How to Make Flying More Fun for Kids

Please ensure your blind is up, your tray table is stowed, and the snacks are packed! Here’s how to have fun on a plane with mini travelers in tow...

There’s a moment in every parent’s life when you’re left wondering whether the trip will actually be worth the journey. Even before you’ve made it to the airport, you’ll have put in a super shift… and then there’s the plane. While they might love the idea of hopping aboard an aircraft, entertaining kids on a plane can be a *challenge* once they’re strapped in.

That said, it’s joyous to see their excitement – we just need to keep those spirits sky high! While we can’t promise smooth sailing door-to-door, we can help mitigate the risk of a meltdown (from them or you!) with the handy tips and tricks below. And dare we suggest, flying with kids might actually become enjoyable? (You can let us know later...). 

Games

The secret to flying with children is to make sure you’re prepared with an army of entertainment. While you’ll need a bit of variety, we also know you won’t want to lug around any unnecessary extra bulk in your baggage. You need toys that are going to work hard.

To keep things interesting, try bringing toys that have multiple uses, like LEGO® DUPLO® bricks. From counting and color sorting to tower building and imaginary-world crafting, there’s no end to the ways children can use them. For easy storage and an additional platform to build on, use a binder! Pack sheet protectors full of bricks and slide in a few plates for a playtime project.

Other fun, slimline ideas include stickers, coloring books, pens and pencils, books and tablets.

We know parents can be cautious about kids and screentime. At the LEGO Group, we believe that so long as kids are engaging in quality screentime, it can be really beneficial. Load a tablet up with games and learning apps that give kids a challenge, as well as being fun!

Surprises

We get it, you’ll be working overtime on keeping the energy upbeat on your flight. And we know only too well the feeling of wanting to show all your cards in one impressive reveal. We’re here to say, like most things in life, it’s handy to keep an air of mystery. That way, when your child gets bored of the toys they’ve been playing with, you can whip out a whole new box of tricks, shake things up and hopefully keep them entertained just that little bit longer. Everyone loves surprises and kids will be super excited to discover you’ve stashed away a few extra things for them to play with!

You could also consider some surprises that are experiences, rather than items. Most airlines, for instance, will still let little ones meet the pilot and see the cockpit before takeoff or after landing. When you’re boarding, ask the attendant what might be possible.

Snacks

When you’re a kid... Snacks. Are. Life. And the sooner we all accept our position as their lowly snack providers, the better for everyone! So, we’ll say this loud and clear; pack the snacks. Pack all the snacks. Now’s not the time to hold back.

One of our favorite ways to keep kids grazing is to make them up their own little trays. Grab a compartmentalized plastic box (try searching for a jewelry box or similar) and fill each little square with something. Mix up textures, colors and flavors to make it interesting and try to tailor the contents to your flight duration. For short haul, you can pack plenty of their five-a-day for a healthy dose of nutrients. If you’re going to be traveling for hours on end and your journey includes stopovers, you might want to avoid fresh fruit and vegetables, which have the potential to get squishy. Instead, plan for things that will keep well like mini rice cakes, fruit roll-ups and tiny cookies.

Keep things moving

We all get itchy feet when we have to sit still for too long. Get up, shake things off and take a stroll down the aisle every now and then, if you can. Maybe it’s just a quick toilet break, maybe you’ll head up to the galley to let your child chat to the air stewards, or maybe you'll play a game of airplane bingo, where your child must tick off things they’ve seen on the flight. Think of things like the drinks cart, the intercom system or the airplane's wing, glimpsed through one of the windows.

Wherever you’re going, and however long the flight, trust us, the trip will be worth it! Hang in there, parents – you got this!