toddler activites on the flight?
- Thread starter olives
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carang
Registered User
i took my 3 year old and 5 year old by myself for a 15 hour flight. i got each of them one of those plastic zippered bags and put the following in:
(1) notebook
(2) crayons
(3) stickers--different kinds that could be used to make pictures, like flowers, trees, cars etc.
(4) small water paint with brush
(5) letter stickers
(6) reading book
(7) printed off a couple of colouring pages
(8) matching game
(9) travel connect 4/checkers
(10) computer tablet/ipad with movies/games & headphones
that should keep them occupied for a long time...
the other hint: don't pull them out immediately... give it an hour or two before you bring something out...
also: i had my kids pack their own carry on bag. they LOVED to pull their bags themselves! in their bag, they were each allowed to choose 3 toys to bring. (i packed their reading books in my bag). I also bought each child a new toy that would fit easily into their bag. i wrapped each present like at xmas and gave them to the kids while we waited to board the flight. that way, we could throw all rubbish in the bin before we got on the flight. they played with that toy (because it was new) for about the first hour or hour and a half.... then they ate their meal... then i got out one of the activities....
(1) notebook
(2) crayons
(3) stickers--different kinds that could be used to make pictures, like flowers, trees, cars etc.
(4) small water paint with brush
(5) letter stickers
(6) reading book
(7) printed off a couple of colouring pages
(8) matching game
(9) travel connect 4/checkers
(10) computer tablet/ipad with movies/games & headphones
that should keep them occupied for a long time...
the other hint: don't pull them out immediately... give it an hour or two before you bring something out...
also: i had my kids pack their own carry on bag. they LOVED to pull their bags themselves! in their bag, they were each allowed to choose 3 toys to bring. (i packed their reading books in my bag). I also bought each child a new toy that would fit easily into their bag. i wrapped each present like at xmas and gave them to the kids while we waited to board the flight. that way, we could throw all rubbish in the bin before we got on the flight. they played with that toy (because it was new) for about the first hour or hour and a half.... then they ate their meal... then i got out one of the activities....
--oWhy would you give a mild pain reliever like neurofen before a flight, unless the child actually has some aches and pains? Neurofen also generally constipates children and long flights are dehydrating and it is difficult enough to get a toddler to drink enough water on a flight, possibly making the kid uncomfortable.
If you are going to medicate, most paeditricians would recommend either a first generation antihistamine or an anti-nausea medication like gravol, if the parent insists on trying something. BUT these drugs have the opposite of a sedating effect on some children and make them hyperactive or uncomfortable. Should definitely talk to your kids doc about appropriate medications and dosage before drugging them up on a flight. Have seen more than one kid vomit from overuse of various drugs in flight and heard plenty of other horror stories about kids and drugs on flighs.
Cara gave some great tips. Would add that with a younger toddler a walk up and down the aisles (not uncontrolled running and screaming) every hour or so while they are awake can help. Also try to plan your flight at a time when your child might sleep.
If you are going to medicate, most paeditricians would recommend either a first generation antihistamine or an anti-nausea medication like gravol, if the parent insists on trying something. BUT these drugs have the opposite of a sedating effect on some children and make them hyperactive or uncomfortable. Should definitely talk to your kids doc about appropriate medications and dosage before drugging them up on a flight. Have seen more than one kid vomit from overuse of various drugs in flight and heard plenty of other horror stories about kids and drugs on flighs.
Cara gave some great tips. Would add that with a younger toddler a walk up and down the aisles (not uncontrolled running and screaming) every hour or so while they are awake can help. Also try to plan your flight at a time when your child might sleep.
carang
Registered User
11) a small tub of playdough with some rollers/cutters etc
12) stencil set (don't know how old your little one is)
13) stamps/chops
14) small hot wheels car or die cast aeroplane toy
15) activity books with stickers, mazes, find the treasure pictures
16) if the child goes to school, homework
17) sticky tape (my kids can play for hours with tape!
12) stencil set (don't know how old your little one is)
13) stamps/chops
14) small hot wheels car or die cast aeroplane toy
15) activity books with stickers, mazes, find the treasure pictures
16) if the child goes to school, homework
17) sticky tape (my kids can play for hours with tape!
howardcoombs
Registered User
18) Bubble wrap - how can you forget the bubble wrap!
19) Googly eyes (can find in most stationary shops) to do stuff like this : http://egotvonline.com/2011/07/27/30-foods-with-googly-eyes/
you can decorate the magazines and everything else in the airplane.
19) Googly eyes (can find in most stationary shops) to do stuff like this : http://egotvonline.com/2011/07/27/30-foods-with-googly-eyes/
you can decorate the magazines and everything else in the airplane.
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Buy a selection of cheap, throw away toys from your local toy store, or supermarket. Keep them in a bag and give the child one new toy every hour. As long as you choose your selection carefully, you should hopefully keep their attention for long enough to help past the time.
If it's a long flight, you might also loiter at the rear of the aircraft, where there is usually a little space next to the bank of toilets, as well as a galley. The flight attendants are usually quite friendly to young children and wont mind if you hang around a while.
No offence Sazzy etc, but giving your child unprescribed medicine is both irresponsible and downright dangerous. Children's bodies are much less tolerant of drugs than adults, as their Liver is small and less able to break down the medicine. The affects of dehydration in an airplane cabin add to the potential risks.
Furthermore, the internal pressure of the airplane is equivalent to being at an altitude of 6,000-8,000 feet on most aircraft. That's equivalent to being at an altitude that is more than 2x the height of Hong Kong's highest mountain. Being at high altitude affects the bodies in a number of different ways, including affecting the absorption of drugs. This is precisely the reason why you will get drunk quicker, and more easily when drinking alcohol at altitude. The same goes for your childs body, if taking medicine in an aircraft.
I would never, ever endanger my child by giving them unprescribed medicine on a flight. Why risk your child health, just for the sake of catching a little extra rest? It's just not worth the risk.
If it's a long flight, you might also loiter at the rear of the aircraft, where there is usually a little space next to the bank of toilets, as well as a galley. The flight attendants are usually quite friendly to young children and wont mind if you hang around a while.
No offence Sazzy etc, but giving your child unprescribed medicine is both irresponsible and downright dangerous. Children's bodies are much less tolerant of drugs than adults, as their Liver is small and less able to break down the medicine. The affects of dehydration in an airplane cabin add to the potential risks.
Furthermore, the internal pressure of the airplane is equivalent to being at an altitude of 6,000-8,000 feet on most aircraft. That's equivalent to being at an altitude that is more than 2x the height of Hong Kong's highest mountain. Being at high altitude affects the bodies in a number of different ways, including affecting the absorption of drugs. This is precisely the reason why you will get drunk quicker, and more easily when drinking alcohol at altitude. The same goes for your childs body, if taking medicine in an aircraft.
I would never, ever endanger my child by giving them unprescribed medicine on a flight. Why risk your child health, just for the sake of catching a little extra rest? It's just not worth the risk.
Honkyblues
Registered User
I'm also horrified when people suggest drugging their kids to try to get them to sleep on a flight. So does it follow that if your child is being a bit hyper and naughty at home, you'll give them an unprescribed drug so you don't have to suffer their antics?
And I know that some doctors even prescribe drowsy-formula antihistamines for flights - I think that incredibly unprofessional, personally.
I'm about to do an economy class flight at Christmas with 4 boys aged from 6 mths to just turned 7 years. And I know my husband will sleep for about 10 hours of that 12 hour flight. And I know I'll sleep for about 30 minutes and will be comforting tired, whining children for much of it. Well, c'est la vie! I wouldn't dream of drugging them up so 12 hours of my life are a little bit easier.
Cara gave some great suggestions for activities. To be honest, we used to take a bag-load of stuff, but now find the iPad and the movie/game screen on the headrest in front of them occupy them for enough hours - and the rest of the time, they try to sleep or at least rest in the dark.
I would add a mini-jigsaw puzzle (about HK$20 from Wise Kids) as another activity. We also (used to) take play dough, crayons and paper, Aquadraw pen and book, mini plastic dinosaurs, a couple of toy cars, origami papers...
Best of luck - it's only a few hours and 'this too will pass'.
And I know that some doctors even prescribe drowsy-formula antihistamines for flights - I think that incredibly unprofessional, personally.
I'm about to do an economy class flight at Christmas with 4 boys aged from 6 mths to just turned 7 years. And I know my husband will sleep for about 10 hours of that 12 hour flight. And I know I'll sleep for about 30 minutes and will be comforting tired, whining children for much of it. Well, c'est la vie! I wouldn't dream of drugging them up so 12 hours of my life are a little bit easier.
Cara gave some great suggestions for activities. To be honest, we used to take a bag-load of stuff, but now find the iPad and the movie/game screen on the headrest in front of them occupy them for enough hours - and the rest of the time, they try to sleep or at least rest in the dark.
I would add a mini-jigsaw puzzle (about HK$20 from Wise Kids) as another activity. We also (used to) take play dough, crayons and paper, Aquadraw pen and book, mini plastic dinosaurs, a couple of toy cars, origami papers...
Best of luck - it's only a few hours and 'this too will pass'.
i think it's a shame that scissors are now banned... my kids would be quiet for hours cutting and sticking...
Last flight we took to London we were able to bring on a pair of plastic scissors that cut paper well enough. The two year old spent about 3 hours quietly cutting up colored sheets of paper and gluing them to eachother with a glue stick.