How to keep a three year old entertained on a five hour flight?

Question

apart from colouring books and snacks, is there anything else i could do to keep him occupied?

Answer 1

Do not listen to people who say he is going to have problems no matter what. That is not true. My husband works out of town and so my daughter has flown on a monthly basis (sometimes up to 4 times a month!) since she was 18 months old (she is now a little shy of 3). And we RARELY have problems with her. We take coloring books, lots of snacks (like you said), we also take regular books, we have a mini magnadoodle pad (like an etch - a -sketch) that we take, we also take little figurine toys that she likes to play with, and we've also taken a portable dvd player with us and played cartoons. Little things that are new can entertain a child for a long time, so you may consider taking a new book or new toy that may interest him. Also, you might be surprised at what he will find interesting. We inadvertantly discovered that my daughter loves to suck on and play with ice cubes on one long flight, so now we get her a cup of ice cubes when the drinks come around and that occupies her for a while. Hope this helps!  

Answer 2

portable dvd player or music/headphones, color,  or knock them out. take a redeye flight if possible. ask the doctor if there's anything to give the kid to chill them out. we took our 3 yr old to myrtle beach which is 12hr drive and he did marvelous with some toys and his dvd player.

Answer 3

Tell them if they aren't good the plane will fall out of the sky and kill mummy! JOKE!

Reading books. Ask them lots of questions about the stories and characters.

Answer 4

books

colouring in or sticker books etc

board games (eg snakes and ladders) - there are travel games with magnets and stuff for travelling in cars.  Some may be too old but you could modify maybe...

other games - some connections below

If they like painting take on some wast paper and a brush.  Get some water on board and let them paint...

Something with cards, dice, naughts and crosses

Print out some pictures and take them with you - tell some stories from them.  You can make up all sorts of stories & stuff or get your child to make some stuff up...

Answer 5

Bl00dy h**l! Good luck with that one.

Answer 6

i went to florida on an 8 hour flight with my 2 year old... and i feel for you..

Get sticker books. When you get through customs but lots of 'snacky' food. Not sure if they have tv on your flight but if you have your own tv, let him  watch it with the earphones.

Maybe Go to argos and look for a kiddy type laptop (without sound) just so he/she can press the buttons.

Read books. Play I spy with my little eye. Play the memory game.. i went to the supermarket and i bought..

You can buy 'puzzle books' and activity books for him  from WHsmiths. They challenge his mind.

Enjoy...

Answer 7

ask your doctor for a tranquilizers

Answer 8

knock him out...

Im joking. No, he is going to run amock whether you like it or not...

Answer 9

hmmm, my cousin used to fly a 6 hour plane twice a year with two monkey children, she used to carry a portable DVD with her, it has a battery to last 1.5 hour and can be recharged in SOME planes, and bring only sugar-free snacks, sugar gives them too much energy and they become hyper active

Answer 10

Tie it to the wing

Answer 11

If you can try keeping him up late the night before so he'll be sleepy during the flight, also try napping with him. If he sees Mommy sleepy he'll be more inept to sleep too. Try a puzzle or even books he can look at.  Try interacting with him by having him recite the alphabet or numbers. Play sight games. IE: "I spy a hat." "I spy a chair". Not only are these games fun for him they are educational too, even for a three year old. Then you can read him a story, give him a snack and put him to sleep with a song. Be sure to bring along his favorite blanket or stuffed animal so he'll be comfortable during the flight.  

Answer 12

Take a couple of favourite books to read over and over again.  I also took a big sticker book for my little one on a recent flight.

Answer 13

You could play some games, point to the clouds and ask what shapes they make (I still do that one and I am 23), play I spy, etc.  There are a lot of things to keep them busy, but you need to come with lots of ideas because you aren't going to keep their attention very long.  Coloring is something that would take a long time...I know you already knew about that one.  Good luck.