Taking your children on trips can be fun and exciting for the whole family. If you are flying, plan ahead to help make the trip enjoyable and interesting for your kids. Children are naturally curious and cannot be expected to sit quietly in their seat for an entire plane trip with nothing to do. You can plan activities and have surprises on hand to keep them entertained. Pack a bag for each child, filled with items such as coloring books, crayons and small toys, and include a few favorite snacks such as trail mix, cookies or granola bars. Keeping your kids engaged on a flight can help you reach your destination stress free.
Step 1
Get out one new item at a time, recommends Sheryl Eberly, author of "365 Manners Kids Should Know: Games, Activities, and Other Fun Ways to Help Children Learn Etiquette." Hand children something new as soon as they get bored. Show your kids how to press Silly Putty onto the page of a book to transfer letters or images, or challenge them to create pictures using paper, stickers and crayons. Encourage them to use the beads and string to make a necklace for someone special.
Step 2
Pull out a brand-new book and take your time reading it to your child. Keep a few new books in your carry-on bag so they are accessible during the flight. Ask the child questions about the pictures and encourage him to tell you what he thinks will happen next. Bring books about your children's favorite characters or books on topics they are interested in.
Step 3
Get out the DVD player and let your children watch a movie they have not seen before. Make sure each child can see the screen, and provide headphones. Have several movies for them to choose from if possible.
Step 4
Play guessing games. Give your children clues and challenge them to guess what you are thinking of. Interact with children so they are entertained and do not have a chance to become bored, suggests Flying Rugrats, a website dedicated to helping parents fly with children. I Spy and Twenty Questions are examples of games most children enjoy.
Step 5
Take your child for a walk up and down the aisle. If you are traveling with more than one child and another adult, take each child for a walk while the others remain seated. You may not think the galley is very interesting, but a child who hasn't seen one before probably will.
Tips and Warnings
- Be enthusiastic about each new activity to encourage your children to give it a try. Give them two or three choices so they have some control over what they get to do.
Things You'll Need
- One bag for each child
- Coloring books
- Crayons
- Small toys
- Silly Putty
- Beads
- String
- Paper
- Stickers
- Snacks
- Books
- Portable DVD player and headphones
- Movies
References
- "365 Manners Kids Should Know: Games, Activites, and Other Fun Ways to Help Children Learn Etiquette"; Sheryl Eberly; 2001
- Flying Rugrats: Entertaining Small Kids on Planes
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