As my husband, three children and I get ready to fly down south to visit grandparents, I again begin racking my brain to think of things to prepare us for the time we will be in the airports and in flight. I tend to plan for the worst and assume that all of our flights will be delayed in order to avoid getting “stuck” with cranky kids. Here are some ideas I have used (or plan to try next weekend when we go!).

• New things to “unveil” during the trip
  • A new, novel toy or book can really entertain.
  • I often hit up yard sales and second hand shops before a trip to get “new” things.
• Coloring Pack
  • A new coloring book and a box a fresh crayons keeps my clan quite entertained.
  • Also a pen with a blank notebook.
  • Avoid markers (they mess up that cute shirt you put on for Grandma to see and you will inevitably lose half the marker tops on your first flight).
• Snacks
  • Children can spend a surprising amount of time consuming snack foods.  Our favorites are snacks that are non-messy and  are  I count on my kids usually eating 2 days worth of snackfoods on the trip there!
  • GUM…everyone gets their OWN (oh, the excitement in our family) pack of gum to chew at take-off and landing. It wouldn’t ensure your kids still won’t have ear issues when they fly, but it will help.
• A small jar of playdough
  • My kids LOVE to see what my husband creates especially.
• mp3 player with headphones
  • This can really buy you some magazine reading time.
  • I LOVE that some airplanes have satellite tv on their flights.  A word of caution. . .not all programming is child-appropriate.
• In-Flight Magazines
  • “Shop” for your next birthday list (my older kids actually write a list out which burns up A LOT of time).
  • Play the alphabet game.  Find a picture in the magazine that starts with A, B, C…
  (this game can be played on the plane, in the airport, car, etc)
• The Airsick Bag
  Hopefully you don’t have to use it as it was intended (I have with a three year old and it was NOT fun)
  • Use it as a puppet to decorate.
  • Put a small item in and have your child reach in and guess what it is.
• The Shape Game
  • Draw as many shapes as you can think of….then search for things around you that are that shape.
• Draw your DREAM AIRPLANE
  • Draw the outline of a plane and have your kids draw what their dream airplane would have in it…trampoline? Free Dairy Queen?
• Finish That Picture
  • One person draws a squiggle and the next person has to turn it into something.
• Traditional Games
  • TIC TAC TOE
  • Hangman
  • 20 Questions
  • Write words from the letters in your destination (ie… CHICAGO) or from other travel words.
• 52 Fun Things to Do on the Plane by Lynn Gordon
  • My kids love to pick a card from the pack when we fly.  She has some really fun ideas.  It is a GREAT deal for just $7.00!

What entertainments do you use for your children when you are traveling?

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