How to Prevent Mid-Flight Tantrums with 19 Airplane Activities for Toddlers
After numerous flights, we’ve gathered our favorite airplane activities for toddlers to help prevent any tantrums and boredom. If this is your first flight with your toddler, don’t worry. As Toddler Traveling Experts we’ve perfected flying with our toddler from 1 to even 6 hour flights. We’ve conquered them all. Find out how we do it.
Keeping a Toddler Entertained on a Flight
Keeping your toddler mentally focused is the goal when flying on an airplane. Airplanes are tight and there isn’t much room to move around. You can try and walk with your toddler up and down the center aisle, but you might find that is much easier said than done. Our trick is to focus on keeping them so mentally stimulated in their seat that they forget they are not able to move around.
The first time we flew with a toddler we didn’t plan well and suffered for it. We brought toys she had seen a million times before and completely forgot that we still had to entertain her on the flight home. Not only did we not plan the right activities but we didn’t even have enough to survive the returning trip.
We’ve traveled many more times since then and have come to realize that you don’t need 25 different toys to keep them happy, you just have to strategize based on your toddler’s personality what they would enjoy doing the most that could last a few hours.
Plan to bring at least 5 different activities that you can bounce around from when your are flying. This will give them a few different activities without over stuffing your carry-on.
Must-Have Airplane Toddler Items
When you are flying with your Toddler there are a few things you should be made aware of and have with your before boarding your flight.
- Use a FAA Certified Chid Restraint System which includes a FAA Certified Car Seat, on a Plane for Your Child to Use
- Use a Travel Tray if Bringing a Car Seat on a Plane
- Travel with a Toddle Potty Seat Cover
- Pack Snacks & Drinks
Bringing a toddler on plane can be a challenging task if you have never attempted it before. Read our other articles about traveling with children to get more advice before your next trip.
You may also enjoy reading:
- Best Affordable Luggage for Kids and Toddlers
- The Truth about Staying at a Hotel with a Toddler
- 1,000 Mile Road Trip with a Toddler: Ultimate Survival Guide
- How To Fly With a 2 Year Old: Game-Changing Tips & Essential Items
Does having pre-planned airplane activities for toddlers prevent tantrums ?
The short answer is YES! Our very first trip with our toddler we did not plan out ahead of time and I am honestly not sure what we were thinking. We barely packed enough toys and what we did pack she had already lost interest in by hour one. The next hour was pure chaos. Crying, pouting and everything you hope would not happen did happen. We made sure after that horrible experience that we were never going to pack without intention again.
Every trip after that has been tantrum-free and we owe it to our five-item method. We pack two activities that she has NEVER done before, two activities that are new versions of her favorite toys, and one last hurrah (the tablet). We do this on a rotation so that she never ends up with the same four activities.
Let’s go over our TOP 19 Airplane Activities for Toddlers to see if you can incorporate any of these ideas during your next flight.
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What are the 25 Best Airplane Activities for Toddlers?
1. Color in a Coloring Book
A coloring book is the best item to bring on an airplane. It fits easily into any carry-on and can entertain a toddler for hours. Just throw in a few crayons and you have an easy and packable activity!
For toddlers, we love coloring books with images that are easy for them to identify. Whether its animals or a favorite cartoon character, toddlers will only engage and be excited about something they can recognize so keep that in mind when you are shopping!
When it comes to crayons, the larger the better. If you haven’t looked into JUMBO CRAYONS, make sure you check them out before your trip. Jumbo crayons are perfect for tiny toddler hands and usually only come with 5-8 colors per pack making it easy to transport.
CHECK OUT OUR FAVORITE TODDLER COLORING BOOKS
2. Play with Reusable Sticker Books
If your toddler loves to play with stickers, a reusable sticker book is a great alternative to a book full of stickers. Reusable stickers are great for toddlers because they seem to LOVE to peel and place the same sticker a dozen times. Reusable stickers allow them to free-play without a huge mess.
3. Solve Puzzles
Puzzles are my toddler’s favorite quiet time activity. If your toddler enjoys puzzles make sure you pack a new set of puzzles that they haven’t solved yet. The more challenging and newer it is for them the longer you will be able to get out of the activity. A puzzle they know by heart will only entertain them for a minute or two where as a new puzzle can entertain them for much longer.
When looking for a toddler puzzle I suggest nothing over 12 pieces unless they are matching up shapes, colors or characters (one piece per object puzzle).
There are a TON of great options out there but we love ANYTHING by Melissa & Doug.
CHECK OUT OUR FAVORITE TODDLER PUZZLES BELOW
4. Play and Read Poke-A-Dot Books
I didn’t know about these poke-a-dot books for quite a while. A neighbor actually introduced them to us and we’ve been obsessed with them ever since. Not only are they a story but they act almost as a toy too. We usually read through the books once, poke through the books the next round, and then play a game to see who can poke the dots the fastest.
With a little creativity these books can really be used for more than just reading a quick story. The pops can be noisy in a quiet plane but honestly I would rather my child giggling and popping than throwing a tantrum.
5. Travel Memory Game
Memory games are great for challenging your toddler’s mind making it not only a fun toy but a mid-air learning experience.
Not every parent wants to revert to technology as a form of entertainment and if this is you check out travel-size memory games for your toddler.
We love this memory game from Melissa & Doug. It is designed for children ages 5-7 but our toddler enjoys it just the same.
6. Travel Size Busy Boards
I am sure you have heard of busy boards if you don’t already own one, but they are PERFECT for traveling if you have a toddler that loves sensory items. They come in many different colors and provide your child with stimulating tasks they can do on-the-good.
7. Read Books
Books are another great option for toddlers. They are as easy to pack as coloring books and can be placed inside your carry-on without taking up much space. If your toddler loves books we suggest getting one with different stories inside so that they can be read more than once and last longer than just one single storybook.
8. Build with Magnetic Cubes
Toddlers love building blocks and creating different shapes with them which makes a travel set of magnetic cubes a great choice for traveling.
Unlike regular building blocks, these magnetic cubes will not easily get lost or slip sine they use magnets to hold them together.
This makes them great for airplanes as you don’t have to worry about easily knocking them over.
9. Travel Slide Puzzle Game
Our next option is a little more challenging than our other choices but the great thing about this toy is that it will last for years to come.
Slide puzzles are a quiet yet fun way for children to problem solves with colors.
If your toddler is still new to challenging games they can just focus on sliding the dots around making up their own game. Since this is a challenging game it will last longer than just a few months as your child will only grow into this activity.
10. Listen to Music on Headphones
As a parent that it trying to be aware of screen time, I have found alternative ways to incorporate technology without always starring at a screen. My toddler absolutely LOVES any Disney movie which means that she knows almost every song ever sang by any character.
If you are looking for alternative ways to entertain your child, download some of their favorite songs. Most songs fall somewhere between 2-3 minutes each which means 10 songs can entertain them for 20-30 minutes!
11. Play with Learning Flash Cards
Flash cards are a staple in our traveling bag. They are so easy to transport around and you can literally take them out anywhere: on a plane, in the airport, in the car, on a train, or even on a boat. We love to use them to practice our words, letters and colors. Toddlers love to impress their parents and every time we take out our flashcards our toddler is always motivated to get it them right. This is the one activity we can rely on EVERY SINGLE TRIP.
12. Watch Movies or TV shows on a Tablet
As much as I hate to say it, we do allow our toddler to enjoy a tablet when we fly. We usually leave this as a last resort when every other activity has been exhausted and there are no more options left.
If you do decide to allow your child to use a tablet make sure it is full of movies, tv-show episodes or games for them to play. Toddlers can be picky but you know your child best. Make sure you allow them to have a few options to choose from to help prevent a tantrum over not wanting to watch the only movie that was downloaded.
Get your child a pair of child headphones and you can be reassured that at least the worst-case scenario is covered.
13. Play with Finger Puppets
This activity is perfect for parents with a ton of creativity. Finger puppets can be a silly way to play in-between activities or on their own. We love to use. the finger puppets while we are playing our other games. We name the characters and we make them do different things on the plane.
I know that some parents are concerned about looking silly or too playful around other adults, but if this can keep your child happy wouldn’t it be worth trying out your best acting skills?
As a parent who embarrasses myself hourly for the amusement of my child, most adults just smile and laugh when they see the finger puppets come out to play. Remember your on a trip and will never see those people again, have fun and allow yourself to be silly.
14. Build with Mini LEGO sets
As a mom this is not my favorite activity to do on a plane BUT my husband throughly enjoys playing with Legos sets with our toddler. I do not personally have the mental patience to deal with dozens a small pieces but he can somehow make it work.
If you do decide to bring Lego Sets try bringing a set that only allows you to build one single item. This will give your child a set goal and it will also limit the number of pieces you will need to complete it. Finding the right airplane activities for toddlers can be tricky so focus on the ones that you know your child will enjoy best.
15. Play with Travel-Size Play-Doh
As a parent that loves craft-time this is one of my favorite travel activities to do with my toddler. The possibilities are actually endless when it comes to creating shapes with play-doh. You can make a pizza, a snowman or even just mold a car.
I would suggest cleaning the travel tray before using play-doh as the stickiness of it will attract every little piece of dirt and fuzz.
16. Play with Small Animal Figurines for Imaginative Play
Just like the finger puppets this activity also involves getting a little creative and engaged. Most children do have some kind of figurines in their toys boxes but like I’ve said before a new toy will introduce them to new ideas and playing.
This one might be a little less awkward than a finger puppet so if you’re willing to get your creative mind flowing, little figurines will let your child’s imaginative run wild.
17. Write and Draw on a Doodle Board
Does your child love to draw but your not sure how much paper to pack?
Technology has really empowered the everyday parent and our ability to allow our children to be creative without using endless paper.
A doodle board gives your child unlimited drawing capabilities and with a press of a button erases the entire board so your toddler can draw for however long they want.
18. Reusable Water Activity Book
If your not willing to commit to a coloring book or if your child has had enough of coloring with crayons try these reusable water activity books. All you have to do is fill the included brush with water and let your child color in the pages!
Need water? Just ask a stewardess for a cup of water or go to the restroom and fill your brush up there. Our toddler is amazed with how just a little bit of water can transform the page into a colorful scene. The best part is that they are reusable after drying out.
19. Letters and Numbers Learning Toy
This learning toy is not only fun but a great way for toddler to start learning the alphabet. It can be used as a matching game or simply. just to learn their letters and numbers. Either way this compact toy offers a ton of different activities in one simple fold-up carry case.
The letters and numbers are large enough to. easily. see but still small enough to fit inside your carry-on without worry!
By making a game-plan ahead of time you will be able to focus on toys and activities that will prevent tantrums on your next flight! Remember to be aware of how tight airplane can be and how restrictive the is size of your carry-on. Pack a variety of activities and be prepared to switch between them as needed. With a little planning and creativity, you can help make the plane ride enjoyable and entertaining for your toddler.
