Written by Christi Sparrow
Let’s talk about air travel with toddlers, or more specifically, toddler airplane activities. For many parents this is one of the ultimate adventures in preparedness, patience, resourcefulness and courage. If you make it to your final destination with even just the slightest bit of sanity intact, then there’s nothing you can’t do. It’s an intuitive parental fact.
When I fly with our little ones, I find that having a dedicated activity bag, (I use a small packing cube), helps keep me somewhat organized. The activity bag comes out of the diaper bag as soon as we board the plane and get settled in our seats. Then the diaper bag goes in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of my daughter who, since turning two, requires her own plane seat.
Here is a list of a few airplane activities that I’ve traveled with, all of which are physically lightweight but pack an entertainment punch. Right now our daughter is 4 1/2 years old, (just left toddlerhood), and our son is 15 months old, (just entering toddlerhood), so I’m currently packing a range of items.
Just remember that even if you pack the most perfectly curated activity bag, there are days when the kiddos will want none of it. It’s okay. We’ve all been there. But hopefully one (or many!?) of these items will gift you just a little time to consume your complimentary bag of peanuts and in-flight beverage, (for which you might consider requesting a lid). And of course, these items would be terrific on your next family road trip, too!
1: Indestructible books.
These books are genius. Made from a “paperlike material”, they allow you to travel with actual books but leave the weight and bulk of cardboard baby books behind. Offering a variety of titles with colorful, engaging illustrations, these are perfect for your baby or young toddler because they can take a beating, (think chew-proof, rip-proof), and they take up virtually no real estate in your diaper bag.
2: Silicone Teething Jewelry.
For teething babies, these necklaces and bracelets for mom are a lifesaver. Bonus points if you can spring for a new one to be unveiled on your flight. Here I’ve linked to a selection of beautiful products so you can pick based on your personal style. They also make great gifts!
3: Dollar Store finds.
This is a great place to pick up “new-to-them” airplane activities for your toddler at an affordable price. Kids love playing with something new, and these items will feel like little travel presents. Here are just a few examples with which I’ve had relative success.
Pill box organizer with puffs – Just as it sounds. I purchased a plastic pill box, (yes, with the days of the week on each little compartment), and a bag of 100 soft puffs, and I stuffed several puffs into each compartment. When my daughter was 2, this entertained her for 30 minutes. I kid you not. 30 minutes, fellow parent! That’s like an eternity in toddler time! Cleaning up is easy, plus there’s no need to sweat losing a few puffs under the seats.
Stickers – new ones they haven’t seen before plus just a couple sheets of construction paper. Job done.
Beads with pipe cleaners – This is for the slightly older toddler to work on their fine motor skills, (just watch out for younger siblings who still put everything into their mouths). We make bracelets, anklets, necklaces, zipper pulls, you name it. We even gift some of our creations to the flight attendants. Win-win.
Dinosaurs! A pack of 8 for $1. That’s only 12.5¢ per dino! This one pairs well with #6 below…
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4: The Very Hungry Caterpillar Peel and Stick Board.
I must give credit where credit is due— my husband’s cousin (who is also an early childhood educator) gave us this gem before our return flight from England a couple years ago, and it’s so fun. Making up stories, setting up picnics, you get the idea. And it’s lightweight and self-contained. Check, check.
5: Scribble Pad.
One more from our brilliant cousin in England. This scribble pad allows your toddler to draw to their heart’s content without the need for endless paper, unruly crayons rolling off the tray table, or inky markers with elusive lids. You can even download a free app to snap and store their creations. And the writing tools are flat and clip directly onto the scribble board for easy storage.
6: Painter’s Tape.
Just hear me out on this one. I stick pieces of tape on the tray table and my 15-month old son loves to try to peel it off. Or I tape the window closed and let him go to work. Or we stick little items to the tray table or armrests. Plus you can use it at your destination to cover outlets or tape up the strings on window blinds.
7: Wikki Stix.
I challenge you to bring a pack of these on the plane and not start tinkering with them yourself. These are not for young babes who like to taste everything, but for ages 2ish and up, they are a lifesaver.
Related posts: In the interest of creating less stress and more enjoyment in our travel lives, you might also enjoy reading 7 Essential Travel Items for Families and 12 Essential Travel Tips With Kids
8: Apps.
My daughter has particularly enjoyed apps by Highlights Magazine, Starfall ABCs, Sago Mini Superhero, and our latest favorite, Khan Academy Kids. Remember to charge your devices before leaving home!
9: Snacks.
Don’t hold back in this category. Estimate how many snacks your child(ren) would usually eat in the time span of your flight(s), and then double it. If you have room, triple it— remember, you’ll get hungry, too! In actual fact, I carry an old Rachael Ray reusable lunch tote packed to the brim on every flight.
Snack time can be its own “activity”, (even if it occurs every 20 minutes), and you’ll lighten your load as you go! For example, I recently benefited from an awesome idea from @busytoddler on Instagram: bring string and a bag of any O-shaped cereal for your kiddo to make their own edible necklace.
Note: I have carried those pouches of pureed baby food on every flight for the past four years, and while I might get the occasional raised eyebrow from a TSA agent, I’ve never had them confiscated. Just remove them from your bag as you would a laptop when you go through security so the agents can see what you’ve packed.
10: Tegu blocks.
No toddler list would be complete without Tegu blocks. I happened upon these when my daughter was one, and they’ve been a household favorite ever since. These are colorful magnetic blocks that attract and repel as you configure countless formations. The company prides themselves on social responsibility, creating jobs in Honduras where the blocks are made. The brand offers all kinds of elaborate sets, but look for the “Pocket Pouch” line, and you’ll find small, neatly packed block sets with 6-8 pieces that are perfect for travel. Admittedly, these are a bit of a splurge, but they’ve been worth it to me. Use our link above and code REFERRED20 on your first purchase to receive 20% off!!
I sincerely hope this list of toddler airplane activities gives you some ideas for your next flight or road trip. Let me know what works for your family and what your must-have travel items are! Kudos for getting out in the world with your little ones. And remember: you got this!
You might also enjoy reading: 23 Tips on How to Save Money to Travel
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16 thoughts on “10 Toddler Airplane Activities”
Great ideas! When I finally get some grand kids I will put them all to use!
Awesome, Karen! Thanks for reading our blog!
Yes! Snacks and writing pads are so key for us. I love the indestructible books idea too.
Love the painters tape idea! A staple in training, I never thought of using it on flights. Also thinking I could tape the tray table up when she keeps kicking it. Lol. Love this adventure! Best of luck! Look forward to following your adventures!! Jenn Roddy y familia 🙂
Hey Jenn! So nice to see your name pop up. 🙂 Regarding the painter’s tape, yes, it works great on tray tables… especially on planes whose tray tables don’t have the little clasp/lock at the top, (ahem, Frontier). I love seeing photos of your sweet girl on FB. All the best, and thanks for reading!
How Fun!! Wish I could have seen y’all once more before you left, but I will definitely be checking here often for updates and pics! Have a BLAST!!! 🙂
Hey Adriana! Thanks for visiting our blog!
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Wow! These ideas are great and I will definitely bookmark this post for when I have kids of my own. For now, will apply this to my nieces hahaha. Who knew that there were so many ways to entertain kids on the plane than just giving them a phone or tablet to play with.
That’s really great tips for parents! Thanks for sharing!
Definitely going to save this for our next trip! I’m always looking for things to make airplane rides go smoothly with the kids!
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