What is Your Favorite Airplane Toy?

I have whole lists of travel toys and tons of ideas about how to keep kids busy even without toys, yet as the kids grow older, I'm always on the lookout for new "plane toys."

Lately, we've been playing a lot with small Playmobil sets, Little Dover Activity Books, and the kids have really gotten into making their own puppets out of the barf bags. I've also been loving card games, even if the kids don't understand the original rules, we can usually figure out something fun to do with a few colorful cards.

I'm interested in hearing some new ideas... what are your favorite ways to entertain your kids on an airplane (or in a restaurant)? Tell me in comments.

Related Links
Favorite Travel Toys
Ten Great Travel Toys You Already Have at Home
Ten Tips for Keeping a Toddler Busy on a Plane
Flying With Babies, Toddlers, and Kids

Filed Under: flying-with-kids travel-gear travel-tips travel-toys

11 comments | Posted on November 12, 2009 | Save to del.icio.us

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Comments

  1. Tamara on November 12, 2009 at 5:36 a.m.

    Hi Debbie

    My favorite is definitely the sticker book - especially as the stickers usually end up all over the plane and not just in the book!

    On my last flight we also took some wikkistix which were great.

  2. Emily E on November 12, 2009 at 5:52 a.m.

    I just wish that whatever toy that keeps my daughter (almost 2) happy on a plane wouldn't change every single time we fly! lol! I did get a Travel Aquadoodle before our last flight and that was very popular. I made some little "books" with pictures I cut out of magazines of her favorite things- I brought some stickers for her to add to it and that was also a good time consumer. She's also finally getting to an age where she gets entertained looking out the window. Putting the window shade up and down is also a popular activity.

  3. Amar on November 12, 2009 at 6:05 a.m.

    Hi Debbie,

    I really do love this site.

    Hi,

    Just thought I would let you know that you have made it into the <a href="http://gapyearescape.com/top-50-travel-blogs/">Top 50 Travel Blogs</a>. Congratulations!

    I look forward to hearing more from you in the future.

    Regards,

    Amar
    <a href="http://gapyearescape.com"> GapYearEscape.com</a>

  4. Jen on November 12, 2009 at 6:12 a.m.

    Scissors, paper, and "sticky" tape kept my 3 year old entertained on the entire two hour flight from ATL to IAD. Safety scissors cut up lots and lots of paper and the sticky tape put it all back together. When we were getting ready to land we just cleaned it all up!

  5. Sarina Natkin on November 12, 2009 at 11:20 a.m.

    Tape! Painters tape or masking tape can provide tons of entertainment for even little ones. It comes off easy so they can tape away in their seat.

  6. wandermom on November 12, 2009 at 11:23 a.m.

    The thing I thought was missing from your previous posts on this was educational activity books like this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887...
    They're suitable for the pre-k/k age-group - I've used stacks of these over the past few years.
    They kept both my kids busy on many long-haul flights and in restaurants, train stations, etc.

  7. Amy on November 12, 2009 at 12:32 p.m.

    We love those mini Dover books, especially the sticker scenes and the mazes. Now the our kids are getting older, they can be contented with a good book (yay!) but we still pack something little and new for long trips. Snacks are a favorite toy, too!

  8. Kelley Adams on November 12, 2009 at 12:38 p.m.

    We love the Aqua Doodle it has saved us on many long and short flights.

  9. Caroline on November 12, 2009 at 3 p.m.

    Blue painter's tape, sticker books, maze books, books about where we are going, or sticker activity books about where we went for the trip home. Paper and crayons, wikkistix, a long book for those who can read chapter books. Harry Potter provided many hours of entertainment for my 7 year old on our last 8 hour flight. A guide book about where we are going is fun for looking at the pictures and discussing what we are going to do on our trip.

  10. Nanc on November 12, 2009 at 9:26 p.m.

    A laptop (or portable DVD player) with movies and headphones

    Pipe cleaners, playing cards

    Educational activity books, simple puzzle magazines, sticker books, Travel Doodles

    Oh and definitely snacks. We kept my then 2 year old entertained on a Newark to Orlando flight by continually supplying him with food.

  11. Amy @ The Q Family on November 13, 2009 at 12:26 p.m.

    I have survived many plane trips and road trips with Leapster. Their games are pretty educational for small kids. Teaching number, word and alphabet. But now that my kids are older, I might have to look into other system.