Fun Things to Do on a Plane for Kids

Family vacations are one of our favorite traditions with our children, but finding fun things to do on a plane for kids is daunting! With three energetic children in tow, the airplane journey tends to be an adventure in itself! While relying solely on screens to keep them occupied is tempting, we value instilling creativity in our children and giving them the opportunity to engage with the world around them.

Encouraging our children to explore the world outside of a screen is an essential skill. Learning to navigate moments of mild boredom cultivates resourcefulness and resilience in children. As parents, it’s our responsibility to nurture this ability. Helping our children find a variety of activities for the plane (or car ride) becomes an important part of being a modern-day parent.

Let’s empower our children to embrace moments of mild boredom and discover the wonders of their imagination before restlessness sets in and they become disruptive to other passengers.

Here are some ideas of things to do on a plane for kids from our family vacations!

traveling with Infants

The first flight with an infant in tow is anxiety-inducing! You may be asking yourself, “What if he cries the whole time?” If that scenario happens, I promise, take deep breaths and you’ll get through it. Ignore any stares – in my experience, other passengers, many of whom are parents themselves, tend to be understanding, and empathize with the unpredictable nature of parenthood. Nevertheless, here are some ways to help prevent prolonged crying spells:

During plane take-off and landing, if your baby is awake, be sure to have a bottle or cup ready, or be ready to breastfeed if that’s your preference. These phases of flight often unsettle infants as their ears adjust to the pressure changes, causing discomfort. What’s the easiest way to get rid of that sensation? Swallowing. Whenever we traveled with our little ones, we offered them a bottle as the plane ascended or descended, helping any distress caused by ears popping. As toddlers (and even now), we pack lollipops and snacks to encourage swallowing during altitude shifts.

Thankfully, young infants usually fall asleep during the flight, making the amount of time you need to entertain them much less. Nonetheless, having a couple of favorite teethers and colorful toys on hand is a good idea. Teething necklaces or textured toys are ideal, alongside lightweight foam books. Additionally, items such as the safety card, barf bag, or even interactions with neighboring passengers can captivate their interest.

Older infants are naturally entranced by their surroundings, finding fascination in mundane objects like tray tables or seat belt buckles. Simple games like peek-a-boo can work wonders, and fellow passengers often delight in engaging with little ones.

Ultimately, with infants, your presence and interactions are the most captivating forms of entertainment on a flight.

Fun things for toddlers

Let’s face it. Toddlers are tough to entertain on a plane, or any time of travel for that matter. But I have a few tricks to help. We were recently traveling on a plane, and I’ll admit, my 17-month-old was challenging. Somehow, we all survived, and no one hated my toddler at the end of the flight.

Here are some fun things to do on a plane for kids, tailored to toddlers:

Engage in fine motor activities like attaching Velcro to the ends of popsicle sticks, and allowing your toddler to put them to together and pull them apart. My 6 year old daughter helped me prep these the night before our flight. Bonus: my older children enjoyed making shapes with them, too!
Consider Melissa and Doug Water Wow books for toddlers, providing mess-free entertainment that can also be enjoyed by older siblings, too.
Pack a Hidden Pictures book for varied age groups, offering engaging pictures to discuss with young children and providing entertainment for older kids as well.
Bring toddler-friendly fidgets and spinners to keep little hands occupied, providing moments of focused play.
Utilize small Post-It Notes for a simple yet entertaining activity, allowing toddlers to stick them onto surfaces like trays or paper.
Empty pill boxes and craft pom poms offer a tactile experience for toddlers, as they delight in opening and closing the boxes and placing pom poms inside.
Explore threading projects with toys or DIY options like pipe cleaners through a pickle ball or an empty spice container, fostering concentration and fine motor skills.
Offer toddler-specific fidget toys to keep them engaged for extended periods, providing sensory stimulation and entertainment.
Fill a bottle with pom poms for a simple yet captivating task, ensuring the bottle has a wide opening for repeated enjoyment.
Encourage fine motor skills by having toddlers peel apart cupcake wrappers, a simple yet satisfying activity.
Consider bringing a small toddler busy board to provide a variety of sensory and tactile experiences in one compact package.

Connection is a child's deepest need and a parent's highest influence. - Leila Schott

Navigating toddler entertainment on airplanes can feel like a fleeting endeavor; their attention spans are very short. However, these adventures present an opportunity to bond with your child. Although there may be moments when the journey feels daunting, remember the connection that can grow in these shared experiences.

When all else fails, have a stash of snacks, and don’t forget the spill-proof containers and cups!

Fun things to do on a plane for kids: Preschool and School Children

For older kids, here are some great ideas and activities to keep them entertained without screens:

Engage them with timeless games like I Spy, 20 Questions, Rock Paper Scissors, or Heads Up. Remember, their favorite entertainment is still spending time with you.
Pack scratch sheets for your children, including travel-sized versions.
Consider Paint by Sticker books if your child enjoys them.
Try Silly Winks, lightweight foam stickers and sheets that provide endless fun.
Opt for inexpensive puzzles like foam ones to avoid frustration over lost pieces. Wooden puzzles can also be entertaining, despite potential mishaps.
Magic Clay offers lightweight, mess-free sculpting fun.
Hidden Picture books provide engaging entertainment and opportunities for discussion.
Bring a small chalkboard or whiteboard with markers for creative expression.
Gel window clings are a hit for sticking and resticking on windows.
Encourage drawing with age-appropriate instruction books or coloring activities.
Fidgets, such as sensory toys, can keep hands busy and minds engaged.
Stickers, markers, and a journal provide artistic outlets for little ones.
For older children, consider travel-sized spiral graphs for creative exploration.
Traditional coloring books with triangular crayons prevent rolling mishaps.
Utilize barf bags for puppet-making with crayons or markers.
Offer a color by number book for structured creativity.
Educational books with games and activities, like mazes or dot-to-dots, provide learning opportunities.
Bring books with vibrant pictures, especially those related to topics they’re interested in or will encounter on your trip, like sea life for a beach vacation.

Final Thoughts on flying with children

Lastly, ensure that everything you pack is age-appropriate and something your child can easily engage with. My daughter tends to get easily frustrated if she encounters difficulty with an activity, so avoiding potential meltdowns is crucial, especially in the confined space of an airplane.

Empower your children by allowing them to bring a few of their own ideas in small backpacks to bring on the plane. Encourage them to choose things that genuinely interest them. And of course, don’t forget to pack an abundance of snacks!

In all honesty, despite our best efforts, our kids often eventually end up on screens. However, this approach helps prevent our children from becoming complete zombies by the time we get to our destination. Most importantly, it instills valuable lessons in resourcefulness, preparation for travel, and learning ways to address boredom without a screen.

I hope these strategies are helpful on your next family trip!

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