HELP -- ideas for a 5hr plane ride!

[Kivgaen]

We're going to be visiting DH's sister on the other side of the country next week, and I am DREADING the plane ride with DS (6) and DD (3.5). Our flight leaves at 7am, so we have to get up at 4:30-5:00am to get to the airport in time.
Which means I'm going to have tired grumpy kids with me for 2 hours in the airport, and then another 5 on the plane. Another hour and a half after that in a car driving to the B&B.

What am I going to do with these kids to keep them busy for so long?

What have you done on planes that keep young kids entertained, without disturbing the other passengers?

[sidandspencersmom]

I travel with my 2 boys (6 and 3) often. Some things I have learned--
1. anticipate delays
2. pack changes of clothes for everyone in your carry on
3. bring an empty water bottle (Sigg or similar) to use for water on the plane. Just ask the attendant to fill it up the first time they come by.
4. extra snacks, and some more.
5. new, never been seen books. DK makes some sticker books that keeps kids busy for a long time. Coloring books, dot to dots, and mazes are also fun.
6. Go to Hobby Lobby or other craft type store. I bought pipe cleaner and beads for the boys to make bracelets for family members. Keep the beads in a plastic bag. I also found a cool mosaic project, made of little foam stickers. It's like paint by number, but you use stickers instead. That occupied my boys for over an hour!
7. I always bring a dvd player and few movies-- use this as a last resort- for when things get wacky and the kids get tired.


Good Luck!

[ollyoxenfree]

Check with your airline - there are a lot of new rules for allowable carry on, and they are very strict. I think they mostly apply for international flights INTO the U.S., so it may not be a problem at all for you - not sure what country you are in. Or you could be stuck with one small bag, so no extra changes of clothing and no extra toys/games etc.

[Kivgaen]

We're in canada, and will be flying West Jet.

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

Check with your airline - there are a lot of new rules for allowable carry on, and they are very strict. I think they mostly apply for international flights INTO the U.S., so it may not be a problem at all for you - not sure what country you are in. Or you could be stuck with one small bag, so no extra changes of clothing and no extra toys/games etc.

Even if that's the case, it would be one small bag per ticketed passenger, so we're talking at least three small bags here.

[Kivgaen]

I'm not really concerned that we won't have enough space to bring stuff. We can have at least 4 carry-on bags, plus 4 "business articles" (DD has her own toy computer and computer backpack, so she could bring 2 bags too!).

I'm not sure what else to bring. I like the idea of buying some new stuff just for the plane ride. The paint-by-stickers idea was cool... I wonder if I could find something like that.

Any other ideas?

[busylizzybee]

Last time I flew westjet they had tv screens on the back of each seat with a bunch of channels incl. kids. We don't do tv at home but it's a nice novelty.
But bring your own headphones because they're $3 each if you get theirs.
I second the new toys/activity-- but time them strategically throughout the flight- save something for the last unbearable hour! Good luck.

[2xy]

If there's a roomy waiting area at the airport, keep them up and try to engage them in some physical games of some sort. Maybe they'll sleep on the plane a bit.

I flew from the east coast to Hawaii when my boys were 6 and 2.5....by myself. It really wasn't bad at all. New toys, new books....stuff they've never seen before can keep them occupied for a long while. Portable DVD players didn't exist then. DS1 liked to do things like count the number of seats on the plane.

On the drive from the airport to the B&B, I would stop once or twice and let them chase soap bubbles. My kids liked that, and it gets the wiggles out.

[aelf]

I only have one (now age 6) so that makes it easy. I bring snacks, and a drink bottle I can fill. For short flights (2 hours or under) I bring her Nintendo DS - purchased when she was 2 for plane trips! For longer trips, I'll bring a portable DVD player (including music discs). Don't forget headphones. Crayons & coloring books. Paper dolls or paper folding crafts. Books about our destination. Child's tylenol and cold medicine. (You never know when they'll get sick, and if you have a child who has painful ears, you'll be ever so greatful you remembered the tylenol!)

I relax my "rules of behavior" in the airplane terminal and let her get all her antsy wiggles and such out before we get on the plane. When we're in a very busy terminal, I'll limit her to jumping up and down, hopping on one foot, etc. I always bring a jacket because it provides a nice pillow for napping or cover-over-her-head if she just needs to shut out noise and chaos.

When possible, I do not check luggage because after a flight she's just ready to get OUT and MOVE! Hanging around the baggage carousel is something she's only recently been able to do without continually asking me "can we go now?"

[prothyraia]

Originally Posted by 2xy

If there's a roomy waiting area at the airport, keep them up and try to engage them in some physical games of some sort. Maybe they'll sleep on the plane a bit.

:

When our second flight was delayed on a recent trip, we spent the extra hour running around in circles at the gate.

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by prothyraia

Even if that's the case, it would be one small bag per ticketed passenger, so we're talking at least three small bags here.

Except that the rules don't seem to be clear and consistent. If the 3 y.o. can't manage a bag himself, I wouldn't be surprised if some airlines refused it. Further, the airlines don't seem to be consistent about what size bag they are allowing. My DH flew this week, and the airline allowed laptops, but not laptop cases. Backpacks - not allowed. Wheeled carry-ons - not allowed. At one point, it sounded like they weren't even going to allow books and magazines unless they were purchased after clearing security.

These days, I wouldn't make any assumptions about allowable carry on. It's a big headache to re-pack suitcases in the airport or to have to ditch stuff you thought you could bring. It's safer to check - which is all I was suggesting.

I've seen many traveling families who load up several bags with all sorts of entertainment for their children. It's absolutely understandable why they are carrying so much stuff on the plane. I don't know how people who are used to traveling like this are going to manage from now on.

[octobermom]

I fly home every summer with my DD she packs a small back pack as her carry one shes has in it.
1) change of clothes JIC
2) hair brush (so I can kinda fix her up before we get off plane )
3) 2-3 books to read or look at
4) new coloring/sticker book (that I don't allow to be opened till on the plane)
5) portable DVD with 2-3 shorter movies (battery will last around 2 hours)
6) headphones
7) crayons (I once made the mistake of not having any thinking we could get some at the airport... hint bring them from home)
8) covered water bottle/cup empty to be filled by whatever drink shes chooses jsut to elimate spills..
9) small blanket
10) stuffed animal
11) snacks (bought for a ridicouly high price once past security)

ON the plane she watches movies (I also insist were in the air first) colors does stickers talks to me goes to the bathroom 20 times looks at those airline maganzines and says MOM we NEED THIS! to every other add we read together shes asks are we there yet? 900 times and she sleeps.

Deanna

[Freud]

I would say get a portable DVD player and put on movie. Movie and snacks, plus books and new little toys should do it.

[JoanCrawford]

Always, always, ALWAYS bring a gameboy (or nintendo DS, or PSP)

[galincognito]

westjet hasn't changed their carry-on allowances if you are flying within canada. we flew home to manitoba from bc jan. 2 without any troubles regarding our bags. i usually go to the dollarstore and pick up a bunch of little things; stickers, crayons, books, cars, etc. and wrap them up. they have fun unwrapping the new toy plus they have something new to entertain themselves with. westjet also has a tv on each seatback; that occupied dd1 (2.5) for an hour or two since we don't normally watch tv at home (but bring headphones unless you want to pay 3$ a set). lots of little snacks. for me, the biggest thing is attitude; i expect that the kids will be grouchy at times and that they'll be restless and not want to wait in lines which makes me more patient than if i expect them to stand still/wait, etc perfectly the whole trip. have a great time!!

[annekh23]

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree

At one point, it sounded like they weren't even going to allow books and magazines unless they were purchased after clearing security.

That was exactly what happened on some flights when the liquids thing first started. When it happened, we were in the US and just about to fly back to the UK. All passengers had the no liquid restriction, but flights to the UK were going through a 2nd security check at the gate, everything had to be in a ziploc bag and it was essentials only, regardless of where they came from, so no purchases after security were allowed. The definition of essentials was very strict, prescription medicine, wallet, keys, passport and that was about it.

Flights were delayed because of the additional checking time, so our early evening flight didn't leave until midnight. Somehow they managed to have a numerical discrepancy with the passenger numbers, which for a while they were convinced was us, due to having an under two with a ticket and seat and they had to double check our boarding cards and everyone who did a recount asked us again, they even had the pilot recounting until they got it sorted.

BA's strategy seemed to be to supply everyone with ridiculous quantities of alcohol, when at the time I wasn't drinking at all, so it seemed like I was the only one sober! Thankfully DD pretty much slept the whole flight and due to additional things going wrong we were over 24hrs from arriving at the airport to leaving the airport at our destination, only the first and last half hour or so of each did she have a toy or anything to entertain her.

You should check with your airline AND airport AND national rules for arrival and destination.

[mamatoablessing]

I ditto other posters suggestions of new toys and a dvd player. Also, if you have purchased a seat for each of your kids, they are allowed the same exact number of carry ons as an adult seat. Doesn't matter how old they are.

One piece of advice I'd offer - when you get to the airport in the morning, feed them a nice, high-protien breakfast and then let them burn off as much energy as possible. Chase them, let them run and jump (not disturbing other passengers in the lounge of course!) dance, etc. And hold off on getting on the plane until the very last minute. The less time they're in those seats, the better! Hopefully the novelty of the plane, the new toys, a movie and lots of acitivty time before boarding will help keep them calm and settled and hopefully they'll even nap!

[crl]

I try to get DS to walk with me in the airport as much as possible while waiting for our flight. We go look for moving walkways, escalators, snacks, bookstores, etc.

On the plane, I've had the best luck with videos, first a portable DVD player and now an iTouch loaded with tv shows and movies. I've had some success with one of those books made of white board material so the kid can write/draw and erase. And wiki sticks were somewhat entertaining. I also pack lots and lots of snacks.

Best of luck!
Catherine

[Kivgaen]

Originally Posted by galincognito

pick up a bunch of little things; stickers, crayons, books, cars, etc. and wrap them up. they have fun unwrapping the new toy plus they have something new to entertain themselves with.

An excellent idea! Thank you, I wouldn't have thought to wrap them up. The un-wrapping part will add an extra 5-10 minutes. I should cover all of them up completely with tape to make the unwrapping even more time consuming

The airline didn't get concerned with any of the wrapped items?

for me, the biggest thing is attitude; i expect that the kids will be grouchy at times and that they'll be restless and not want to wait in lines which makes me more patient than if i expect them to stand still/wait, etc perfectly the whole trip. have a great time!!

Thanks for the reminder, I needed that! I'll try my best to remember this point when we are travelling

[earthgirl]

You've already got some good ideas, but here's a toy that my DD loves on long rides. It's easy to transport, too, b/c it's flat.