Recently, I have been sharing my tips here about keeping the kids entertained while travelling on long car journeys. My boys have not yet been on a plane! Hopefully this is something we will get the chance to do soon, as we all love travelling and there are so many places on my list that I would love to go and explore as a family!
I’m sure loads of people must be busy taking toddlers on holiday at the moment though, as it is peak season! So I have a guest post to share with you from a fellow mum of three about her tips for surviving the plane.
Taking Toddlers on Holiday: Surviving the Plane
The weather in the UK has been surprisingly beautiful so far this summer. However it is hard to enjoy it when you are stuck behind a Hoover, or in my case, driving to the office every other day. Personally, despite the soaring temperatures at home, I still want to get away, and plan to book a last minute deal at the close of the summer holidays.
Currently we are undecided as to where we will venture, it will predominantly depend on the price tag, but I am hopeful we can snag a last minute bargain for the Canary Islands or one of the quieter resorts in Lanzarote.
I have already started preparing for the plane…
My three children are not known for sitting down quietly for long, thus any journey in a confined vehicle in the clouds requires intense preparation.
The Pound Shop
This store is my saving grace for the aeroplane. I invest a minimum amount in ‘tat’, wrap it up in tin foil and pop all the prizes in a bag. When we are airborne, the children are allowed to have a ‘present’ every fifteen to thirty minutes dependant on flight times.
It is a treat that works a treat.
The Library
The day before we fly, I always take the little ones to the library in search of new reading material. I always pick up a couple of extra novels for myself in blind hope that this will be the trip where I get to read on a sun lounger.
The kids are allowed to select three books each and aren’t allowed to open them until we are on the plane.
This normally keeps them occupied for a good thirty minutes or so.
Feasting
Food is always my final resort. A little bit trickier since my eldest child was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. However she is safely through the toddler years so she doesn’t need as much cajoling to sit still and behave.
For my toddler, I climb on board with a backpack full of treats. Starting with raisins and other bits of dried fruit and ending with chocolate buttons and crispies, for if and when I get desperate.
We have not been on a flight yet that has put me off going on one again!
By Jane Blackmore, writer and blogger. Mother to three, frequent flyer.
This is a guest post in association with TravelZoo
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
Not easy to travel with children. Airplane need to redesign for a children play area!
We take books – especially books on planes!, small toys like cars, trains and diggers, colouring books. Monkey was great the last two times, fingers crossed he’ll be ok this time – first time fhyting without pull ups!
flying even!
I’ve never taken mine on a plane….Gordon Bennett, the mere thought sends me into a quiver…. 😀
We took our son on a plane when he was 9 months and easy to deal with, now I’m not so sure it would be as easy! Taking lots of things to keep them entertained is a great idea
Some great ideas here.