Sky High: 10 Great ways to entertain your kids during a long flight

huibing 19 Jun 2017

1/10
Oh, goody.
While there have been opinions from both sides of the camp, there’s something attractive about giving your neighbours goody bags with a little printed apology “from” your little one. While most would know your child’s (probable) tantrum isn’t your fault, giving them a little something makes them more forgiving to your little one. Give your child a sticker pack or a marker to personalise each letter, before distributing each goody bag to the people sitting close by. Hey, you can even make them Santa’s little helper, so they can pass the gifts out and hopefully this might tire them out for a little bit, so you can have your nap-time too. Add ear plugs and candy, and your seat mates will be sold. Hopefully.
2/10
Play d’oh!
Plasticine, or play-dough, is one of the most versatile tools around, and they can definitely come in handy for your children. With a variety of bright colours and an infinite possibility of things they can make with it, this is a sure-win for the kids whose hands are perpetually moving. Before leaving, print out some playdough templates and activity mats, and prepare some handy wipes (and/or sanitiser) to keep their little hands clean and fresh after playing.
3/10
Pre-load your gadgets
For those with a tablet their children are perpetually itching to grab, equip it with a shockproof foam case (often brightly coloured, which will only appeal to your child more) and load it up with some of their favourite videos and applications. While this may sound simple, the familiarity of this device might make them more inclined to quietly sit and watch, without the fuss and muss of dealing with the sometimes-complicated controls of airline remotes. Plus, you already know what they like, so you can cater the selections specifically.
4/10
Busy bags
Busy bags are an absolute gem when it comes to providing a fun in-flight entertainment. Pack little activities in each little pouch (an easy option is a ringed pencil pouch so you can loop it all up with string and never lose anything in the crevice of your bag) and open up each one at a time. Mix in educational activities (counting, for example) to fun activities (like dress-up), and go wild. They are like presents, so dole them out slowly, and it’ll last you a long time!
5/10
Recess!
Playing with food isn’t good. But, eating snacks definitely serve up a time-killer that will keep their stomachs satisfied and their mouths occupied. Children are likely to be more irritable and agitated when they are hungry, so providing them with a little treat once in awhile will make them a happy camper. Some ideas are dried fruits, cereal and hard-boiled eggs, but go with what you have!
6/10
New dollar-store finds
No matter how much your child fusses over their toys, it’s often the littlest thing that can give them the brightest smile on their faces. So, drop by the nearest dollar-store and pick up little animal figurines and toys that line the shelves, and watch them light up at the sight of new toys. Let them explore the savanna with the lions and then make a little wooden puzzle with the pieces given.
7/10
Through the looking glass
"Kaleidoscope" might be a bit hard for your child to spell, but making it sure isn’t. Dedicate a little time before the plane ride to make a few with your child, and watch them gape in amazement as the dreary airplane is now transformed into a magnificent blend of colours and shapes. On a similar note, how about a suncatcher to hang near their window when the rest of the plane is sleeping off the journey?
8/10
Snap!
For vacations, this is a brilliant way to entertain them. When flying there, cut out pictures of attractions you would visit and little cut-outs of your precious one. Provide embellishments, glue, and a marker, and watch their creativity unleash as they stick themselves in the middle of Angkor Wat or the Hollywood sign. On the way back, let them edit the already-made scrapbook with what really happened, and compare the before-and-after.
9/10
Captain speaking!
The take-off and landing may be the hardest part for your children. The plane gets really fast, their ears get really blocked and the sounds sometimes get a bit too loud. Entertainment isn’t allowed then and chewing on sweets can only help so much. So, make a steering wheel out of a paper plate and let them be the pilot (maybe with a pilot’s hat too, if you’re going for it). Assist as the co-pilot and cheer as you reach the skies together. When they feel like they are in control of the situation, their fear will dissipate.
10/10
Have fun
If this is your first trip with your child, just have fun. Whether it’s by playing the fiftieth round of I-Spy' or if they are heading to the toilet again, don’t forget that you are primarily here to enjoy yourself. No matter the reason for your travel, the few hours suspended in the air will give you the little alone time that’s probably hard to truly get. So, relax and have fun with your kid. This will make them the happiest.

Don’t worry about the exasperated glances from annoyed passengers with these 10 activities to occupy your little ones onboard.

So, they’ve run out of things to do and they are practically bouncing off their seats in anticipation of the trip to come. The in-flight entertainment was good: with the latest animated films keeping them in control for a few hours, and a bunch of multiplayer games holding their interest, but they have already gone through everything and they are beginning to get restless. It’s understandable, since they are used to roaming around freely, their minds being their own limit. Strapping them down for the duration of a long-haul flight may seem possible, but their energy levels have somehow skyrocketed (and you thought it wasn’t possible) and you’ve got hours to go.

Fear not: we have got you covered. Although every child is different, we have come up with 10 different ways to entertain your child so they won’t decide to take up the whole aisle to enact their favourite Star Wars scene. Scroll back up to check these ideas out!

Lee Hui Bing

Photos: Getty Images

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