create cereal necklaces with a string. Use Cheerios if you want a mellow kid, Honey Nut Cheerios if you want a happier flyer, and Fruit Loops if you really want them to get loopy.
Other snack ideas:
Counting games.
Build a tower, castle, or better yet, an entire city.
Make numbers or letters.
Just don’t forget to disinfect the tray first with an alcohol wipe. Or put down a disposable place mat.
Get Organized with Your Airplane Activities for Toddlers
My oldest child has his own carry-on backpack with toys and games. But I keep surprise activities and everything else I might need at a moment’s notice in my tiered organizer. Especially when you have two or more children, you need to be quick!
I hang it from the back of the seat in front or car seat next to me for easy access throughout the flight.
It’s been a huge help, especially on long flights with two toddlers while the tall hubby is stretching out in business class!
You won’t have to dig through a stuffed giant diaper backpack every time your child needs a new snack, spoon, bottle, toy, game, crayon, stickers, mask, wipe, sanitizer… you get the idea.
See my Instagram reel for a demo.
Enjoy the Flight!
The flight is a fun activity in itself. Staring out the window, walking up and down the aisles, climbing stairs if there are any, smiling and entertaining the people around you.
Try to take a breath, de-stress, and just enjoy the time on the flight with your little one(s). There’s no laundry waiting to be folded or meals to cook. No phone distractions. No errands to run. Just the start of an exciting family vacation together! Have fun!
And when your kiddo asks if you are almost there before the plane has even hit the runway, just have a laugh.
If you are unsure how you are going to carry all of these fun toys, my list of baby and toddler travel essentials has more ideas on diaper backpacks and kids’ backpacks.
Okay, now go get prepping. You got this!
Visit my Amazon storefront for more travel activities and gear to make your trip a lot less challenging.
