Nobody wants to sit next to a fidgety child on an airplane, so traveling parents always look for ways to keep children occupied when family travel involves long flights. Carry-on space, TSA rules and the clean-up factor limit options for both food and toys, but a well-planned supply can last through even a long flight.
The best plan of all is to get kids to sleep. If possible, plan short flights for nap time and longer ones late in the day closer to bedtime. Avoid sugary treats and make sure kids are in comfortable clothes and have their favorite sleep toy (unless, of course, it’s so big it needs a seat of its own).
Choose toys or games that don’t make noise and don’t have a lot of small pieces that can fall into the seat or on the floor. Activity and puzzle books are compact and keep kids busy for hours. Coloring books are a good choice, but limit the number of crayons and put them in a drawstring bag instead of a box.
If your child uses your phone or tablet, load plenty of options, make sure it’s fully charged and bring child-sized headphones. Load some books for children old enough to read.
A supply of snacks not only keeps kids busy, but can replace a meal if kids are not fond of the meals served (and who is?). Small packets or zip-lock bags of raisins, almonds, grapes, clementines, dried fruits, baby carrots and lunchbox-sized applesauce cups are good choices.
We like Annie’s Organic Variety Pack, which contains small pouches of Cheddar Bunnies, grahams and other kids’ favorites. If you do want to bring candy as a special treat, choose long lasting ones like gummies. For younger children, consider bringing a snack-catcher cup to avoid spills.
Finally, pack plenty of paper towels, wet-wipes and a packet of travel-sized disinfectant wipes for the tray table.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Nov 29, 2023Father, Son and Brother Adventure Bonding in Cody Yellowstone
Dude alert: If you’ve fallen out of touch with the other guys in your family, Cody Yellowstone is the perfect place to catch up — and autumn is the ideal season for doing so in the great outdoors. From off-road adventures to historic ghost towns to plenty of wildlife, there’s something in this dynamic destination to please family travelers.
Sponsored Content
Unearth Seoul’s Hidden Gems
Filled with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered, Seoul invites travelers to unearth its many gems, and Seoul Tourism Organization is here to help travelers do just that. Through thoughtfully created initiatives like the Theme Tourism County Competition, Seoul Tourism Organization works closely with local districts to identify and showcase what makes each district unique and charming in all seasons.
Destinations / North America
Nov 29, 20235 Places to Take Kids in Nebraska
The world’s largest indoor desert and the nation’s biggest indoor rain forest are only the beginning of the attractions family travelers can enjoy while traveling through Nebraska.
Destinations / Europe
Nov 29, 2023Head to Bath, England, This Christmas for Endless Festivities
Family travelers to England can’t miss the return of the annual Bath at Christmas in the picturesque and historic city of Bath. Nights of entertainment, lights, and delicious food and drinks queue up for an unforgettable Christmas.
Sponsored Content
United Airlines Celebrates its First Class of United Aviate Graduates
As the only major U.S. airline to own a flight school, United Airlines already hit a major milestone, and now the carrier celebrates another important — and historic — step as the inaugural class of United Aviate Academy pilots graduates, leading the next generation of aviators. The 51 students in the graduating class were majority, at 80 percent, women and people of color — another stride toward United’s goal of training 5,000 new pilots by 2030 with half women or POC.
Destinations / North America
Nov 28, 2023What Are the Friendliest U.S. Destinations?
Want to travel somewhere warm and welcoming? You might want to head to one of the United States’ friendliest destinations, as uncovered by a recent study from language learning platform Preply.
ShareThis