Our 22 month old has taken dozens of trips in her short life, so we’ve had the opportunity to test out many forms of entertainment while in flight. We’ve determined that all you really need to bring is an iPad with Daniel Tiger seasons 1-10 downloaded and ready to go.
The End.
Just Kidding. But do not discount the importance of screen time during travel. We swear by it (…and my husband’s a pediatrician and we limit screen time in our home. When we travel we’re in survival mode and all rules go out the window). Our favorite shows for toddlers are Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and Sesame Street. It’s even better when kids are not used to screen time so it’s a reaaaaal treat.
As for headphones for small ears: These are great because they are soft and cover the head like a warm headband. Bonus: they make your toddler look like a cute panda or other equally endearing furry animal. If your child rejects all headphones you can always just put the device on a low volume. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: other passengers would rather hear your device (at a low volume) than your fussing toddler. Also, the other passengers should (if they’re smart) have noise cancelling headphones with them, anyway, and if they don’t they can ask to borrow some from a flight attendant.
We also like age-appropriate apps. There are lots of apps we like… this will take an additional post.
Beyond screens, we opt for toys and games that a) do not take up precious luggage space, b) we don’t mind getting lost, and c) are not messy.
My mother, who is an expert family traveler in her own right, always packed our carry on backpacks with wrapped toys from the dollar store. My siblings and I looked forward to unwrapping our surprises on the plane and then spending hours playing with our new toys. For toddlers it takes time and focus to do the unwrapping and can (possibly) buy you a few minutes of peace during the flight.
Some of our favorite toys for the plane are:
- A couple of dollhouse people or figurines that our toddler enjoys playing with at home. (We have duplicates at home in case one gets left behind).
- Melissa and Doug Water Wows are awesome. Remember those invisible ink books you had as a kid? These are the 21st century version and so much cooler. We fill the small brush with water before getting on the plane in order to prevent a wet mess in flight.
- Mess-free Crayola materials like Crayola Color Wonder. You can even buy half-size markers (with invisible ink) to fit compactly in backpack.
- A Matching Game in a small ziploc bag. I print out pictures from the internet, laminate, cut them, and stick in a sandwich bag. Maybe this seems too time/labor intensive, but our toddler loves it.
- Colorforms.
- Small board books or magazines. Hidden pictures are especially popular with our toddler and you could even surprise your kid with a new one they’ve never seen. Our favorite magazines are High Five by Highlights and Babybug by Cricket Media.
- This plastic book is great because you can put in your own family photos and switch them out regularly for new entertainment.
- Do you know about Lacing Boards? Easy to pack and a total hit with little ones (for those over two years old, I’d say.)
- Travel-sized Magna Doodle.
- Sticker books.
Other favorite activities include:
- Scroll through family photos/videos on the phone.
- Pretend like you live in the 1800s and do nursery rhymes and tell stories AND ALL OF THOSE GAMES YOUR GRANDPARENTS HAD TO PLAY AS CHILDREN because they didn’t have screens.
- Bring Cheerios and some string and make a necklace- then eat the Cheerios.
- FOOD. I cannot stress the merits of snacks enough. Bring cheerios. Bring puffs. Bring all-organic-pre-chopped carrot sticks if that’s more up your alley. Goldfish, Animal Crackers (you can do animal noises, too!), and fruit/veggie pouches (the smaller size to meet liquid regulations) are easy. Just bring food, lots of it, and let your kid munch away in bliss. You know what we pack? Those wafer ice cream cones (minus the ice cream, of course). Toddler loves ‘em. Pick snacks that take forever to eat. Salty snacks like potato chips are also good in that they make your kid thirsty so she’ll drink water to stay hydrated on the plane.
- Walk the aisles.
Even if you’re not creative at all, try to adopt an inventive spirit and devise games to play in the air. I-Spy. Simon Says. My husband pretended to be the robot Alexa for two hours on a flight back from Iceland. Other passengers were confused but… whatever appeases your kids… Remember that this is a chance to spend quality time with your toddler so try to relish this special time together (ha).
