How To Keep Young Kids Entertained During Long Flights

Prep Before You Board

Getting through a long flight with young kids starts before you even get on the plane. Where you sit matters. Aisle seats give them room to wiggle or make quick bathroom runs without acrobatics. Windows? Built in entertainment. Use that view while you’ve got it.

Next: pack smart. Make a separate carry on bag just for kid essentials snacks, wipes, spare clothes, entertainment so you’re not digging through your own stuff mid turbulence. And don’t trust the in flight Wi Fi. Download shows, games, and audiobooks ahead of time and keep them offline and ready.

One of the quieter hacks? Don’t run your kids into the ground the night before. Tired doesn’t always mean sleepy it can mean cranky. A solid night’s sleep helps everyone.

And snacks? Think you packed enough? Double it. Then add a few more. Hunger is one meltdown trigger you can actually control.

Read: Airport Tips With Children

Entertainment That Actually Works

Keeping young kids entertained on a long flight doesn’t have to mean nonstop screen time or hauling a toy store in your carry on. With a little planning and variety, you can keep things calm, quiet, and engaging. Here’s what works best:

Surprise Them with Something New

Pack a few small, brand new toys they haven’t seen before.
Think soft, quiet, and interactive no noisy buttons or loose pieces.
Look for items like pop it toys, lacing cards, or small dolls/action figures.

Art Time Without the Mess

Forget the markers and glue sticks. Go with travel friendly art options:
Water reveal coloring books (just fill the pen with water)
No spill crayons or twistable colored pencils
Sticker books with themed activities or play scenes

Ear Friendly Entertainment

Take advantage of audio content to give your hands and theirs a break:
Audiobooks with fun narrators or character voices
Kid friendly podcasts that mix storytelling with learning
Make sure to bring kid sized, volume limiting headphones

Screen Time Done Right

Tablets can be your best friend if used wisely:
Download shows, movies, or learning apps before takeoff
Break screen time into short, manageable bursts 20 30 minutes per session
Use timers or quick transitions (like a snack break) between digital and analog activities

Play Together (When You Can)

Interactive games help pass the time and connect with your child:
Simple card games like Go Fish or matching pairs
I Spy, memory games, or scavenger hunts using cabin surroundings
Silly drawing challenges where you take turns (great with a small notebook)

Combine activities, rotate often, and follow your child’s lead you’ll have a much better shot at a meltdown free flight.

Get Up, Move Around (Within Reason)

Sitting still in a cramped seat for hours is tough for anyone especially kids. If your child is old enough and it’s safe to do so, a quick walk down the aisle every 60 90 minutes can work wonders. It breaks the monotony, gets the wiggles out, and gives everyone a change of scene.

Make movement part of the game. Stretching isn’t just exercise it can be a challenge. How many toe touches or shoulder shrugs can they do before it’s snack time? Even simple moves help burn a little energy.

Bathroom trips can also double as screen breaks. Sure, they may not always need to go, but that short walk helps reset their focus and gives them a few moments away from electronics and tight spaces. Little resets add up to a smoother ride.

Stay Calm They Feed Off It

There’s no magic fix for mid air meltdowns, but a few well packed tricks can make all the difference. Think in layers: snacks, small surprise toys, a quick walk down the aisle, even just switching seats. Distraction is your best friend at 35,000 feet.

Lower your expectations. Like, really lower them. Even on a good day, kids have limits and flights push them. Patience will keep you from unraveling when things get loud or messy.

If screens buy you peace, use them. This isn’t the time for guilt trips about tablet time. Everyone on that plane wants a calm cabin, including you.

Last tip: let naps happen whenever they do, however they look. If your kid finally crashes slumped across your lap mid movie with crackers in their hair, count it as a win.

Check out more: Airport Tips With Children

Final Pro Parent Tips

Long flights with young kids aren’t about perfection they’re about pacing and survival. Rotate activities every 30 45 minutes to keep things fresh. Burnout sets in fast when they’re stuck with one thing too long. New toys, quick games, coloring, snacks keep them moving through the rotation like a little in flight variety show.

Next up: headphones. Get ones that actually fit. Generic adult sized options slide off tiny heads, which means louder volume, more fidgeting, and general frustration. Kid specific headphones fix all of that and help them zone in on tablets or audiobooks without bothering half the cabin.

If you’re flying overnight, pack pajamas and follow a quick bedtime routine yes, even on a plane. Brushing teeth in the airplane bathroom isn’t glamorous, but it cues their brain that it’s sleep time, not chaos time.

And look, bribes are fair game here. A surprise toy, a new app, stickers, or an extra episode of Bluey use what works. Screen time limits take a back seat at 35,000 feet.

All it takes is some prep, a mix of tools, flexibility, and a whole lot of snacks.