Wheels up! Time for an adventure with your kids. First step; get to the destination. Sounds easy, right? You may have the itinerary planned for your travels, but have you thought about the flight? Here’s a complete list of airplane activities for toddlers and babies that will be sure to keep them occupied.
Overview of this post;
- Activities/toys on an airplane for babies 0-6 months
- Activities/toys on an airplane for children 6mos+
Don’t forget to walk around the airport before getting onto the plane. Allowing that physical energy out will helpful when Try not to take out any of the toys you have at the gate. You want the airplane to keep
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Now, let’s get into breaking down the best airplane activities for babies and toddlers.
Airplane activities and Toys for 0-6 month Babies
Babies aged 0-6 months are generally more forgiving of a change in schedule so you are in luck! They tend to steal the show on an airplane whenever they do anything cute and we will take all the brownie points we can get. At this age, they’re still fairly immobile so sitting on your lap or in a car seat on their own are both great options.
A few different milestones with this age range dictate the toys to bring. 0-6 months include reaching towards objects, shaking a rattle, moving a toy from one hand to the other (heavy emphasis on the development with hands and fingers). They’re also interested in finding a toy hidden underneath a cloth, enjoy being around people and smiling at themselves in a mirror. Their visual development is also progressing, but starting off with high contrast books are always a good options for infants.
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- Board Books are always a great option because the pages are sturdy and they can easily be wiped off. The high contrast books are especially helpful for the younger babies.
-These Karen Katz books are a great starter pack!
-High contrast books are awesome for younger babies and help develop their eyesight.
- Teethers These teethers are always a great option. You can even put them on your pacifier clip so they don’t fall onto to the ground.
- Rattles Rest assured, these don’t make so much noise that it bothers anyone around you. Plus, it’s the most adorable thing ever when you see a little baby shaking a rattle.
- Stacking Cups These are mess free and store very easily inside one another.
- Crunchy toys/books I love how this clips onto something so it doesn’t drop onto the floor.
Babies this age also love cups from the flight attendant, unopened bag of snacks (that crunchy noise), seat belts and window shades. Babies would be interested in the buttons on your shirt, but sometimes it is nice to have options.
Airplane activities and Toys for 6 months + Toddlers
Kids from this age on would do really well if you simply hid a few of their toys for a few days to 2 weeks or so. If buying something new is last on your totem pole, I get it. The whole idea of a toy rotation works really well for a reason and you could consider this a toy rotation. Bring them on the plane and voila! They are playing with already purchased toys just as if they are new. You already know they enjoy playing with those toys so you have a good chance they’ll be thoroughly entertained.
Sometimes, buying new toys for a vacation is helpful though! It can generate new conversations while talking about the toys. After they open it on the plane, talk all about it.
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- Quiet Books These books are so much fun to play with and the best part? They’re machine washable.
- Swoosh balls Not only are these hilariously fun, they double as a stress reliever when you need it.
- Window Clings These work wonders with not only the airplane window, but also the tray table!
- Wikki Stix Mess free and compact so they are easy to pack.
- Post its Using this for older kids with spelling or practicing letters with young children, the possibilities are endless!
- Crayons I particularly like these crayons because they don’t break as easily!
- Construction Paper Arts and crafts is always a good idea.
- Play Dough This is a great sensory experience for kids.
- Magnetic Book Who doesn’t love Eric Carle? You can always bring letter magnets and use them with this as well.
- Stickers So many options with stickers. You have regular stickers, puffy stickers or even the plain dot stickers (personal favorite since they don’t stick too much to things).
- Water Books MAGIC, I tell ya. How does the color disappear?!
- Cars/monster trucks These don’t take up too much room in your bag so they’re nice to have. Anything with wheels is always a good choice.
- Figurines Imaginative play is the best. RawR.
- Colorful Tape Easy play, easy clean up!
- String/yarn and Fruit Loops or Cheerios This is the new edible arragement!
- Photos We always love pointing to family members, finding their nose or practicing emotions with photos.
- Finger Puppets Let me hear your best froggy voice!
- Magnetic Drawing Board The no mess pen, we are here for it!
To Conclude
This concludes your complete list for airplane activities for babies and toddlers.
If you’re overwhelmed with the idea of traveling, click here to read all about how to get your child to sleep while traveling. It might be easier than you think, you just need a plan. Furthermore, are you vacationing across the world? This blog post is perfect for you. It talks about jet lag and can really help you know what to expect (click here).
If you are at a total loss and frustrated that you have multiple night wakings or just not feeling well rested, this is exactly why I’m here. We can work together to come up with a personalized plan that aligns with your family. I provide you with answers, encouragement and results. You can set up a call here or email me at clementineparent2020@gmail.com I look forward to hearing from you.