Long trips by plane are stressful in general, especially if you have a toddler with you. The screams, the kicking, the crying and everything else that a child can do while on a plane can bring a stressful experience both to you and other people who are on the flight as well. Not keeping your toddler busy can easily turn a nice atmosphere in a tensed one, as everybody becomes angry and cranky. These tips are mostly available to those who aren’t really quiet when on planes, but also to toddlers who usually keep the noise down, but get bored easily.
In order to help you have a nice trip which you can also enjoy (well, as much as a plane ride can be enjoyed), here is a list of ways that you can use to keep your toddler busy. While the suggestions that have been presented here mostly apply to plane trips, they can also be used for other types of trips including car, boat or even bus trips.
So, without further ado, here are some of the best ways of keeping your toddler busy on a plane trip:
1. Visual distractions
Small children are always fascinated with anything that shines or moves. They always become fixed on the TV as long as what is shown there is entertaining, which is why many cartoons created for toddlers are engaging and they try their best to keep them glued to the screen. If you are on a plane, one of the best ways to keep your child busy is to bring some electronics that will keep him busy such as:
- iPads, iPhones, tablets or just regular phones
By using these devices, toddlers can watch movies or cartoons during the trip. The content should be engaging and keep them glued to the screen so they won’t become bored. Additionally, these devices can also be used by toddlers in order to play a wide variety of games. All around the world, game developers are trying their best in order to provide engaging content which is sure not to bore any toddler.
- Various toys
There are always toys which can be purchased in order to keep toddlers busy while also making sure that they won’t be noisy as well. With this in mind, you can always bring his favorite toys on the flight or just purchase something entertaining from the airport in the case that you’d like to keep an element of surprise. Toys that you can buy can include toy tablets, black boards, toy games and more in order to keep your toddler busy for some time while on a plane. It’s also good practice to have one toy with you that your toddler doesn’t know about. With this in mind, if your child gets bored, you can always hand him/her something new.
2. Audio distractions
If you don’t have the money to buy expensive electronics, there are other ways to keep your toddler entertained. Another category of things you can use refers to audio distractions. You can make sure your child stays busy throughout the plane trip by giving having a music device with you. This way, whenever the atmosphere gets dull, your child will have something entertaining to do such as listening to music or even a podcast for kids.
- Music
If your toddler is a fan of a specific soundtrack, a movie, a cartoon or if he likes a specific genre of music, an MP3 Player or a simple phone with headphones can keep him quiet and busy for a while. It probably won’t keep him quiet for the whole trip, but it will do a great for a certain period of time as music has been known to quiet people down for ages. Additionally, you can also play some relaxing or sleeping tunes, which may even make your toddler fall asleep.
- Various audio games
There are all sorts of apps and games on the market which you can buy or download to keep your child busy. Some involve him listening to sounds of animals and figuring out what animal it is. Playing such an interactive game with your child will not only keep him/her more relaxed, but it also has the possibility of making time pass faster and a plane trip more enjoyable by you and other fellow passengers.
3. Other distractions
If your child is tired of both visual and audio distractions, there are some other ways through which you can keep him busy. In this category, chances are that your child may find some of the following solutions appealing.
- Toys
Does your child have a favorite toy? Make sure you have it with you. As long as the toy isn’t too big or dangerous, just about any child toy can be brought on a plane as carry on.
- Books
If your toddler enjoys specific stories from a book, another great idea would be to bring it with you, as long as it’s a light paperback version of it. Reading does not only improve a person’s education and vocabulary, but it can also keep your child busy for an hour or more.
- Stickers or coloring books
There is no toddler that does not enjoy coloring. If you can, it would be good to bring some coloring books with you, as doing so will surely keep your child busy, at least for a while.
- Snacks
Bringing snacks on a plane can also be a smart choice, as eating is sure to keep just about any child busy as long as they enjoy the type of food that they are being offered.
By keeping the tips which have been highlighted in this article in mind, chances are that your plane trip will be a lot more enjoyable and that your kids will also feel great. As travelling on a plane can be a very stressful experience, it is important to try and understand your toddler, while also coming up with different games and ideas that can be used.
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