Kids Activities on Airplanes

Kids aren't known for their ability to sit still for long periods. Put them in a confined space with a couple hundred other people for a few hours and it's a recipe for disaster. If you are planning a flight with children, it's best to come prepared with activities that will hold their attention and minimize tantrums and other disruptions to passengers. Activities that are directly related to the flying experience can be the most effective since they will seem novel to your child.

  1. Draw and Color

    • Make coloring special by printing out some coloring pages of places that the plane will fly over during your trip. Examples might include scenes from the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Rushmore or the Grand Canyon, if you are flying domestically. If you are flying internationally, you can provide coloring pages for the different countries you will pass over. Point out the landmarks when you see them from the window. Ask your children to draw what they see as well.

    Explore the Plane

    • Some airlines still allow children to visit the cockpit to meet the pilot and see how the plane works. If the airline you are flying doesn't allow it, you may still be able to get a pair of wings for your children, which can make them feel like official pilots. You can also let your children play stewardess by distributing goodie bags that you make before the flight to other passengers. Walk the aisles only when the pilot has cleared movement in the cabin, and don't get in the way of any of the flight duties.

    Play "I Spy"

    • Encourage children to express their imagination and make a game of "I Spy" more exciting by asking children to pretend they are spies or special agents flying across the world in search of bad guys. Give them small binoculars or magnifying glasses to "spy" on the other rows. Call out something you see -- "I spy something green" -- and let them use their powers of detection to find it. If the game becomes disruptive, ask children to use the airline magazines to conduct a scavenger hunt for a scaled-down version of "I Spy."

    Create a Scrapbook

    • Create a scrapbook of your trip on the plane. Print out a map ahead of time and ask your children to chart your flight destination with a highlighter. Give them a small camera to take photos of each other and of scenes from outside the window of the plane. Provide a small notebook for them to write their memories from the trip. Compile all these items with receipts, ticket stubs and other memorabilia to create a scrapbook together when you get home. You can start creating the book on the plane if you have time.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Parent-Approved Party Games for Preteens
      Planning a party for a preteen can be challenging, but all you need is a little preparation. Choose games for your tween’s celebration that are entertaining, interactive and right for her age group. Plan the games with your preteen to get her o
    • When Do Young Girls Start Being Emotional?
      A variety of situations can cause a girls emotions to fluctuate rapidly. The loss of a loved one, changes brought on by puberty or stress from social situations can cause girls to go from cheery to weepy in short order. Parents can closely monitor th
    • Backup Childcare
      Backup ChildcareWhat if your child attends a family day care and the day care providers own children develop a contagious illness? What if the day care provider becomes sick? Suppose your child is in a day care center, but comes down with a stomach f