Airplane Activities For Toddlers
Few things are as exhausting as
a travel day with kids. I don’t care if it’s a short nonstop flight or an international red-eye, flying with children of any age will wear out even the most seasoned travelers. For us, being well prepared for the journey ahead is key to minimizing stressors, and a thoughtfully curated travel bag full of activities and snacks is a great place to start.
From trial and error during countless miles flown with our baby girl, who is now a toddler, we’ve learned which items we absolutely cannot leave home without and which are best left behind. Our travel bag is filled with toys and activities that meet the following criteria: lightweight, quiet, mess-free, have minimal pieces/parts and most of all, are entertaining. The items below are on constant rotation for flights, but the beauty of them is that they work just as great on road trips or out to dinner once we arrive at our destination!
As much as I recommend the activities on this list, what I recommend even more is peace of mind. I’m an anxious flyer and to be quiet honest, having to entertain Sophie at 40,ooo feet doesn’t work for me. So for our family, the winning combination is a charged iPad with plenty of shows/movies downloaded and endless snacks! My mind is much more at ease as long as both of these are with us, and if Sophie eats and watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse the entire time, I could care less! I say whatever it takes to make your travel day as stress-free as possible, do it!
While these are great options for toddlers (our daughter is currently 2 1/2 years old), if you have a baby, be sure to check out my tips for traveling with littles under 12 months.
Wikki Stix - We were introduced to these mess-free sculpting sticks at Blackberry Farm and have had them in the travel bag ever since!
Water Wow! - Mess-free, reusable coloring books in a variety of themes.
Window Letters - Clinging window letters or shapes (one-time use since they get a bit gross).
Butter Dough - Like Play-Doh but less crumbly and messy. Has a very soothing texture and feel.
Threading Toys - We have this watermelon threading toy that’s been great since Sophie was 12 months old. FYI - it’s definitely the heaviest activity on the list.
Dimpl - Another great toy for babies and toddlers alike! Push, pop and poke addiction. Takes up zero space and is so lightweight. Always in the travel bag!
Simpl Dimpl Clip - Smaller version of the Dimpl to clip on your bag.
Magnatab - Draw pictures and letters with a magnetic stylus that pops beads to the surface, and a simple swipe of your finger erases the image.
Puffy Sticker Play Set - Sturdy, reusable sticks and background sets for endless entertainment. Themes available in everything from princess to safari.
Wood Fidget Puzzle - These fun little fidgeters can be arranged and twisted in thousands of shapes.
Magnetic Hangman - This game we haven’t used yet, but is great for slightly older kids (4+). Magnetic twist on hangman, Hang On, Monkey!
Magnetic Jigsaw Puzzle - Another great Melissa & Doug travel option! Magnetic jigsaw puzzles in themes like vehicles and on the farm.
Quiet Book - While a bit bulkier than most items on the list, this soft fabric, easy-to-carry book full of activities is great for travel and is machine-washable!
Passport Sticker Book - Let your child’s travel imagination soar with this DIY passport and luggage tag sticker book. Fun for an international trip!
Jaq Jaq Bird Chalk Book - This reusable chalkboard book comes with dustless chalk sticks, making it a perfect on-the-go coloring option.
Magnetic Dolls - We’ve had a few sets of magnetic dolls/scenes, but this is a cute farm set.
LCD Writing Tablet - Another great coloring option, and the best part is how lightweight and inexpensive it is!
Memory Game - With flip tabs and multiple game cards, this memory game is easy to throw in the bag.
Volume Limiting Headphones - And then of course, the iPad charged and loaded! Don’t forget headphones. I prefer volume limiting ones to be safe.
