One of my most popular blog posts ever continues to be my Drama Free Flights with Kids post – I assume it is because I give just so many tips (but am… hopefully… also very realistic about it all.) I also have a blog post specifically on flying with a baby.
My kids really love day flights over night flights – now that they are bigger. They are like “We can watch movies the whole time? You’re not going to make us sleep?!!!”
Although you might think – “Oh they are bigger now – they can just watch the tv !” I don’t find it to be that easy. They still need to be entertained (or at least keeping wiggly fingers busy) on longer haul flights. I know many people like their own bigger kids to pack their own activities but I still make up a little surprise bag with things they have never seen before.
I wanted to share what continues to work for us and what I prepare in advance.
Print outs from home
Pinterest is great for sourcing worksheets on shows or movies or characters that your kids are really into at the moment.
Examples? Search – “free printables Minecraft” “free printables finish the picture Disney” “free printables dot-to-dot Pokemon” “free ispy printables”
For example, this printout was recently a big hit. Here is the link for this Mario free printable worksheet.
If you go onto pinterest and search “topic + wordfind” you can get a word find/ word search in the theme of your child’s current interest. For example, my big girl is currently obsessed with Taylor Swift word searches.
Fidget toys
My kids love a fidget spinner or those pop-able toys to fiddle with while they watch a movie. Actually, my husband does too…
I keep them when they get them in party bags and put them in the “travel drawer” at home. They are also really cheap to buy at Kmart and discount stores etc – the ones right near the register.
Air Clay or Playdoh Kits
These are always a success. They make them slowly and then love to show me their beautiful work – and before the end of the flight – we chuck them out !
Those “It Girl”or “MonsterBoy” style magazines
My kids LOVE these magazines. They almost always come with a toy too. They are great to flick through and often have quizzes or activities like word finds.
I put it in their hand luggage bags without them knowing so it’s a little surprise.
I often buy two each (two different options) so that they can have another “surprise” on the way home.
Chupa Chups & Ring lollipops
Even though they are bigger my kids still love these – also – they take a while to eat so are perfect for munching on – on a plane.
Candy Necklaces
I also think these are good for some younger kids but don’t want to properly recommend because they could also be a choking risk.
For bigger kids this is also a great thing for them to have while waiting in lines at immigration etc.
Don’t forget that they aren’t always too big for crafty type activities
I find that even kids that “think” that they are too big for activities are often happy to take part in something simple while they are literally a captive audience (and also just something to do with their hands while they watch a movie.) Something like this (I bought this at a $2 shop) where you don’t need glue or scissors etc.
“Drawing Challenges”
We call this “drawing challenges” and play this on planes or while staying in hotels (it also works in restaurants too while you’re waiting for your food.) If your kids like drawing too I recommend giving this a try. You just need magazine cut outs stuck in a scrapbook and it’s done.
Remember you can bring any food on the plane you like (pretty much!)
Many people forget this.
My kids are now older and can entertain themselves for longer but they definitely still need more snacks than I usually anticipate.
I still give the kids their own little bag of activities to play with while they watch the movies (similar to here but a more age appropriate version) and I include a few snacks like mini packs of Oreos or Doritos or chopped up carrots or apples.
But I also have a bigger stash in my bag to hand out.
For day flights you need HEAPS of snacks.
What works for us is a giant ziplock bag of toasted sandwiches that I can hand out if someone claims starvation (this is especially handy if they don’t like the meals provided.)
I always think that chefs who choose the menu for inflight “kids meals” on planes must not have kids. My kids rarely like what is offered – which is fine for short flights but not great for a long haul when they are actually hungry.
I pack store bought sushi rolls (vegetarian or cooked chicken as I don’t want them to smell), cooked chicken or sausages, and (this is an Aussie niche but) bakers delight cheesy mite scrolls etc. My kids also love a takeout container of chopped carrots to munch on while they watch shows too – and carrots are good because they don’t smell and they are still pretty yummy even once they hit room temp.
Something to remember – no liquids (except for baby food) and fresh food and veggies need to be disposed of (or eaten, of course) before entering a new country.
*Personally, I think it’s not a very kind choice to ever pack nuts on a plane – even if the airline says it ok. I just could never sleep at night if I thought I caused someone with a severe reaction to fall seriously ill from just having any type of nuts even near them*
It’s quick common for influencers and “Mom-Hack” social posts to show their snack box that is a converted bait/tackle box. It looks so cute and like a mini-charcuterie board. So cute right? But, unfortunately, I don’t recommend this idea at all. If the container gets tipped over all falls on the floor- there go all of your yummy snacks (and there is now also a big mess.)
For us, I prefer to pull out snacks from my bag as needed. This “entertains” as they can’t see the snacks ahead of time so it’s a little surprise (“What else have you got, Mum?” “OOOhhhh ! I love these crackers!” – as I say many times – what ever buys you some happiness time and keeps everyone busy for a tiny bit) and then I also get to decide if they have had enough or should wait a bit longer “since we just ate” etc.
Spare clothing
I know they are bigger now but I still always have a spare set of clothing each.
Spillages happen on planes – those tray tables are wobbly and a cup of juice is hard for even an adult to keep track of.
And you also need to have spare clothing in case someone is sick. So, it’s handy to have a spare pair and hope you never need them.
I find it best if the spare clothes are for the opposite season. For example, if we are in t-shirts and shorts, then I find it best to have a light set of tracksuit pants rolled up (I even use rubber bands to make them small) and light long sleeved shirts. That way, if someone is cold or too hot etc I can pull out that as an additional option. This is also handy if you are travelling to a country that is in the opposite season.
Medicine for Adults and Kids
Just as mentioned in my Drama free flights with kids – it is handy to have pain meds for everyone in case of headaches etc. For anything stronger make sure that medicine is allowed in the new country – I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.
Rubbish bags or plastic bags
I explain why, in great detail, in my Drama free flights post here. Even with bigger kids, garbage bags or plastic bags still save the day for me. If we have finished eating I can dispose of all the uneaten food quickly and put the platter/tray in the front pocket easily so everyone can still get up and down and go to the toilet, play Nintendo, draw.. whatever they need to do (it always feels like a million years between receiving your food and for the staff to then collect the empty trays, right?)
DON’T BRING things with small pieces – like lego
It sounds great, in theory, but small pieces fall or get knocked off and just cause frustration.
Same goes for puzzles.
You still need wet wipes
Wet wipes are still your bestie. Even when flying with bigger children. They can be used as tissues, to wipe down tray tables and sticky surfaces, gooey hands or even as a wipe if someone is unwell and needs to be cleaned up. Other adults will be asking you to share – you’ll see!
Toilet timing tip!
If you can, make sure your kids use the restroom before boarding, then before meals start being brought out and then again BEFORE they announce “commencing our descent” (once they do that everyone goes!) So, if possible, start making everyone go in turn approximately 1 hour before landing time. You’ll all feel so smug when everyone else has to frantically line up later on. We also have a rough rule that if we have to move to let someone else out of a row then we try and go to the bathroom then too (saves moving around for no reason again later.)
See here for my hand luggage packing tips !
And if you’re off to Japan and want a list like this of exactly what to pack – you’ll like this article I wrote too.
