10 airplane activities for toddlers so noone goes nuts!
If youre reading this, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that travelling on an airplane with a toddler is anything but fun.
The word stressful doesn’t quite encapsulate what you’re feeling.
You’re stressed about your toddler getting bored, getting fidgety and wanting to run out of the seat and throwing tantrums of epic proportions.
You’re also stressed about the dirty looks you’ll be getting from fellow passengers when their sleep gets disrupted not to mention the judgemental comments you might have to hear as others judge your parenting.
So here’s the deal.
Yes, travelling with a toddler is not fun. But if you take the necessary measures, you’ll find that you can take the stress out of the equation. And the secret to doing that is to be prepared.
As long as your toddler is well fed, well rested and busy, the chances of a tantrum are significantly reduced.
Today we’ll talk about how you can keep a toddler busy on a loooong flight. What airplane activities for toddlers actually work in keeping 2-4 year olds happily busy? Every child is different so the list of activities will vary slightly with different kids. Today I’ll share what works for us.
I recently traveled alone with my toddler and 7 year old on a 15 HOUR FLIGHT. Honestly speaking…it was not as disastrous as I expected it to be.
And that’s because I stuck to S.A.S ie Snacks, Activities and Sleep. If these 3 aspects are covered, you are good to go.
So let’s dive into what toddler airplane activities actually work to keep a tiny tot busy and engaged. But first, let’s go over what qualifies as a good airplane toy.
Best Airplane Toys for Toddlers
A good airplane toy for toddlers will have certain qualities that you should look out for.
1. Lightweight
Most of us are already waaay over weight when it comes to luggage. So the airplane toys you take along should ideally be super light and easy to take along
2. Compact
Apart from being lightweight, it’s essential that the toys are compact and not at all bulky. They should be a size that is easy to stow away in any sized backpack
3. Mess Free
It’s absolutely essential that the airplane activities for toddlers that you take should be those that doesn’t involve any mess. Travelling with kids is stressful enough. The last thing you need on your plate is a messy activity to clean up!
4. Easy to wrap up
There are some great toys out there that keep tots busy but the problem is they have so many tiny parts. Lego is an example of such a toy. Small parts falling all over the place and getting under your plane seat while your toddler howls and you’re scrabbling to find the missing piece is a recipe for disaster. So stick to simple toys/activities that dont have too many parts.
This post is about airplane activities for toddlers
10 Sanity Saving Airplane Activities for Toddlers
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1. Water Wow On the Go
I am so impressed with this on the go activity booklet by Melissa and Dough. It’s mess free, lightweight to carry and my toddler simply loves seeing the pictures that turn up as she scribbles away.
All you have to do is fill the pen with a little bit of water. Then kids take the water filled pen and color all over the pages and images start forming. The images disappear after a while so the pages are reusable. This has been an absolute HIT with my toddler.
Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! Reusable Water-Reveal Activity Pad
2. Reusable Stickers with Pad
Anyone who has a toddler knows that a brand new sheet of stickers that can be used over and over again are a dream come true. My kids love being able to take the stickers on and off, on and off and it keeps them busy for a long period of time on a plane.
This Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Activity Books Set comes with puffy reusable stickers along with double sided glossy backgrounds featuring 3 different themes. Added bonus: the activity book comes with a carrying handle so its perfect for on the go.
Melissa & Doug Puffy Sticker Activity Books Set
3. Foldable Busy Board
Many parents love this busy board which is not only foldable and lightweight but also includes activities that keep toddlers super engaged.
Toddlers are obsessed with zips, buttons and laces and with this busy board, they get to practice on all these objects in a safe way. Added bonus: it helps them work on their fine and gross motor skills.
Esjay Toddler Busy Board, Sensory Board, Montessori Toys, Toddler Activities for Airplane
4. Triangle Shaped Crayons
This might sound like a strange suggestion. Whats wrong with regular old crayons?
As a mama whose spent half a flight trying to pick up crayons that have rolled off the airplane table and down our seats, I feel obliged to share this little piece of advice with you.
Triangle shaped crayons like these (unlike the regular crayons) won’t roll off and that will save you so much bending and squirming. Your back will thank you for it later.
Crayons are simple and it doesnt sound like a novel toddler activity idea because it isn’t. Kids love coloring and you can make it even more fun for them by pairing the triangle crayons with a coloring book with their favorite characters.
Anti Roll Crayola Triangular Crayons
5. Busy book
A busy book does exactly as it’s name suggests: it keeps a child busy.
I made this busy book for my toddler so that while I worked on my blog in the mornings, my toddler could sit next to me and work on her busy book. I made sure to make it super fun but also educational.
Using this busy book while on the go has been a game changer for us. There are so many engaging hands on activities inside and they can easily be done while a child is confined to a little seat.
Busy books are my absolutely favorite activity for toddlers on an airplane simply because of how LONG they keep a toddler’s attention.
You can check out the Sweetnsour Busy Book here.
6. Snacks, snacks, snacks
Now snacks aren’t exactly an “activity” but they really needed to be on this list. Because munching on snacks keep kids quiet, busy and happy and isn’t that what we’re trying to achieve here?
Rule number one of traveling with toddlers is to bring snacks. After all, for toddlers, eating is an activity.
healthline.com
I took along soo many snacks with me on our 15 hour flight and boy was I glad I did. They were all finished by the end of the flight and kept my toddler happy and full throughout.
Dry snacks such as goldfish crackers, granola bars and baby puffs are a good option. A sanity saving hack is to use a snack catcher cup like this or a bento lunch boxe like this to keep the mess to a minimum. It’s also a good idea to take along an empty spill proof sippy cup which you can re fill on the plane with beverages.
Healthy snack ideas can include your toddlers favorite fruit and veggies cut up into small pieces, mini egg or P&J sandwiches and raisins.
As for yummy snacks that you can use to bribe your toddler when a tantrum is coming your way….well you know your toddler best so whatever those snacks are, get them.
I am totally in favor of reducing our kids sugar intake and on normal days it’s good to limit or eliminate sugary snacks. But there are some desperate situations where you can make exceptions and being on a 15 hour flight with a toddler is one of them! So don’t feel guilty and take along those gummy bears!
Munchkin 2 Piece Snack Catcher
Bentgo® Kids Prints Leak-Proof, 5-Compartment Bento-Style Kids Lunch Box
Munchkin Miracle 360 Sippy Cup
7. Sensory Toy
Toddlers can get quite fidgety on a plane after all those hours of being confined to a seat.
This UFO flying saucer is an ideal sensory toy that can keep your tot engaged. Featuring various textures, colors, sounds and feels, this toy will keep your toddlers curiosity at its peak.
It’s particularly suitable for younger toddlers aged 18 months plus.
Toy for Sensory Development for Toddlers, UFO Shape, Colorful Pull String
8. Suction cups
This is a genius toy to take along with you during travel but the only downside is that you have to make sure you have a seat next to the window.
These suction cups will stick to the airplane window and your toddler will have an absolute blast sticking them on and off and to each other. This ones particularly suitable for slightly older toddlers and will really get the job done in holding their attention for long periods of time.
9. Buckle toys
I’ve written previously about why toddlers are so obsessed with buckles.
Now that parents are realizing the benefits of their toddlers playing with buckles (such as developing hand eye coordination, fine motor skills and problem solving skills) buckle toys have become all the rage.
You have the option to get the stuffy buckle toys but for travel the backpack buckle toy would actually be smarter. This way their backpack can hold their items AND double as a toy. It’s genius.
Buckle Toys – Blizzard Penguin Stuffed Animal – Montessori Learning Activity
Buckle Toys – Blossom Butterfly Activity Backpack – Educational Learning Toy
10. Doodle Board
A doodle board is a parent favorite to take along on a long flight, particularly for older toddlers who seem to really enjoy going wild with the doodles.
This one is lightweight, easy to take along and features a double sided board – one for mess free finger painting and the other for drawing/scribbling. This is truly a superb tool to have in your bag whenever waiting is involved with your toddler.
My First Crayola Double Doodle Board
Check Out Our Best-Selling Printable – the SweetnSour Busy Book for Toddlers!
This adorable Busy Book is currently available for more than 60% off! We also have 2 amazing bonuses that you can get for FREE: 7 adorable educational posters ideal for a toddler bedroom/playroom along with 2 of our best selling bedtime routine charts!
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