I am planing a trip from Newark, New Jersey to Honolulu. It is a 10 and a half hour flight. I have a five year old and am worried he will get bored and get cranky. Any tips on how to keep him busy.
2006-07-20 16:15:44 · 20 answers · asked by jackaug06 1 in Travel ➔ Air Travel
I do a lot of flying with my children, and started doing so when my oldest was just 3 years old (when she and I would fly from New Zealand to The Netherlands). I recently survived a return trip from Massachusetts to New Zealand (43 hours traveling one way, 27 hours coming back ... 20 hours each-way on planes, the rest in airports) with my 5 year old and my 6 month old. With some careful planning, it can be relatively painless!
I always pack some activity/coloring books, crayons and pens, Gameboy and games, DVD player and DVDs, her favorite fleece blanket, snacks, 1 quiet toy, some children's Tylenol or Motrin (in case of ear pain caused by pressure changes when landing), and Benadryl (just in case everything else doesn't work and I want to encourage her to sleep).
Seems like a lot, but you'll be amazed how much fits into a cabin bag when it's packed carefully! Also, I bought her a kid's cabin bag with wheels, so she can pull it around herself (it's one less thing for me to juggle). If you're flying with a carrier that has in-seat entertainment, then leave the DVD player out. Most of the in-seat systems have a good range of Nintendo games, cartoons, and kids movies, but the response time between the controller and the system is a bit slow, so playing the NIntendo games can be really frustrating for the younger kids. You should be able to check with your carrier before you leave as to what they have on offer.
Oh, and I take a spare change of "the bottom half" in case of an untimely accident, and I let my kids travel wearing their slippers.
2006-07-20 16:41:37 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Nickels ♪ 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
aaagh! I have a just turned 6 yr old boy and a 4 yr old boy who will be 5 shortly.... naturally he probaby will get bored and cranky a little but to minimize..... here are some options: gameboy, portable dvd player even better thats 1.5 hrs gone. read to him. maybe even books about flying. snacks. thats a good 20 min here and 20 minutes there. talk to him. talk about what u see outside the plane. talk about the people on the flight. play some guessing games. play i spy, your own version. rub his head to help him relax so hell take a little nappy. pretty soon before u know it u'll be there. 5 yr olds love to soak up their environment, talk, & ask alot. just respond!! also another cool idea is have him draw some pictures of his observation of the plane, the trip, or the people. tell him its for you and be sure when you get home to hang it on the fridge! that way he has his own accounts of the trip and you have something to remeber for a lifetime.
2006-07-20 16:30:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anything the kid likes to do that you can fit in a small bag is fine, As a flight attendant, I recomend taking a late flight so the child sleeps. Walking him/her aroudn the plane is fine but it's not so safe. Saftey is the most important thing. don't rely on the airlines movies, they don't always show kiddie movies, especially from nj to hawaii. make sure you have a sippie cup (even if they dont' use them anymore) so they have somthing to suck on while landing to ease the pain in the ears. it also maybe worth paying for an extra seat just to have the extra room
2006-07-21 18:19:31 · answer #3 · answered by JackieH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try using coloring books with built in crayons or maybe some little books. If you have a dvd player that would keep him busy for a little while. Bring maybe a nintendo with some kid games or if they have a movie or tvs on the plae you maybe could get him to watch that.
You are going to have a wonderful time in hawii, the beaches are very beautiful.
2006-07-21 09:13:57 · answer #4 · answered by KAYLEE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Playdough cutting and pasting sand play water play - fill a brilliant bowl and grant funnels, pipe, cups etc. Museums and artwork galleries now and back have classes for infants. Treasure hunts Take photos of issues from % up and deliver them out to locate what they're component of. Threading beads And all infants love portray - if its summer season paint exterior and then hose down the mess! Can they play under the sprinkler the place you're? they'd appreciate hammering nails into timber loopy golfing in the exterior?
2016-10-08 03:44:41 · answer #5 · answered by matlock 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be sure to bring with you his favorite toys. But don;t show all of them to him at once. Just give them to him one at a time. Also, try to notice his favorite comics or reading books and writing materials. It is true that the trip will be boring for the kids. Also buy a new toy that he will choose from the toy store.
2006-07-27 01:05:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I use a dvd player and take a couple of story books with me on every flight... and It keeps him quiet the whole time... otherwise he would make a scene.... Oh and don't forget some of his favorite movies or cartoons.
Have a fund trip
2006-07-20 16:19:50 · answer #7 · answered by Sunny 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you haven't bought the tickets already, take a Red Eye. They should sleep most of the way.
Best of luck, thats a long flight for all.
2006-07-20 16:27:27 · answer #8 · answered by Lindy357 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
his favorite quite toys
some color books
my advice is to don't give him DVD or games - he'll be tired after using them and could misbehave
don't let him sleep to much before the flight
2006-07-28 03:50:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
coloring books, picture books, music, DVD player, children's sleep meds, bubble gum, if you have a window seat: look at the clouds
2006-07-20 16:20:52 · answer #10 · answered by Angela 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋