Parenting Advice
Survival Guide: Entertaining A Toddler On A Plane
Written by James Kicinski-McCoy
Photography by Daniel Kim
Apr 7, 2023
Traveling with kids in general can be intimidating, especially when you’re flying with your rambunctious toddler. Kids get bored easily, and now you’re asking them tosit still in a confined space…for hours. Rest assured, we have some great tips on how to survive your trip and keep your little one entertained for a more peaceful flight.
1. Dress your tot incomfortable clothes or pajamas, with shoes that are easy to slip on and off. Also, bring a favorite blanket, small pillow, or stuffed animal to encourage your toddler to get cozy and take anap.
2. Pick up some specialbooks that are all about the airport orairplane. This will not only get your toddler excited about their upcoming flight the days prior to take off, but also get them familiar with the things and people they are about to see. WesuggestRichard Scarry’s A Day At The Airport, Airport, and Amazing Planes.
2. Pack a few books that are specific to your child’s interests and also asticker book or two. You’d be surprised just how well stickers can entertain a tot. Find one with several pages and tons of stickers.
3. Crayons, paper, and coloring books. All kids like to color, and getting in some mid-air coloring time with mom or dad while on the plane canlead to some interesting conversation and bonding.
4. Magnet sets are a lot of fun for little imaginations and so are vinylreusable stickers,because they stick to the airplane windows, which kids get a kick out of.
5. Make a portable doctor’s kit complete with a box of bandaids, cotton balls, tape, and q-tips for your toddler to fix-up her doll or stuffed animal.
6. Load up your smartphone or iPad with plenty ofage-appropriate apps that will occupy your little one and possibly give you and your fellow travelers a small stretch of quiet time.
7. For extra long flights, load a couple of your kid’s favorite movies or a preschool series like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood or Sesame Street. Don’t forget the headphones.
8. Packhealthy snacks for when they get hungry. Thingslike string cheese, raisins, granola bars, low-sugar cereal O’s that are high in fiber (you can make necklaces with them if you bring along some dental floss), travel packs of almond butter, crackers, apples, mini bananas, tiny pickles, and turkey roll-ups.
9. Purchase specialtoys that are perfect for travel, like a miniMagnaDoodle, littleplastic animals and dinosaurs, magnetic blocks, or a couple of tinycars or trains to drive around their tray table.
10. Play I Spy.
11. Bring along an envelope of photographs to look at. Printed Instagram photos are great and kids love to recognize themselves, family, and friends.
12. Pack a little tantrum ammunition (just incase you need it) likelollipops, mini marshmallows, cookies, and other favorite treats to help prevent meltdowns.
13. Build excitement and encourage good behavior by rewarding your child with meeting the pilot at the end of the flight and receiving a set of wings. Talk to the flight attendant ahead of time to make sure this is a possibility.
This article was originally published on August 7, 2014 and has been updated.
