air travel activities

30+ Activities For Kids On Plane Rides

by Michelle Pratt | Mar 25, 2024 | Travel | 0 comments

Flying with kids is definitely an undertaking. Waking up early, getting through TSA, and installing your car seats on the plane is only half the hassle! The biggest hurdle you’ll probably face when flying as a family is keeping the kids entertained on the plane ride. Whether it’s 2 hours or 12 hours, keeping kids content and occupied in the cramped confines of an airplane seat or car seat is not easy! 

However, we can make these trips much easier with some activities (and the wisdom in the Wheels Up course )! New and intentional toys will be exciting to your kiddo and help hold their attention through the whole flight. Since we know it’s safest for all kids to be in their own seats and in a child restraint system (if they’re under 40 lbs), each child will be allowed their own carry-on or personal bag. That means you can stock a kid’s backpack full of our top toys and grab a travel tray for the most peaceful family flight ever!

Here are the tops toys and activities for air travel:

30+ Activities For Kids On Plane Rides 

Best airplane activities for babies .

Babies can be unpredictable, but luckily almost all their needs can be met with food, sleep, and entertainment! You can cover the other two using our baby travel checklist , but we have some ideas for the best engaging toys for babies on airplanes. 

Silicone Spinners

These silicone spinners are so much fun for babies! Just suction them to the airplane wall or to a tray table and let your little one have fun manipulating the little spinners. Fidget toys make great travel activities, because they never really get boring!

Wheel Activity Center

This toy is similar to the silicone spinners, but it has a few more interaction zones! The high contrast colors and variety of sensory opportunities make this another great pick for keeping babies entertained. It also has a suction feature for the airplane wall or a tray table! 

Quiet Busy Books

Busy books can be played with in many different ways whether you’re reading them the cute story or they’re manipulating (and chewing on) the textures on each page. These are also good for airplane travel, because they don’t take up much space and can fit easily into carry-on luggage. 

Palm Teether

This classic teether is a favorite for a reason! Babies love it and you’ll love that it’ll keep them both entertained and soothed, even when teething. To prevent the teether from falling on the dirty airport or airplane floor, we recommend using a pacifier clip to attach it to your baby’s clothes. (Do not attach it to the car seat.) 

Sensory Firefly Toy

Here’s another high contrast toy your littles with love! There are all sorts of textures, colors, and features of this little firefly toy that makes it a blast for kids under two. We also like that it has a clip, so it can be attached to luggage, strollers, or anything else handy!

Best Airplane Activities for Toddlers

Toddlers love to be challenged. Finding toys that not only stimulate their senses, but engage them intellectually or socially, is a smart way to keep them occupied. You can learn more about how to entertain a toddler on a plane here . 

This busy board is compact, but super engaging with satisfying switches, buttons, and lights that’ll stimulate your child’s imagination. Are they a conductor of a train or an astronaut flying to the moon? Are they in the plane’s cockpit themselves? Your toddler will love to pretend, learn, and fidget on this busy board. 

Lacing Boards

Lacing boards help develop your child’s fine motor skills while also engaging their imagination. They’re a simple toy that can provide lots of entertainment and fit easily into your child’s backpack or carry-on!

Water Wow! Activity Books

These are one of our favorite toys for toddler travel! It’s a mess-free coloring activity set that doesn’t require anything but one water pen. Just fill up the pen, and let them do their thing! The color will reveal itself, and that’ll be super exciting to your little artist! Moreover, the best part? These are totally reusable, providing endless entertainment and creativity without any mess. The colors will fade and your kids can do it all over again (like on the trip back home.) 

Window Clings

It’s already pretty amazing to look out an airplane window. Your toddlers will love it! However, to make it even more exciting, add some window clings for them to enjoy!

Pop-Up Shape Sorter

Shape sorters usually have a lot of pieces and are pretty bulk, neither feature is ideal for airplane travel. However, this simple sorter only has just four shapes and is collapsible! Plus, there are multiple ways to play, because your toddler can also take apart the shapes for a fun matching or puzzle game. Multi-purpose toys are great for air travel! 

Best Airplane Activities for Preschoolers and Kindergarteners

Like toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners like to be challenged! However, at this age they can handle multi-step directions and more complex toys that foster development and also keep them entertained for hours. Here are some toys for preschoolers and kindergarteners on planes:

Shape Puzzles

This shape puzzle can be played with in lots of ways! It comes in a small tin carrying case that includes all the shapes and various cards that show your 3-6 year-old how to create all sorts of things from cars to bugs! Your child can follow the idea cards or come up with their own shape creation!

My First Search & Find Books

No, they’re probably not quite ready for “Where’s Waldo,” but “My First” search and find books are a great introduction to the “I Spy” concept we all know and love. Your preschooler or kindergartener will love the challenge of finding all the items on each vibrant page!

Color Wonder Markers and Activity Books

Like the Water Wow books, Color Wonder is a mess-free coloring option! However, Color Wonder still allows your child to choose colors and draw designs. Basically, they allow for a little more creative freedom without any more mess, since Color Wonder markers only show up on the special paper provided in the activity set!

Pocket Magnetic Blocks

Open-ended toys like blocks are perfect for keeping kids busy for long periods of time. Blocks on a plane may seem like a bad idea, but these are magnetic and there are only 8 pieces, so no giant towers tumbling down with dozens of blocks to pick up. These are sleek and simple, but will still provide plenty of entertainment. 

Animal Pop Tubes

Every toddler loves a good fidget toy! However, these have the added benefit of hosting the likeness of various animals. That means not only will they keep your child’s sense engaged, but they can also be a great tool for imaginative play! 

Best Airplane Activities for Kids

Elementary-aged kids are ready for games and activities with a long-term goal. You can play plenty of classic road trip type games with them and give them plenty of activities that don’t take up a lot of space, but provide plenty of entertainment. Below are some of the products in our long list of airplane toy ideas for kids :

Classic Card Games

Unlike a road trip, you’ll actually be able to hang out with your kids on the plane. This makes for the perfect opportunity to play some classic card games like Old Maid and Crazy Eights! This set of six classic card games will keep the fun going for hours. 

Wikki Stix are open-ended craft sticks that your child can mold into whatever they want! They can create anything from a simple stick figure to a whole city skyline. And, with a long flight, your kid will have plenty of time to create whatever they want!

Robot Fidget Toys

For imagination-based play lovers, these fidget robot toys are a lot of fun! They’re inexpensive, don’t take up a lot of room in your carry-on, and promote lots of storytelling opportunities for your child!

Yes, Play-Doh can be a bit messy, but by the time your child is in elementary school, it becomes much less messy. As long as you keep it confined to the tray table you bring along, Play-Doh can become one of your family’s favorite plane activities. Whether you want to create together or play Play-Doh pictionary ! 

Magnetic Jigsaw Puzzle

Puzzles aren’t usually something that’s very travel-friendly, but this Melissa & Doug Take-Along puzzle set solves the main pain-points of bringing puzzles on flights! First of all, it all comes in a cute book-style carrying case. Second of all, it’s magnetic and the pieces fit within the book. That means you always have space for the puzzles and the pieces won’t go flying everywhere. We love it and so will your child! 

Best Airplane Activities for Tweens 

Tweens can be a challenge period, but especially when buying things to entertain them. They’re out of the age where they like toys, but not quite old enough to know exactly how to keep themselves busy all the time. But, here are some activities that might keep your tweens entertained the whole flight!

Scratch-Art Kits

Many tweens love arts and crafts. Scratch-art is a unique creative experience that allows your tweens to express themselves using only two tools: the scratch paper and the scratch tool. That makes it a very travel-friendly craft choice!

Kanoodle Brain Teaser Game

This brain teaser game has been trendy among tweens for a while now! It’s a single-player game where you simply try to fit various shapes into the case provided. There are thousands of ways to do it and 200 additional games to play using the items, so this brain teaser can keep your child entertained for a long time! 

Here’s another craft that doesn’t take much supplies or space! This origami set includes 54 different origami projects that can easily be completed on a tray table during a flight!  

ThinkFun Fifteen Puzzle Games

This numerical puzzle game is a classic! Create some cool memories with your tween by showing him or her all your favorite travel games that are possible with this set! 

Spot It! Card Game

Spot-It! Is a favorite card game in many households! If you already have it, consider getting a new edition that includes one of your tween’s favorite things, like Marvel Superheroes or Squishmallows . It’ll add some new interest to this classic game! 

Best Airplane Activities for Any Age

There are some activities that are great for kids of any age. These are smart to pack if you have multiple kids with various age gaps, because everyone can enjoy these activities! 

Yoto Mini , Carrying Case , and Headphones

The Yoto Mini is a recent favorite travel activity for us at Safe in the Seat! It’s a screen-free audio player that can play music, podcasts, short stories, and whole audiobooks. They have audio selections for any age group whether your toddler wants to jam to their favorite Super Simple Songs , your third grader is obsessed with dinosaurs , or your tweens want to binge the entire Chronicles of Narnia series , Yoto has something for everyone in your family!

*Sometimes they struggle to keep the Yoto Mini in stock. But the bigger Gen 3 Yoto Palyer is still great for travel if you have an upcoming trip! 

iPad , Case and Headphones

If you’re not afraid of some screen time in exchange for peace and quiet on the plan, bring an iPad! Download lots of kid-friendly entertainment from games to movies to keep kids of any age content on the trip. Just don’t forget headphones and a heavy-duty case! 

Gobe Snack Spinners

Flying with kids is going to involve a lot of snacks, and that’s okay. Make snack time both satisfying and entertaining by packing their treats in a Gobe Snack Spinner. It’ll prevent messes and provide a stimulating activity for snack time! 

Squigz are another one of our favorite toys for all ages. Toddlers, tweens, adults, and everyone in between can enjoy these fun, open-ended suction construction toys! 

Magnetic Blocks

Magnetic blocks, like Squigz, offer hours of play for anyone. Just make sure that you keep it contained to the tray table to avoid little blocks getting lost on the airplane floor. 

LED Doodle Pad or Dry-Erase Board

Kids love to doodle, no matter their age. Bringing a long and LED doodle pad or dry erase board will give them hours of fun, without bringing heavy sketch pads and lots of loose supplies like markers, pencils, and erasers. Plus, since they’re flat, it’s easy to slide them into any luggage or bag!

Keep kids of all ages entertained on your next flight with these airplane activities!

Ready to take off? Don’t forget your airplane toys and activities! We hope this post helped you add some key tools to your packing list that’ll help make the journey more enjoyable for everyone.

For more on air travel with kids, take our Wheels Up: Airplane Travel Course and check out these other blog posts on air travel:

• Safe Airplane Travel  
• Best Car Seats for Airplane Travel  
• Airport Safety Tips
• A Guide to International Travel with Travel Car Seats
• Toddler Travel Essentials
• International Travel with Kids Packing List    

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21 Things to Do On a Plane That’ll Make Time FLY

Travel is exciting … until it’s not. The weeks before a trip are busy and fun. You’re booking restaurants, anticipating activities, and planning your travel clothing . And then suddenly, after all the buildup, you’re on a plane with nothing to do. Air travel can be at best tedious, and at worst anxiety producing. I’ve put together a list of ideas for things to do on a plane ride that’ll make your time in the air much more pleasant.

I inherited a lot of wonderful things from my dad – his love of dogs and literature, his sense of humor – but unfortunately I also inherited his fear of flying. But, like my dad, I also loved to travel, and had to learn to overcome my fear. It took a few years and a couple of trip-of-a-lifetime opportunities, but I got over it. For me it was primarily a change in attitude and some careful flight preparation .

Begin by changing your approach to flight days. Most of us are content with spending time at a restaurant, at the mall, or at home reading on the couch, but when we’re faced with unscheduled time traveling, we become anxious or bored. Reassessing this unscheduled time will set the tone for your flight. Arrive at the airport in time for a leisurely meal or a browse through the airport bookstore. Once on board, do what you’d do at home. Imagine it’s a snow day and you have to stay home. What would you do to pass the time? Many of the things you’d do at home are the same things to do on a flight.

This post contains affiliate links. Buying through these links will not cost you extra, but I may earn a small commission which I use to maintain this website.

Table of Contents

What to do on a plane ride

Most airlines offer in-flight entertainment, including movies, TV shows, and games. Check your airline’s website ahead of departure to see what entertainment will be offered. And note that there may be different options for different legs of your journey. Knowing you’ve got a new release or a long-time favorite movie to enjoy will make you look forward to the trip.

But don’t rely exclusively on the in-flight entertainment. Your seatback screen may not be functioning, or the offerings might not appeal to you. And even if all goes well, anything gets boring after an hour or two. Always have backup options and take a break from time to time.

BYO Entertainment for the flight

Download movies and TV shows onto your device. Long-haul flights are the perfect opportunity to binge-watch a series, and you can often download great ones based on your streaming services. Keeping a list of recommended titles in the weeks leading up to your trip is a great way to have much-anticipated shows to watch.

Bonus : having the movies on your device means you can finish your show later if you run out of time. Airplane Etiquette : be sure anything you decide to watch is OK for all ages.

Read a book on an ereader or kindle. I usually choose a fast-paced mystery that’ll grab my attention, but you might prefer to use that uninterrupted time to tackle a book you’ve been eager to read. Download a couple of books so you’re sure to have something you like.

Bonus: Your local library probably offers free ebooks and audiobooks, Check the website or ask a librarian for help.

Listen to music Prepare a playlist of your favorite songs that’ll inspire and/or calm you on the flight. Bring your own headphones to get the best sound quality.

Games & Puzzles

Whether you’re traveling alone or with the family, it’s a good idea to have a game or two to occupy yourself on the flight or during airport layovers. If you’ve a Nintendo Switch or similar, you’re ready to go. But for the rest of us…

Puzzle games, sudoku, and crossword puzzles are great distractions while flying. Make a photocopy of the NYT puzzle or tear a page or two out of one of your own puzzle or activity book.

Download puzzle apps to your device. There are apps for all of your favorite types of puzzles – even jigsaws! I love my crossword puzzle app and go through at least a few on every flight.

Bonus : most of the apps will offer hints if you need them!

Travel games are great if you’re traveling with a partner or family. A deck of cards is compact for packing but will keep you entertained for many hours on a flight and again during the rest of the trip.

• If you’re traveling with kids, look for magnetic game boards, or card games like Guess in 10, or Clue. Eye Found It is a great game our whole family enjoys.
• Young kids will need to have some small travel toys to keep them entertained. Bring along their favorites but add some new toys and activities for the novelty.
• Avoid anything with small pieces that’ll fall off the tray table and be impossible to retrieve.

Download games on your phone or tablet to your device. Do you enjoy action games like Subway Surfers or strategy games? Try the apps at home to see what you enjoy and how well it works on your device. If you’re traveling with someone, investigate ‘pass and play’ games. Some of our favorite board games are now available on devices:

• Scrabble Go has a pass and play mode where you can challenge your travel companions.
• Chess/Checkers
• Monument Valley, a great cooperative puzzle game

Creative things to do on a plane ride

Tuck coloring books or a sketch pad into your personal item . Or draw on your device if it has the capability. On a recent flight, I envied my seatmate’s artistry as she created on her Macbook. Though I’ve none of the talent she possessed, I do enjoy a sketch pad and a few colored pencils when I travel.

Create a zentangle Do you enjoy doodling? Well now it’s been elevated to an artform – zentangles! Making these intricate doodles is a calming, meditative exercise, perfect for plane travel. There are zentangle books to get you started, or just dive in on your sketchpad.

Compose your own soundtrack. If you’re musical, plug in your headphones and make music with GarageBand or BandLab.

Airplane etiquette – It’s easy to get carried away when you’re listening to music but be mindful that your fellow passengers won’t enjoy your tapping or singing out loud.

Be Crafty. Enjoy your at-home craft hobbies. Knit, crochet, or work on a virtual scrapbook. Try out some challenging origami patterns while you listen to an audio book.

Sleeping on a long flight

Sleeping the flight away is one of the best ways to pass the time but for many of us, it’s nearly impossible. Planning ahead might help:

• Book a window seat so you won’t be disturbed by your neighbor.
• Wear comfortable clothing.
• Pack a shawl or lightweight blanket that you can snuggle under in your carry-on bag.
• Bring a travel pillow (or roll your jacket to give neck support)
• Pack a few teabags of your favorite sleepy time teas. The flight attendants can give you cups of hot water for the tea.
• Consider taking melatonin or another sleep aid. TRY these before your trip to see how they affect you. Some people have adverse reactions to sleep medications.
• Optional: ear plugs, eye masks. Some people swear by these and others find them annoying. YMMV

Prepare for your destination

Photographers – Enroute to your destination, study your camera’s user manual. On the way home, review, rate, and edit photographs. This is definitely one of my favorite things to do!

Learn a bit of the local language . There are some great apps that make learning a new language fun! Some may be free from your local library and can be loaded onto your device. This is our go-to activity on an international flight. My favorites are Duolingo and TripLingo (which also has a built-in translator)

Research your destination – Map out your itineraries, and first days’ adventures. Read guidebooks, historical fiction books, or download a movie about the destination.

Bonus (again) : Travel guides can be downloaded from your local library.

Journal – Work on your trip journal – write down trip hopes and ideas, create a destination bucket list, decorate with doodles and artwork.

Productive things to do on a plane ride

Listen to a podcast or take an online course – make sure to have a notebook to jot down thoughts.

Clean up your email inbox – if you have access to the plane’s wi-fi, this is the perfect time to weed through all your files.

Catch up on work – Not much fun, but getting a few hours of work in during the flight will make things easier once you’ve landed.

Remember to stay healthy during a long flight

This is the most important thing to do on a plane. A long haul flight can be tough on your circulation, your skin, and your general health.

• Try to eat well before and during the flight.
• Avoid salt and too much alcohol.
• Keep yourself hydrated. I add electrolyte powder (and sometimes Vitamin C powder) to my water bottle at the airport and sip it during the flight.
• Pack moisturizer and lip balm and apply often.

Move your body – while it’s not possible to ‘work out’ you can take a walk to the restroom, stretch and even do some chair yoga. On an especially long flight, make sure to get up every few hours and move your legs. There may be a spot mid-plane where you can even do some toe touches, lunges, etc. Ignore any stares, your body will thank you at the end of the flight.

Meditate – Sometimes a few minutes of meditation is all you need to quiet your mind. If you have a practice you use at home, do that. But if you’re new to meditation there are apps to guide you.

Take some ‘me’ time – For busy people, a flight is a great opportunity to indulge yourself. Pack a favorite snack. Bring or buy a magazine you rarely get to enjoy. Apply a face mask or try a new moisturizer.

This post is part of our Travel 101 series of posts that will prepare you for your trip. If you’re just beginning to plan I’d suggest you start with the first in the series – Pack Light, Travel Easy

I hope I’ve given you some ideas that’ll help you to enjoy your next flight. If you have suggestions for things to do on a plane ride, I’d love to hear them! Drop me a line or add your suggestion in the comments. Thanks!

Amy Tull and Team

• Amy Tull and Team https://travelingtulls.com/author/gramma2chance/ Into the Wild: Planning Multigenerational Trips in National Parks
• Amy Tull and Team https://travelingtulls.com/author/gramma2chance/ Nature and Birding in Costa Rica: a World of Strange & Wonderful Beauty
• Amy Tull and Team https://travelingtulls.com/author/gramma2chance/ How to Survive a Long Flight: be comfortable even in Economy Seats (2024)
• Amy Tull and Team https://travelingtulls.com/author/gramma2chance/ Best Time to Travel to Machu Picchu, Peru: a traveler’s guide (2024)

Amy, a writer on responsible bucket list travel, is your reliable source for insightful travel advice. With a career background in libraries, and a degree in biology and mathematics, Amy's approach to travel is rooted in meticulous research and planning, and her commitment to eco-conscious adventures.

Amy’s dedication to sustainable travel practices, including efficient packing techniques, ensures that every adventure leaves a positive impact on both the environment and the traveler's well-being. Trust Amy to guide you towards meaningful and eco-friendly travel, making the most of your retirement years.

A lifelong New England resident, Amy is also the source for insider tips on travel in the Northeastern U.S.

• Amy Tull https://travelingtulls.com/author/amy-travelingtulls/ 101 Unique Things to Do in Boston: an insider guide to hidden gems
• Amy Tull https://travelingtulls.com/author/amy-travelingtulls/ 25 Tips to Conquer Travel Anxiety: How to Make Travel Easier (and almost stress-free!)
• Amy Tull https://travelingtulls.com/author/amy-travelingtulls/ Easy Elegance: 3 Capsule Wardrobe Templates for Travel Planning
• Amy Tull https://travelingtulls.com/author/amy-travelingtulls/ Navigating the Amazon and Caribbean with Viking: An Honest Review (2024)

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This helped me so much because I had no idea what I was going to do. Thnx

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Fly Like a Pro: 25 Best Things To Do On A Plane 🛩️

Grey Globetrotters Travel Blog contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. See my  disclaimer  for more information.

ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT TO DO ON A PLANE TO PASS THE TIME?

The thrill of takeoff can soon wear off if you’ve not planned how to spend those long hours hurtling through the sky, but there are plenty of things to do on a plane to keep you busy!

From binge-watching your favourite TV show to meditating like a zen master, I’m sharing 25 entertaining, anxiety-reducing, fun activities to help you pass the time on your next flight.

So sit back, relax (as much as you can), and let’s dive into some of the best things to do on a plane to help the hours pass quickly.

25 Best Things To Do On A Plane to Pass Time

1. Read a Great Book

Immersing yourself in a good book is a great way to pass the time. Whether you prefer physical books or the convenience of an e-book, reading is one of the best things to do on a plane.

Firstly, reading is a great way to escape reality for a while. Whether you’re flying to an important business meeting or on vacation with your family, why not switch off and get lost in a good story?

Secondly, reading is also surprisingly calming. The white noise of the airplane engines combined with the gentle rocking motion can lull you into a state of relaxation that’s hard to find elsewhere. It’s like having your own personal therapy session at 30,000 feet!

Worried about space in your carry-on?

Don’t fret! E-books and Kindles are perfect alternatives to “real books”. They take up hardly any space and allow you to store hundreds (if not thousands) of books in one place.

2. Catch Up on Podcasts or Audiobooks

Audiobooks and podcasts can make your life easier and more enjoyable.

Audiobooks are like having a personal storyteller on tour with you. All you need is a good pair of headphones and some imagination.

Audiobooks also provide a comforting human voice without awkward small talk if you travel solo.

Podcasts are like having a conversation with friends who happen to be experts in their field. Whether it’s true crime, comedy, politics or pop culture – there’s something out there for everyone. Podcasts allow us to learn new things while being entertained at the same time.

Podcasts help us to stay up-to-date, plus, they’re easy to download and listen to offline, so you never have to worry about using data or finding Wi-Fi when travelling abroad.

Audiobooks and podcasts are lifesavers when it comes to travel entertainment.

3. Get Creative

Adult colouring books have become increasingly popular over the past few years. They’ve even been touted as a therapy to relieve stress and anxiety.

Unwinding with coloured pencils is incredibly relaxing, allowing for creativity and self-expression. Plus, let’s be honest – who doesn’t love the accomplishment of filling up an entire page with colourful designs?

4. Watch Movies or TV Shows

Before your flight, download your favourite shows. Otherwise, your viewing choices will be limited to whatever your airline offers.

Alternatively, streaming services will keep you entertained and help pass the time on your next journey.

The king of all streaming services, Netflix has a vast collection of movies and TV shows. With their download feature, you can easily save your favourite shows and movies to watch offline during your flight.

Amazon Prime Video

If you are an Amazon Prime member , don’t forget to take advantage of their video service. They have a great selection of movies and TV shows.

5. Play Games

Playing games like Sudoku and crossword puzzles are fun things to do on a plane to pass the time.

Of course, you can buy paper puzzle books, but these will add bulk to your carry-on bag . You may prefer to download a few mobile apps to keep you busy!

6. Listen to Music

Music is your ultimate secret weapon for staying calm and relaxed in the air, and while you wait for your flight to board.

It’s been scientifically proven that music can reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. So, how do you harness the calming power of music when flying? Here are some tips:

Choose your playlist wisely

Think about what kind of mood you want to set. Do you need something upbeat to energise you during the long flight? Or would you prefer something soothing and serene to help lull you into a peaceful slumber?

Top Tip: Mix up the genres to have a variety of tunes to pick from.

Invest in noise-cancelling headphones

Let’s be honest- airplane cabins can be noisy AF. Whether it’s crying babies, chatty passengers, or engine noise, there’s always sound around us on flights.

Noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds are essential if you want to enjoy your chosen tunes without distractions.

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

These great noise-cancelling headphones reduce noise by up to 98% and have an ultra-long 50m hour playtime.

7. Organise Your Photos

One of the best things to do on a plane with your phone is to review your photos and delete the ones you no longer need. (We all have those!)

You could free up a ton of storage and making finding your favourite photos so much easier.

8. Plan Your Schedule

Do you dread flying because it feels like a colossal waste of time? Well, here’s a solution: plan your schedule while on the flight!

Yes, I know what you’re thinking, “Who wants to work on a plane?” But hear me out. There are so many benefits to planning your schedule while flying.

No distractions!

No annoying coworkers interrupt you every five minutes with their latest cat videos or gossip about Karen from accounting.

You can be productive

Being trapped in a tiny seat for hours can be productive if you use your time well. You have little else to do, so why not sit there and think about your upcoming tasks, then prioritise them accordingly?

Once you land, you’ll already have a game plan instead of frantically trying to figure out what needs to be done next. And let’s be honest, we all know how overwhelming that feeling can be.

It gets better!

Planning your schedule on a flight also gives you an excuse to avoid small talk with strangers sitting next to you. Just wear your noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds and get lost in your own world of productivity.

So next time you dread a long flight, embrace the opportunity for uninterrupted focus and use that time wisely by planning your schedule.

9. Write Your Week’s To-Do List

Before you settle in for a nap, have you considered using your time to write your to-do list?

The benefits of writing your to-do list while on a flight

It’s a great way to kill time during long flights. We all know how quickly boredom can set in when you’re stuck in cattle class coach for hours with stale pretzels and bad movies for company.

Travel can inspire productivity

Something about being up in the air inspires my productivity. Maybe it’s the lack of distractions or the thrill of being suspended thousands of feet above ground level. Whatever it is, take advantage of it!

Why should you make a list?

Can’t you wing it once you land? Sure…if you want to forget half the things you were supposed to do or spend precious time trying to remember what those things were.

A clear plan for what needs to be done will save you time and reduce stress once your trip ends . Plus (and this is where things get exciting), crossing items off your list feels SO good!

10. Prepare For Your Trip

A long flight is a great time to read a travel guide for your destination and make any last-minute decisions about the things you don’t want to miss when you arrive!

You might also want to look for the best places to eat or check for top-rated tours .

11. Write a Story or a Journal

Journalling is one of the most therapeutic things to do on a plane!

Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Really? Writing in my journal on a plane?” But trust me, it’s very calming and can help to pass the time quickly.

Journalling allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and capture memories that would otherwise fade away over time. Plus, it’s a great way to express yourself creatively and get some much-needed alone time amidst the chaos of air travel.

Writing in your journal can also make for some fun reading material later on. When you’re cramped up in a tiny seat with dozens of strangers around you, the possibilities for amusing anecdotes are endless!

Maybe the person next to you snores like a warthog or keeps falling asleep on your shoulder. These small moments can make for hilarious stories.

So grab a pen and paper (or open that Word document) and jot down your thoughts and observations. It might even inspire you to start writing your own travel blog!

12. Write Your Bucket List

Have you ever sat down and thought about writing your bucket list?

Start Brainstorming

Grab a pen and paper (or open up a new Google doc) and think about all the things you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the chance yet. Skydiving? Travelling to a foreign country? Learning how to cook an exotic dish? Don’t be afraid to dream big!

Think about your timeline

Include short-term goals that you can achieve in the near future and long-term goals that may take years of planning. Here are some bucket list ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• Visit every continent
• Learn a new language
• Run a marathon
• Write a book
• Go on a safari
• Volunteer abroad
• Learn how to surf
• Attend the Olympics

Prioritise your list based on what’s most important to you and what’s feasible within your budget and schedule.

This is YOUR bucket list. It should reflect who YOU are and what YOU want out of life. Don’t forget – it’s not set in stone!

As you cross off items on your list or discover new passions, add or modify your goals.

13. Strike Up A Conversation

Humans are social creatures, and we love to interact with others. Talking to your fellow passengers is a great way to learn about different cultures and perspectives, and you could make new friends.

However, starting a conversation with strangers can be daunting for some people, so here are some tips:

Begin with a smile

A simple smile can break down barriers and make you seem more approachable. Smile at your fellow passenger before starting the conversation (obviously in a non-creepy way).

Pay a compliment

Complimenting someone can be an excellent icebreaker, showing that you’re interested in getting to know them better. You could compliment their outfit or ask where they bought something they’re wearing.

Ask open-ended questions

Instead of asking yes or no questions, ask open-ended questions that require more than just a one-word answer. Try, “What brings you here?” or “Have you been on this flight route before?”

Listen attentively

Active listening means paying attention to what someone is saying without interrupting or judging them. Listening attentively will help you understand their perspective better.

Share stories

Sharing personal stories can help build connections quickly as it helps people relate to each other.

Keep it light-hearted

Avoid discussing controversial topics like politics or religion unless you know the other person shares your views.

14. Stretch Your Legs

Make sure you get up and stretch your legs every few hours. Walk down the aisle or do some simple stretches in your seat to get the blood flowing. This helps to prevent stiffness and soreness.

Try some light exercises like squats or lunges. You might feel silly exercising in front of other passengers, but who cares? You’ll get your blood pumping and burn off those airplane snacks.

Top Tips: Speaking of snacks, pack healthy options like fruits, veggies, and nuts instead of sugary or processed foods to keep your energy levels up.

15. Try Seated Yoga

Seated yoga is another great way to make your flight experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

It may sound strange, but once you try it, you’ll wonder how you survived without it. Yoga can help with circulation and flexibility during long flights and lift your mood.

Seated yoga poses are discreet and easy to do from the comfort of your seat – even while watching an in-flight movie.

16. Enjoy a Meal

Airplane meals help pass the time during long flights, but register your dietary preferences when booking your flight.

Whether you’re vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, or have other dietary restrictions, airlines offer options to accommodate every passenger’s needs.

From the moment the flight attendant hands over your meal tray, your steaming hot food will whet your appetite and tingle your taste buds.

Take a moment to appreciate how nicely presented everything looks and snap some photos for social media – it’s a key part of your flight experience!

Regardless of how fast or slow your fellow passengers eat, go at your own pace and savour every bite. No one is waiting for you to vacate your seat as soon as you finish eating!

17. Have a Drink

Feeling thirsty? Drinks are included in most airline meals (apart from short-haul European budget airlines ! ) From hydrating mineral water and juices to wines, beers and mixers, there’s bound to be something to tempt you.

Top Tip: It’s wise to limit your alcohol intake to avoid becoming dehydrated!

18. Catch Up On Sleep

We all know that travelling can be exhausting, especially on a long-haul flight. But did you know that catching some z’s during your flight will make all the difference in how refreshed you feel upon arrival?

Here are some tips for getting some much-needed shut-eye while flying.

Invest in some sleep aids

• Noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds help block out the sounds of the plane and other passengers
• A silk sleep mask will block out any light and create a cosy, dark environment to help you drift off

Don’t underestimate the power of a comfy blanket!

Airlines often provide paper-thin blankets that barely cover your legs. If you need to be toasty warm to drift off, pack your own plush blanket or a soft pashmina in your cabin bag , wrap yourself up like a burrito and snooze away.

Lastly, try to get comfortable by adjusting your seat or using pillows.

19. Meditate

If you’re tired of the stress and anxiety of travelling, meditation is a great way to find peace and serenity in the chaos.

Meditation can be done almost anywhere, including on a plane! Find your seat and get comfortable. Ensure your seatbelt is fastened and your tray table is stowed away.

Sit straight against the seatback and place your hands on your lap or knees. You can also use an eye mask or earplugs if it helps you focus.

Use your favourite meditation app as your guide 🙂

20. Plan Your Next Trip

Endless hours of sitting in cramped quarters with nothing to do but stare out the window, praying for a smooth landing is incredibly tedious. But planning your next adventure can make your time in the air fly by (pun intended)!

You could spend your flight scrolling through social media or watching mediocre movies on the inflight entertainment system. Or you could use this precious downtime to research and dream up your next big trip.

Whether you fancy a weekend getaway or an epic around-the-world journey, there’s no better time than now to start planning.

Pick a Destination

Do you want to soak up the sun on a beautiful beach or explore ancient ruins ? The possibilities are endless! Use your time on the plane to research destinations and get inspired by photos and travel blogs.

Start Planning The Details

What’s your budget? How long do you want to stay? Will you travel solo or with friends/family/significant other/pet hamster?

Research flights, accommodations, activities, and local customs so that you’re ready to hit the ground running when you land.

Have Some Fun

Use this opportunity to indulge in some travel-related daydreaming. Imagine wandering through a desert town in Egypt or sipping gin at a quaint distillery in North Yorkshire .

Close your eyes and picture yourself on a hammock overlooking turquoise waters or hiking through misty mountains – it’s a great way to relax!

21. Take Pictures

Whether it’s your first time on an airplane, or you’re a travel veteran, there will always be new and different things to see and photograph.

It could be a great chance to hone your photography skills, practice using your camera in manual mode instead of automatic, or create a photo journal of your vacation.

22. Surf The Web

If you want to surf the web during your flight, here’s what you need to do:

Check if your airline offers in-flight Wi-Fi

Most major airlines now offer this service for a fee (though some may offer it for free), so check their website or ask when booking your ticket.

Once on board, connect to the Wi-Fi network and enter any login details required. You’ll typically be redirected to a page where you can choose pricing options based on your needed data.

Get surfing

Like on the ground, you can use your favourite browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox – take your pick) and search engines, but note that Wi-Fi “in the sky” will be slower than you’re used to on the ground.

Pro Tip : Save content offline before takeoff, so you have something to read or watch even if the internet slows down or cuts out altogether.

Netflix lets users download content ahead of time while connected to Wi-Fi – so they can watch it later – without needing an internet connection.

23. Practice a Language

A long flight is an ideal time to get to grips with a new language.

Whether you want some essential phrases for your trip , or you’re practising a language you’ve studied longer term, you could plug in and listen to a language lesson or a foreign language movie.

24. Get Inspired By The Airline’s Magazine

Airline magazines can be a mine of information about destinations, so it’s worth a quick flick through to see what grabs your attention.

You might even be inspired to visit somewhere new after you’ve read abo

25. Do Some Work!

If you have a bunch of work to get through that you could do on your journey, why not get ahead and get it done?

I love to use “downtime” when I’m travelling to finish any work, so I have more time to myself at each destination 🙂

FAQs: Things To Do On A Plane to Pass Time

What can i do to pass time on a plane.

The best way to prepare for air travel is to have several different things to do. You may love binge-watching something but could get bored on a long journey and want to try other things.

Reading, listening to audiobooks and music, watching movies, journalling, and listening to music are all good things to do on a plane.

What are the best things for kids to do on a plane?

Undoubtedly, the best things to keep kids happy and busy on a plane are ones that stimulate their minds without irritating other passengers!  An iPad, preloaded with games and favourite movies, is a top choice !

What to do on a 20 hour flight?

A long flight is a perfect opportunity to hunker down and watch your favourite movies or delve into a great book, but remember to get up and stretch regularly to stay healthy 🙂

What can I take on a plane to not get bored?

Pack your carry on bag with a selection of things to do, including a device loaded with movies/music, a great book, puzzles and a travel journal to write in. If you love crafts, take a small project to work on!

Do planes have Wi-Fi?

The simple answer is yes; however, you may need to pay extra for this service, which may not be available on all flights or in all seating classes.

Conclusion: What To Do On a Plane

So, there you have it! Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or a first-time flyer, these tips and tricks will help you pass the time and make your flight more comfortable.

From reading a good book to watching movies or engaging in some light exercise, there’s no limit to what you can do on a long flight.

So, next time you plan a trip, remember these handy suggestions for stuff to do on a plane.

Happy travels!

Related Posts

• Can You Take Honey On A Plane? Complete Guide (+TSA Rules)
• How To Survive a Long Layover At The Airport: 19 Top Tips
• Best Books to Read on a Plane
• Best Long Haul Flight Tips

If you found this post helpful, don’t forget to bookmark it and share it with your friends! You can also save it for later on Pinterest.

Coralie Thornton, the owner and author of Grey Globetrotters, has been a traveller for more than four decades. Her passion for adventure has led her through over 40 countries, seeking cultural experiences, delicious foods, and hidden gems. Today, she helps others experience the UK, Europe, Egypt and China, with meticulously crafted travel itineraries and affordable luxury travel guides.

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FREE Air Travel Activities & Printables

Our family is going to Disney World in 172 days.  None of my special needs kiddos have flown before, unless you count a flight Dinomite was on when 4 months old.  

Preparing any kiddo to fly is a BIG job, but preparing special needs kiddos is an even BIGGER job. Right now I'm focusing on just getting the kids excited about air travel and planes in general. Here are some resources I'm super excited to use!

FREE Air Travel Activities and Printables

  1. exploring things up in the sky from natural beach living, 2.  free airplane nomenclature cards from the pinay homeschooler, 3.  hot air balloon unit study from homeschool share.

Air travel isn't just about airplanes, there are other ways to travel in the sky, including a hot air balloon! This resource is such a fun idea and includes everything you need to put together an amazing unit study about hot air balloons. 

4.  Learn to Draw a Space Shuttle from Activity Village

For kids who love to draw, this space shuttle drawing printable is fantastic. I love how each step is broken down and easy to follow, especially for budding drawers who are still building confidence in their abilities.

5.  Toddler Time Things That Fly from Royal Baloo

These resources are absolutely adorable, especially for kids who are learning letters and love vehicles. 

• A is for Airplane
• B is for Balloon
• H is for Helicopter
• Z is for Zeppelin

I love that there are so many air travel vehicle options!

6.  A is for Airplane Week 2-Alphabet for All Ages from Simply Vicki

Matching games can be so much fun at home or while on the go. I love that this one is airplane themed and that it focuses on colors. It's really quite beautiful.

7.  Printable Airport Pretend Play Set from Learn Create Love

8.  airplane coloring pages from itsy bitsy fun, 9.  airplane party printables from pezjunky.

Whether you're planning an air travel party or are looking for more resources for pretend play and role play scenarios, these printables are great! I can think of so many fun ideas on how to use them!

10. How to Make a Paper Airplane from 5 Minutes for Mom

A unit study about airplanes isn't complete without the opportunity to make paper airplanes! This resource is fabulous for kids and provides several different options. I love that it's Disney themed as well.

4 comments:

Great compilation! A lot of wonderful printables! Thank you for making it! Will use it in transportation unit

I love all the resources for these wonderful printables on air travel! I will be back to use these printables in the future. :)

Great post just in time for many upcoming summer vacations! I will be featuring this post at the Thoughtful Spot Blog Hop tomorrow. Thanks for linking it up!

Thanks for allowing me to share your post in my traveling with kids roundup. It will go live November 12th!

ESL Activities

ESL Games, Activities, Lesson Plans, Jobs & More

in Icebreakers + Warm-Ups · Listening · Reading · Speaking · Writing

Travel & Holidays ESL Games, Worksheets | ESL Travel Activities

If you need some fresh, new ideas for the ESL travel and holiday unit that you can find in most textbooks, then you’re in the right place. We’ll share our top ideas for games and activities, along with travel vocabulary, worksheets and lesson plans. Let’s get to the best ESL holiday activities.

ESL holiday and travel-themed activities

Let’s get into everything you need to know for an ESL holiday lesson. Keep on reading!

ESL Travel and Holiday Activities

Here are the top ESL travel activities that you may want to try out with your students.

#1: Plan a Trip

Have your students plan a dream vacation in English! Instead of researching in their first language, use Google in English. In order to practice writing, keep notes only in English. Here’s an example of how you might plan your trip using English. You can have your students add as little, or as much detail as you’d like. However, the point of the activity is to practice writing in point form which is useful when writing outlines for tests or essays.

Day 1: Monday, January 1

Fly Seoul (3pm) —-> Vancouver (7am) Check in Hotel ABC, 123 Avenue Rest, relax

Day 2: Tuesday, January 2

Stay Hotel ABC Tour Stanley Park Eat Pub XYZ dinner

Day 3: Wednesday, January 3

Check out Hotel ABC Rent car Budget 123 Drive Whistler Rent skis shop ABC Go Skiing Lunch ski lodge Check in Hotel ABC Whistler Bed early

Procedure for one of my favourite ESL travel activities:

• Give students time to do some Internet research about a place they want to go. It’s helpful to specify the number of days. I generally make a rule that they must do this research in English. Suggest some helpful websites where they might like to start (Trip Advisor, Air BnB, etc.).
• Students can make a day-by-day itinerary of what they’re trip is going to look like.
• They can share about their trip with the class or turn it in for a graded assignment.

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Bolen, Jackie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 78 Pages - 03/22/2021 (Publication Date)

#2: A-Z Alphabet Game

If you know that your students already know a fair bit about holiday and travel, you may want to try this quick warm-up game. Or, you could consider using it as a review game at the end of a class.

The way it works is that students, in pairs or small groups write down the alphabet on a piece of paper. Then, they have to think of one travel related word for each letter. It doesn’t have to be done in order. For example:

P: Passport

The winner is the team with the most completed letters at the end of the allotted time. Do you want to find out more? Check this out: A-Z Alphabet Game ESL .

#3: Travel Word Association

This is nice ESL activity to do if you know that your students have studied about travel and holidays before. They can shout out vocabulary words related to this and you can make a mind map or sorts on the board. Group similar things together. For example, articles of clothing.

Find out more about this quick ESL warmer right here: ESL Vocabulary Word Association.

• 146 Pages - 06/18/2020 (Publication Date)

#4: Postcards ESOL Travel Activity

If you can get your hands on some cheap postcards or have some laying around your house or teacher’s office, try out this fun writing activity. It may just be the novelty factor, but students seem to love it. This activity is ideal for working on common greetings, the past tense (more ideas here: ESL past tense games ), and using descriptive words, as well as using synonyms to avoid repetition.

Distribute the postcards to the students. You can do one per student, or put the students into pairs. They have to look at the picture on the front of the postcard and imagine that they went on this vacation. Then, they can write about their trip to a friend or family member.

Next, the students trade postcards with another student or group. After reading them, they can write a response back of at least a few sentences. Finally, you may want to display them around the class as they’re colourful and fun and other students may enjoy reading them! Have some fun with this ESOL travel activity.

• Give each student or pair a postcard. They look at the picture and imagine what they did on that vacation, and then pretend that they’re writing to a friend or family member.
•  Exchange postcards and another student or group have to write a response to what they read.
• Display the postcards around your classroom (optional).

#5: Travel or Holiday Videos

I’m ALL about using videos with my ESL/EFL students. They’re fun, engaging and a nice way to grab student’s attention and introduce a topic. Of course, you can base an entire class around one too if you design the activities well.

If you want to find out more about using them in your classes and some activities and games to do with them, you’ll want to check this out: Using Videos for Teaching English .

#6: Dictogloss ESOL Travel Activity

This is a challenging activity that works on listening and writing skills. Find a short story related to holiday or travel. It could even be a description of your own vacation that you took recently.

Then, you read out the story to your students in a way that is a bit challenging for them to catch every word. Students have to take notes and then try to reconstruct what they heard based on their notes in small groups. You can read it again so that students have a chance to make some additions or corrections. Finally, students compare their version with the original.

Do you want to try it out with your students? You can learn more about one of the best ESL travel activities here: ESL Dictogloss Activity .

#7: Holidays ESL Lesson Plan

It’s easy to plan an ESL lesson about any topic, including holidays. Check out this video for the steps to follow:

#8: Yes/No Questions and Answers

If you think about it, holidays and travel lend themselves to a ton of yes/no questions. For example:

• Did you fly or drive?
• Did you eat some delicious things?
• Was the food good?
• Did you have nice weather?

If you want to see some activities or games to work on these kinds of questions, you’ll want to check this out: Yes/No Activities and Games.

• 279 Pages - 07/12/2020 (Publication Date)

#9: ESL Food Activities and Games

I’m not sure if it’s the same for you, but when I travel, it’s ALL about the food. I want to try all the delicious things where I’m staying! The good news is that I have a ton of fun, interactive games and activities for food. You can easily adapt most of them to focus on holidays.

You can find out more details here: ESL Food Activities.

#10: ESL Surveys

I love to use surveys in my classes because they lend themselves to just about any topic. In the case of travel, they’re ideal for working on the present perfect and simple past together.

For example:

Have you ever travelled to another country?

Where did you go?

If you want to know more about how to design and use surveys in your classes for an ESL travel lesson, then you’ll want to check this out: Surveys for ESL Students.

ESL Travel Games and Activities

I also love to use ESL surveys to get students to express an opinion in English.

#11: Present Perfect Activities Related to Travel

The present perfect is often used to talk about vacations, travel and holidays. For example:

• Have you ever been to another country?
• Have you travelled to ______ before?

In order to incorporate this grammatical construction into some of your lesson, you’ll want to check this out: Present Perfect ESL Activities.

#12: Brochure Scanning

This is an excellent travel activity! You’ll have to get your hands on some travel brochures first. The way it works is that students get tons of practice with a reading sub-skill (scanning) because they have to look quickly through the brochures to find specific bits of information. For example, cost or number or days.

Do you want to try out this reading activity? You can find out all the details here: Brochure Scanning Reading Activity for ESL .

#13: Odd One Out ESL Warmer

This is a quick English warm-up activity that you can try out with your students. The way it works is that you write words, in groups of 4 on the board. 3 are similar and 1 is the odd one out. Students have to choose this one and say why it doesn’t fit. For example:

Bathing suit, sunglasses, boots, flip-flops

Answers: Boots because it’s not for a beach vacation. I accept many different answers as long as students support it well.

You can learn more about this ESL warm-up here: Odd One Out for ESL .

• 87 Pages - 10/24/2019 (Publication Date)

#14: Would you Rather? 

I’m sure you’ve done this before with friends. You have to choose between two negative things, or two positive things. For example, how you want to die, or what you want to eat. In this case, students could choose between two types of vacation. For example:

Would you rather have a beach or forest vacation?

Would you rather stay in a big hotel, or an AirBNB?

Learn more about this nice activity for an ESL travel lesson here: ESL Would You Rather?

• 81 Pages - 06/22/2021 (Publication Date)

#15: Task Based Activity: Dream Vacation

I love to incorporate this style of teaching into my holiday lessons. It allows students more freedom to choose what they want to learn about and also builds opportunities for some serious teamwork.

In this case, I’ll have students work in groups of 2-3 to plan a dream vacation. They can do some research to find out all the details including how to get there, food, budget, where to stay, etc. Then, they either have to write a report and hand it in to me and/or do a short presentation to the class.

Need some more ideas for this style of a lesson? Check this out: Task-Based Learning .

#16: Travel Themed Charades

I love to play charades with my students. The way it works is that you can think of some travel-related phrases. For example:

• Flying on a plane
• Sleeping on a bus
• Eating noodles
• Buying souvenirs

Then, students have to act this out and their teammates have to guess what the phrase is. More details here: ESL Charades.

#17: Travel Journal

Encourage students to keep a travel journal for a fictional trip. They can describe their experiences, sights, and sounds, using new vocabulary.

Travel and Holidays ESL

#18: Eliciting in an ESL Travel Lesson

Unless your students are absolute beginners, then it’s likely that they already know a good amount of travel and holiday vocabulary. That’s often why I like to start off my ESL traveling lesson by using some eliciting techniques. There are two main reasons for this.

The first reason is that it’s possible to find out what the students already know about this topic to avoid wasting class time covering these things. The second is that it helps students activate their prior knowledge about travel/holidays to make the new things they learn more memorable. Learn how to do this tactic for an ESL holiday lesson here:

ESL Eliciting Advice .

#19: Travel Listening Lesson

A nice way to talk about any topic is through a listening lesson. In this case, find a conversation between two people talking about an upcoming vacation plan. Or, someone talking about a favourite vacation from the past (it could even be you). Then, design an entire listening lesson around that. Find out how here:

#20: Idiom ESL Traveling Activity

There are lots of idioms related to holidays, travel and transportation. Here are just a few of them:

• All hands on deck
• To send flying
• Bump in the road
• Off the rails
• Train wreck
• Asleep at the wheel
• Fall off the wagon
• Hit the road

One of the best ways to make these idioms super memorable is to do this fun activity. Afterwards, your students will never forget! Learn more about this ESL activity:

Idiom Activity for Language Learners .

#21: Concentration ESL Traveling Vocabulary

One of the best ways to review new words during an ESL holiday or travel lesson is to play this memory game. Depending on the level of the students, make some matching pairs of cards with the following:

• Word/picture
• Word/definition
• Word/clue about the word

Then in small groups, students play the game to find the matches. Find out all the details about how to set it up and play:

ESL Concentration Game .

#22: Speaking Fluency Activity

To use this activity with a unit on holidays or travel, have students talk about a past, or upcoming vacation.

#23: Me Too!

Students have to make a true statement about themselves related to holidays and travelling. For example:

• I’ve been to Japan.
• I hate the beach.
• My family goes on a big vacation every summer.

If other students can agree, they stand up and say, “Me too!”

#24: Labour Day Guessing Game

#25: Holiday Interviews

Pair students and have them interview each other about their favorite holidays. They can then present their partner’s holiday to the class.

#26: Travel Bingo

Create bingo cards with images or words related to travel and holidays. Students mark off the squares as they learn new vocabulary.

#27: Travel-Themed Role-Plays

Set up role-plays where students act as travelers, airport staff, or hotel receptionists. This helps them practice common travel dialogues.

#28: Travel Vocabulary Pictionary

Play Pictionary using travel-related words. Students take turns drawing and guessing the vocabulary words.

#29: Travel Storytelling

Ask students to create and share short stories about a memorable travel experience they’ve had or wish to have in the future.

#30: Travel Debate

Have students debate the pros and cons of traveling. This encourages critical thinking and speaking skills.

Travel and Holiday Vocabulary

Here are some of the most common vocabulary words that you may want to teach your students related to traveling for an ESL holiday lesson.

• bathing suit
• boarding pass
• vaccination
• The months of the year in English

Do you have any ESL travelling vocabulary that you’d like us to add to the list? Leave a comment and let us know!

Travel Worksheets and Lesson Plans for ESL

If you’re looking for some worksheets or lesson plans related to holidays and travel, then you’ll want to check out some of our top resource recommendations:

ESOL Courses

ISL Collective

Lingua House

ESL Travel Vocabulary Worksheets

If you want students to get some practice with ESL travel vocab, here are a few recommendations:

English Club

Did you Like these Travel Games for ESL?

• 68 Pages - 11/12/2019 (Publication Date)

Yes? Thought so. Then you’re going to love this book: The Emergency English Teacher: No-Textbook, No-Prep, No-Materials ESL Activities.

If you’re always in need of last-minute activities and games for your classes, then this book is exactly what you might need. It’s English teaching made easy in a serious way.

You can get the book in digital or print formats. Take the e-version with you to your favourite coffee shop for lesson planning on the go. Or, keep a copy on the bookshelf in your office to use as a handy reference guide. But the best idea is to have it with you at all times for those English teaching emergencies.

Do you want to find out more? Head on over to Amazon to pick up your copy today:

FAQs about ESL Travel Lessons

There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching this unit. Here are the answers to some of the most popular ones.

What is the purpose of teaching the travel and holiday unit to English learners?

The purpose is to help English learners develop vocabulary, grammar, and conversational skills related to travel and holidays.

What topics can be covered within the travel and holiday unit?

Topics can include modes of transportation, booking accommodations, tourist attractions, holiday activities, travel phrases, and cultural aspects of different destinations.

How can I introduce vocabulary related to travel and holidays?

You can introduce vocabulary through visual aids, realia (actual objects), flashcards, and interactive activities such as matching games or vocabulary quizzes.

What grammar structures can be taught in the travel and holiday unit?

Grammar structures such as present simple for schedules and timetables, past simple for recounting travel experiences, future tenses for making travel plans, and modal verbs for expressing preferences or asking for permission can be taught.

What speaking activities can be used to practice travel and holiday-related topics?

Role-plays, group discussions about dream destinations, travel itineraries, or describing holiday experiences are effective speaking activities. Additionally, pair work activities like “Find Someone Who” or “Guess the Destination” can engage learners in conversation.

ESL Travel Activities and Games: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts about these Holiday ESL activities? Do you have another one that you’d like to recommend to us? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself find this useful resource for ESOL travel lessons.

ESL Travel Lesson

Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 60 books for English teachers and English learners, including Business English Vocabulary Builder and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

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What to Pack for Kids on the Plane (Ages 3-8) + Best Airplane Activities

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: January 9, 2024

When talking about traveling with other parents, one of the main concerns seems to be flying with children . Just the thought of kids on planes makes many people anxious. But if you are prepared well, there is really no need to stress!

Air travel with toddlers and preschoolers is probably the most challenging because young kids need to be entertained all the time… So the most common question I get is what to pack and how to entertain kids at the airport and during the flight .

In this post, we share some tips about what our children pack to take on the plane. Travel essentials and plane activities for kids that have been tested time and again.

When this article was first written, our boys were 5, 5, and 7 years old. Their carry-on luggage has been packed in pretty much the same way since they are out of diapers. 43 flights and counting at that time.

I have updated this article recently to include our top airplane activities for kids. We have flown with our kids numerous times since and I stopped counting the number of flights. I can tell you that it does get easier and their carry-on gets lighter with the years. But the basics, our top tips for what to pack in kids’ hand luggage remain the same. Take a look!

How to pack when flying with kids

When it comes to packing for kids , remember that less is more . While packing for a family road trip you can always add a few extra items, when flying with kids, take only what you really need!

Don’t pack a bag full of toys. The chances are big that your kids will take all the toys out of the bag, play with them for 2 minutes, and announce that they are bored or that they want that one toy they left at home.

We have a pretty strict one toy per kid policy when traveling and I have to say that it works pretty well. We used to take more toys with us when the kids were little but quickly stopped doing it. Here is why.

Why we never take toys when we travel with children

• Toys take lots of space in your luggage.
• Familiar toys are boring and they stay in your suitcase or in the hotel room most of the time.
• Toys get lost or broken. Tears guaranteed.
• If you have more than one child, the chances are very big that they will fight over the toys. Even more tears guaranteed.
• Kids can play with pretty much anything when traveling: stones, seashells, leaves, dry plants, etc. etc. Actually, not having toys stimulates their creativity and you’ll be amazed at how well they can keep themselves busy without any toys whatsoever. Try it!

Should each child have their own carry-on bag?

Do you really need a separate bag for a toddler? If you are not sure, don’t take it. While young kids love the idea of having their own travel bag, they quickly get tired of it and you end up carrying all the bags at the airport.

That being said, packing a bag for each child has a lot of advantages as well and older kids can usually handle a backpack or a small carry-on. Here you can read more about kids luggage and the best kids’ travel bags for all ages .

If you want to get a cool travel bag for your young child which they will want to carry themselves, take a look at the amazing selection of kids’ travel items from Trunki . They have original ride-on suitcases, little backpacks, and many other cool travel bags that any preschooler will love!

When we rent a car abroad (which is pretty much all the time), we always take Trunki Boostapak (car booster seat and backpack in one) for our kids and so they each have a separate carry-on bag. This doesn’t mean, however, that they are allowed to fill it with toys…

TIP: You can also just take a regular kids’ travel backpack or give each child a packing cube that they can use to pack their stuff.

READ ALSO: Guide to the best travel booster seats

What to pack for kids on the plane

When flying with kids, make sure your kids wear comfortable clothes that are somewhat stain-resistant. Always dress in layers and keep their feet warm as it can get cold on the plane.

We never take pajamas, joggings, or other special clothing for kids to wear during the flight. When traveling with three young children you learn to keep things simple.

Below, you can find a list of what to pack in kids’ carry-on. Read on!

Kids’ Hand Luggage Packing List

The first tip to successful packing is to let the kids help you pack . Make sure you have the last word, though.

Let them choose one toy or a travel game to take on the plane. It will keep them busy for a while as choices like that are not easy for a child, but they will appreciate the fact that you let them decide and will be more willing to cooperate.

The kids will probably try to negotiate to take a few extra toys. You can let them pack more if it makes them and you happy, but remember that you have to set a limit somewhere.

You can agree on some rules that you are all comfortable with, for example, you could let the kids pack whatever they want as long as it fits in one little packing cube , a ziplock bag, etc.

The following items are always in our carry-on luggage when flying with children:

• Twistable crayons, pen, and paper. If you take one item on a plane, make it this one. Make sure you have enough paper and I really recommend twistable crayons . They don’t break easily, they don’t need to be sharpened, and they don’t make kids’ hands dirty. Ideal on a trip!
• Workbooks. Workbooks have always been a big success with our three boys. Read also this post for some great travel books for kids .
• Boogie board writing pad. Boogie board is just another way for kids to draw, but it does miracles when the traditional methods fail.
• One cuddly toy, a blankie , or whatever ‘friend’ your child sleeps with.
• Lollipops . It took us many years, lots of flights, and aching ears before we came up with this simple yet very effective solution. Now we always have lollipops in our kids’ hand luggage. Give them to the kids during take-off and landing and you’ll see that it does wonders. Not only do the kids sit quieter in their seats, but it’s also the perfect way to help them avoid ear pain due to the changing pressure.
• UNO or single-player travel games. One-player travel games are ideal to keep older kids busy during the long flight, while UNO is the perfect game to keep the kids busy while waiting at the airport.
• Digital tablet. We hardly ever use it on a plane, but it’s proven helpful a couple of times when we had to wait longer at the airport. Amazon has really affordable Kindle Fire Kids tablets that might be a good choice when traveling with young kids.
• Warm socks. This is particularly useful on long-haul flights with children as they can keep their shoes off during the entire flight.
• Medication. You don’t need to take the whole medicine cabinet with you, but make sure you always have some painkillers, nose spray, and band-aids with you.
• Some snacks . Depending on the time and the duration of your flight, you may want to take some food with you for the kids. Apples, grapes, and cookies are always a big success with our kids. Sometimes we take sandwiches as well. Try to avoid any food or drinks that can be messy. You don’t want to deal with dirty clothes or sticky fingers on the plane.
• Paper tissues and wet wipes . No explanation needed, I suppose.
• On long flights with young children, we also take one set of extra clothes . Try to pack something that would fit any of your kids and avoid having to pack a separate outfit for every child.

Airplane Activities for Kids

Since so many of you asked about the best way to keep kids busy on the plane, here are our personal (& tested many times) suggestions for the best plane activities for kids:

• Drawing. Pack paper and twistable crayons . In addition, kids might like to draw on a boogie board . It’s easy to pack and can keep them busy for hours!
• Stickers. It’s incredible how many hours young kids can spend playing with stickers. Sticker playsets , especially the reusable ones, don’t take much space in your carry-on and can keep younger kids entertained for a long time.
• Workbooks. From about the age of 3-4 years, you can start introducing workbooks to your children. The good thing is that at that age, children are not familiar with the homework concept yet and actually enjoy learning through play. This is a great activity when flying with kids because you are there to help them if they need any help.
• Digital tablet. Don’t use the screen as a babysitter on the plane because it will backfire on you. But there are moments when it can help you get through the long flight! When you want to eat or use a bathroom, for example, or when everything else fails and all you care about is that your kids are quiet for a few minutes, some screen time can be a savior. If used in moderation, the screen always captures kids’ attention and keeps them happy. But if you let them watch movies and play games on a long-haul flight for hours in a row, you’ll end up with a tired kid that cannot be reasoned with.
• 1-player travel games. For somewhat bigger kids, from about 5-6 years, you can find some really nice single-player games that they can play on their own. It challenges them and keeps them busy for a while. Furthermore, many of these games are very small and easy to pack in your hand luggage.

Having said all this, no activities will work well in keeping very young children busy if you yourself are not involved as a parent. So don’t expect to put on your headphones and watch three movies during the flight. If you want to avoid tantrums and survive the flight, you really have to be there for your kids.

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So, these are our tips for airplane travel essentials for kids. If you are looking for more tips for traveling with kids, make sure to check these articles as well:

• Best travel gear for kids
• Gift ideas for traveling kids
• Survival tips for road trips with toddlers
• Tips and tricks for traveling with kids

READ ALSO: Best Family Travel Destinations & USA Spring Break Vacation Ideas

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aliccia scrivener

Thursday 19th of August 2021

i have a 15 year old who has autism so she still likes all the kid tv shows such as peppa pig or thomas the tank engine also she has a bear, blankie and a dummy/paccifier she cant live without have you any tips on what to pack x

Tuesday 24th of August 2021

Hi Aliccia, you know your child better than anyone else. If she likes certain tv programs, why not download some of them on a tablet/smartphone and take that with you? It doesn't take much space. The same with her favorite toys - pack one or two that you know will keep her happy. I'd definitely take a (e-)book if she likes to read. But my suggestion, in general, remains the same as for any child - do not overpack! For a child that age, taking a book/magazine or a tablet/smartphone should be more than enough for the flight. Good luck!

Saturday 9th of January 2021

Love the tips, Jurga! Thanks for sharing.

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Glad you found this useful, Tim. Happy travels with kids!

Sunday 24th of November 2019

Hi I am Emily, I have 3 kids, a 2 month old, Olivia (Via), twin 6 year olds, Victoria and Elizabeth (Tori and Liz) and my husband is already at my family’s new house, so I have to take a infant and twins on a 15 housr flight all by myself any tips for flexible packing? PS:my kids are sad (since dad is away) so I want something like a fun first plane trip!

Monday 25th of November 2019

Hi Emily, all my best tips for what to pack for kids on the plane are already in this article. I think that the 6-year olds will be quite happy with in-flight entertainment and the baby will sleep a lot, so it's better to pack as little as possible. You'll need your hands to take care of the kids, and all the baby stuff will probably require quite a lot of space anyway. If I were you, I'd pack as little as possible. If you are looking for something fun for your twins that doesn't take much space, I can recommend boogie boards. My boys loved drawing on them and could spend a long time just doing that.

Saturday 24th of August 2019

Great tips! I always go to a toy shop after Security and pick up two new ones for the plane. My personal rule is 4/5 toys per flight.

Thursday 29th of August 2019

That's a lot of toys, but I guess every kid is different and also every age and every flight is different. We always stuck to the rule of no toys and it worked well for us. Now that the kids got bigger, all they take is their Kindle e-reader...

Sunday 23rd of June 2019

Thank you so much for all these useful tips! My two boys are 3.5 & 7 and we are about to have a long long trip. Is there any chance you could suggest some books and games that you have found to be interesting and educational for this age on Kindle Fire. My older one loves Captain Underpants, but he has finished reading all the books.

Hi Aleksandra, our kids absolutely loved Geronimo Stilton books at the age 6-8. I see that some of them are available on Kindle as well, so you can also download them on the Kindle Fire too. They loved (and still do) all kinds of kids jokes books and riddles and brain teasers. They can read and tell the same jokes and riddles again and again. Great entertainment for the whole family :) I'm not really familiar with many games for that age group, as we never had any games on tablets when our kids were that young. Somehow we managed to resist that for a very long time... Now the twins are 8 and our oldest is 10 and they do have some free games on their tablet, but they just download some themselves and change every week, so I really wouldn't know what their favorites are. Usually it's related to soccer :) If I were you, I'd take some 'screenless' activities as well (activity books used to do wonders for our kids at that age, and also a game like UNO (or UNO Junor) is always in our hand luggage). Kinds need some down time and staring at the screen for hours will leave them exhausted and they won't be fun to deal with... Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Airplane Activities for Kids

Sharing is caring!

Traveling with kids – it’s something everyone wants to do – besides for the airplane part. That we’d rather skip. Having the right airplane activities for kids can make or break your long haul flight and I’m here to share. You can check out my list of must-haves for international travel first if you want, or scroll down for this list of fantastic tried-and-true travel activities for kids, endorsed by my own.  This post contains affiliate links. Some of these were gifted to me in the hopes I’d share with you.

Activities for Kids on Airplanes – what to look for + entertaining tips:

When sharing airplane activities for kids, I decided to divide this by age group to make it more skimmable. However, beyond the whole choking hazard age thing, most age recommendations  that don’t include sharp items (these don’t – you’re flying!) or anything else hazardous, are simply skill suggestions.

So take the age categories with a grain of salt, and know your kid. M is not so creative, so with crafty things, we look in the 3-year-old skill group (he’s six). But he’s a very smart kid, and very tinker-y, so we often jump ahead a few years with those things.

Also, when categorizing by age group, I put each item in the youngest group allowed. So if something is for 4-7 year olds, it’s in the 4+ age group. So, once again, know your kid, read through them all, enjoy our suggestions and feedback, and keep ’em busy!

You won’t really know what your child will fixate on, so bring plenty of options.

Don’t forget to stash some airplane activities for kids for the trip home! You’ll want some repeats of the most popular items, but have a good few new options to put in.

Yes, They WILL spend most of their time on the screen. And the airplane is the right time and place for it. But especially for long haul flights, and just in case there’s any problems with the in-flight entertainment, bring activities for variety. And you also have the wait in the airport, your hotel stay so you’ll want it all. Plus, too much screen time and not enough variety can make ’em cranky. (Note: I do NOT limit screen time on the airplane, I just try to tempt them to do other stuff with cool new activities)

Re-bag items that aren’t self-storing before your trip! You don’t want your child pulling apart that plastic bag and watching everything fly all over and, well, there goes that activity. Bring a stash of Ziploc bags in case you forget so at least you have how to store it.

New stuff – all the new stuff. Especially older kids are harder to convince to play with things that aren’t big and shiny and do stuff, and the trick with entertaining kids on an airplane is to have them do the stuff. I’ve learned with M that new toys are that much more entertaining.You also don’t want to have to worry too much about lost pieces on favorite toys, so having dedicated travel toys can help with that concern.

Buy 3-4 slightly nicer toys that will be super duper special , and hit up Bullseye Playground , the Dollar Tree, and your local discount stores to stock up on lots of inexpensive extras.

Give them their own personal bags/backpacks. M carried his most of the time (we took over when he was too tired). And it made him feel a certain level of pride in possession that made him want to entertain, leaving us freer to worry about all the other little stuff – plus entertaining Y. Also, we added snacks so he could keep busy with those without having to ask us.

We were sent a  backpack by Fenrici for our trip. Their sales help support research for rare childhood diseases and we love it when our travels contribute to a good cause. And it has a buckle (the most important feature if you ask M).

A few weeks ago, I shared some toddler airplane activities . Some were included in this list if M played with them too, but some were left out, so if you have a preschooler or younger, or if your kid likes to play with younger toys, you might want to check it out.

Now for our airplane activities for kids sorted by age group:

Preschoolers 4+

1. Plus Plus tube:

This brilliantly simple toy concept kept both my boys busy throughout our trip – airport, airplane, the various places we stayed…

The simple shape is like two +’s attached and you can make endless combinations. Because each piece is the same, if you drop one on the plane or lose one in the airport, it doesn’t matter. Also, because it’s so affordable it’s okay to lose pieces!

The tube is slim, takes little space, and is easily accessible so it doesn’t get buried in the backpack. And it gets TOP scores for being a self-storing toy! Yaaasss! No Ziploc bags needed for this one!

2. Plane Puppets :

I packed these plane puppets printed on card stock and pre-cut, together with some crayons and peel-n-stick craft sticks . The boys loved those craft sticks!

They learned all about flight attendants, and the other staff that makes the airport run.

You can also bring other puppets in the same style activity pack if it’s your kid’s kind of thing!

Especially if you have an early reader, having some fresh reading material can keep them quite busy! You can hit up your local dollar store and discount stores for thin paper back books that are very portable and inexpensive. Or pick up thin paperback readers from Scholastic .

4. Mental Blox Go! (5+)

If you have a 5+ year old who loves games, but you don’t want to bring a lot, Mental Blox Go! is perfect! It’s a self-contained puzzle game with ten different types of challenges. Some can be completed solo, making it perfect for travel! Some involve two or more players, so it’s great for siblings too.

It’s a wonderful, educational game to have after your trip as well as it uses math, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. It allows your child to use that brain and avoid sliding while traveling!

You’re getting many games in one easy-to-clean toy.

5. On the Plane Activity Book

Flying was a new experience for my kids (M was too young to remember the last time). So an activity book full of airplane themed activities was perfect for M!

From simple things like connect the dots, to drawing prompts like “design a travel poster”, this full-color book has in it hours and hours of entertainment. It even has a removable world map in the back!

6. Crayola dry erase cards:

These educational dry erase cards are very compact, and have lots of activities in them! And because the marker is dry-erase, it won’t be permanent if you get some on the tray.

7. Snowflakes/disc building toy :

This is another great travel building toy option and was enjoyed on the way home. We lost a LOT of pieces but that’s the point in having dedicated travel things.

8. Rhyming words puzzle:

Similar to the colors and shapes puzzle I got for M, this rhyming puzzle is perfect for your beginning reader. Because it’s a 2-part matching puzzle, it doesn’t require lots of space to dump out. And it’s very small and compact. It was great to have as entertainment where we slept as well.

I got it at Target’s Bullseye Playground – a great spot for finding airplane activities for kids!

9. Small slinky :

You can’t go wrong tossing a small version of the classic Slinky toy into that suitcase! Because it’s one piece, you don’t need to worry about parts, making it perfect for airport lines, and other times you might need to grab things and run.

10. Scratch art:

Another “no mess” craft-type of activity, scratch art is refreshing, highly entertaining, and oddly satisfying. Kids as young as four can really enjoy scratching off the entire design, making scratch art a great choice for airplane activities for kids across a broad age range.

11. Fidget cube and other fidgets:

Fidgets are easy to toss in and play with, without parts to lose! We brought this DIY infinity cube that we made a while ago, as well as this dancing giraffe , and this bendy snake .

12. Magnet drawing toys:

We got these magnetic drawing toys – and M really enjoyed this mess-free coloring toy, another grab-n-run option! You can go with any type of portable drawing toy: downgrade to a cling film- style one, or upgrade to a Boogie Board if you believe this has the potential for longer-term entertainment.

13. Coupon File with mini activities:

I plan to do a whole post on this… but I wanted to prioritize the big list of airplane activities for kids that you have here. I’ll update with links when I do, but meanwhile, I’ll give you the gist.

I got a coupon file, and filled it with small activities and a set of stacking crayons (DON’T get the set that we had – it was terrible. This one has much better reviews.) This included toy cars, the puppets above, small coloring pages, a memory match game, stickers, sticky notes, mini coloring posters, and more. Anything that makes a good standalone activity (outside of the coupon file) will be on this list as well.

14. Educational tablet with games + volume limiting headphones:

Even if the airline provides or if you are trying to limit screen time, BRING a kid-friendly tablet as well as volume limiting earphones ! You never know and this can be a lifesaver.

The timing on our flight home was terrible. We left for the airport at 8PM after a long day. Our flight took off at 1. It was two hours, and then we had a four hour stopover. They didn’t get onto a long, nap-friendly airplane until 6:30 AM!

Not only that, but M fell asleep as we were landing from our first flight – at 3 AM on his clock! And we had to wake him. He could hardly walk a straight line and was miserable. Screen time was our savior. Make sure to download anything you’ll want before your flight! Shows that you buy from Amazon Video can be downloaded for offline use. Do it!

15. Paper Airplanes :

Cut these out in advance and let your kids color them on the plane! Or, get the full-color ones and have it as a travel toy. Your kids can also play with them in the airport if you have a good, open space to fly them. It’s a great way to build excitement for the trip, as well as a tool to let them be active in a structured way when they need it most.

16. Spiral art :

You might see a theme in these airplane activities for kids. Many of these are actually crafts or art ideas that are portable and refreshing. Creativity, and the ability to DO something is a great way to entertain kids during tough times. A spiral art throwback to my own childhood kept M busy along the way.

It’s labeled for ages three and up, but probably requires more coordination than most three year olds have. It’s great for your five year old, and possibly even your four year old.

Airplane activities for 6 year old and older:

One of my favorite airplane activities for older kids is to keep a travel journal full of memories and favorites!

17. Get Smarter: Super Fun Travel Activities to Baffle Your Brain (7+)

Activity books make fantastic airplane activities for kids because they are so compact and each page is essentially a new thing to do!

More of a travel-themed book, this one is great for slightly older kids! It’s packed with unique brain teasers, drawing prompts, road games, and more! Lots of the games in this book are collaborative and can be done with siblings. With over 80 pages, it contains many many hours of activities.

18. Jixels :

While we never managed to do this while traveling, we’ve been working on Jixels on the weekend and I know it would make a fantastic travel activity!

Jixels is a new concept in pixel art. Use small, solid-colored puzzle shaped pieces (that are all the same, so you only need to find the right color) to create either the art template in the kit, or your own art.

The pieces interlock and don’t need ironing. They hold together quite well, making them something you can easily create on your airplane tray. You can then fold your started artwork into the paper pattern as a “folder” and store it in the box that it came in.

Repack it in a Ziploc bag before you go so that you can find the pieces you need without spreading out, since they’re small.

19. Drawing books :

I picked up all sorts of drawing books for M before our trip, once again having in mind that each page is another activity!

20. Mini tumbling blocks game :

I grabbed these on a whim, thinking that the kids can decorate or color them, but in the end they made a great travel game for spare time while we were at our destination. They double as a building toy too!

21. Tanagram puzzles :

M loved this Tanagram puzzle I picked up for him! On the way back, he also played with this Tetromino puzzle .

Airplane activities for 8 year old and older:

22. Rubiks Cube :

The classic puzzle cube is a single piece game/puzzle that can entertain for hours! Start with a 2×2 cube for beginners, or up your ante with whichever level you wish.

23. Playing cards and other compact games :

Card games are perfect for the road. We brought a few different types for family game night, but a classic set of cards is perfect for a mid-flight game of War with Daddy.

24. Tablet loaded with age-appropriate shows and games + headphones :

For your slightly older kid, you might prefer a grown-up tablet that has games such as Minecraft, and other games that can be played offline. Download shows and movies you don’t mind your child watching, for at the airport, just in case your child’s screen doesn’t work (or doesn’t interest them), for at your destination. It can be a true sanity-saver!

What airplane activities for kids do you recommend for the different age groups? Comment below to share!

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Going Places and Travel Activities and Games

Oh! All the Places I Want to Go!  Zoom into this theme to discover travel. Your preschool and kindergarten children are given many opportunities to learn about adventuring to new places via the high seas, railroad tracks, on wheels, and the friendly skies. They participate in hands-on activities that immerse them in the world of going somewhere. During their journey, children will play games and complete activities to practice their ABCs, numbers, adding and subtracting, dividing words into syllables, and identifying words beginning with tr-. Along the way, they will also read emergent readers, conduct science explorations, and recite entertaining, educational rhymes and songs—all related to travel and transportation. So, purchase a ticket, hop on board, and enjoy the ride.

New preschool and kindergarten resources and activities for June in our KidsSoup Resource Library:

Going places, children will pack their suitcases and learn about how we travel, explore maps, and play, learn, and sing about transportation vehicles (ships, train, cars, buses)..

Book:  Oh! All the Places I Want to Go! (KidsSoup Emergent Reader)

On the Road Pack your snacks or picnic--we're going on a road trip. Children learn about roads, road safety, cars, and wheels through science activities, felt stories, rhymes, songs, and crafts.

C is for Car Vroom, vroom, cars galore. Children will have fun learning the letter c and its hard c sound with letter c for car activities, games, rhymes, and crafts.

On the Train Choo-choo, where are we going? Join us on a fun-filled trip on the railroad where we'll learn about trains, patterns, the /tr/ blend, counting by 10s, and much more.

In the Air Airplanes and air travel are the focus of these activities. Children learn about airplanes and traveling by airplane, craft airplanes, and enjoy the 10 Little Airplanes felt story. Children will have fun learning ordinal numbers and decomposing numbers 1-19.

On the Water Row, row, row your boat and sailboats are the focus of these new activities. Children will discover what sinks or floats, listen to the 5 Little Sailboats felt story, play a fun /sh/ like Ship board game, and of course fold a sailboat. 

View more transportation preschool and kindergarten activities, crafts, and games 

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9 Must-Try Aerial Adventures Around the Globe

Looking to experience the thrill of the sky? Try one of these breathtaking activities to satisfy your thirst for height.

Adventurers have long sought the stomach-dropping sensation of a bungee jump or the excitement of a skydive, but what's next on the horizon for heights-loving daredevils? These nine aerial experiences will test your will and send you to the clouds.

Microlight Flight: Victoria Falls, Zambia and Zimbabwe

This microlight plane —a small, two-person jet run by Batoka Sky in Zambia—is manned by an experienced pilot and seats one passenger in the back. The aerial contraption looks like a flying tricycle with a parachute. It can travel up to 4,500 feet above ground, offering for breathtaking views of the “smoking” Victoria Falls and Zambezi River gorge. Cameras are not allowed during the flight, but there is a wing-mounted digital camera that captures side-angle views.

Bubble Tram: Guangzhou, China

The Canton Tower , which rises high above Guangzhou, China, at 1,959 feet, is home to a stunning indoor observatory and a massive outdoor observation deck, but the real excitement comes when visitors step out a bit farther. The Bubble Tram —a horizontal Ferris wheel set 1,493 feet from the ground—rotates around the tower. Inside one of the 16 spherical cabins, you can take in an unobstructed panoramic view of the city.

1929 Travel Air Biplane: OshKosh, Wisconsin

At the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh Wisconsin, there are more than 40 vintage aircrafts on display. Not only can visitors wander past the planes on land, from May to October guests can take 15-minute flights in an original, restored 1929 Travel Air E-4000 biplane. This particular biplane has an open cockpit, which adds an extra layer of drama to the flight. There’s little need to reserve your flight in advance, so just head to the museum’s Pioneer Airport and get ready to take off from its green, grassy runway.

Take Flight Adventure Course: Kittery, Maine

This adventure course , located in Maine near the New Hampshire border, is home to over 65 challenging aerial elements, including telephone poles to climb, ropes to span, and tires to traverse. With a ticket to the site, you can navigate catwalks, bridges, and wooden platforms. For an extra fee, you can conclude your day of adventure with a cable-assisted free jump off an eight-foot platform.

Mountain Zip Line: Pinkham Notch, New Hampshire

Unlike the standard zip line, where you step through a harness, Wildcat Mountain’s ZipRider was designed for passengers to sit upright in a fabric, chair-like contraption. For a novice, this might be a less daunting way to experience the thrilling activity. Riders travel along cables suspended at heights up to 70 feet on a 12-percent grade. At that incline, the ZipRider can speed down the mountain at up to 45 miles per hour. From the summit of the Wildcat Ski Area to the landing platform at the Main Base Lodge, riders will take in the verdant landscape of the mountain, check out trails through the forest, and spot the Peabody River.

Skyslide: Los Angeles, California

This see-through slide, made from a thick panel of glass and set nearly 1,000 feet above the ground, begins at the 70th floor of the the US Bank Tower in Los Angeles. To start the experience, guests meander through a dark, serpentine hallway of interactive exhibits, finally making their way to a 360-degree observation area flanked by two of OUE Skyspace ’s terraces. After hopping on a mat, you’ll glide 45 feet around the outside of the building and land at its 69th-floor terrace—catching perfect views of the city from start to finish.

Power Free Fall: Banning Mills, Georgia

Designed by German engineers, the High Rescue device used by Historic Banning Mills allows visitors to experience a controlled free fall from 100 feet inside the woody adventure park. Unlike a bungee cord jump, you'll be strapped into a climbing harness and lowered using a self-contained system using DROPE, a polyethylene rope that has twice the amount of tensile strength as a wire rope. To get to the starting platform, you’ll have to take on another adventure—gliding along a zip line above the preserved gorge on Georgia’s Snake Creek.

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Tree Canopy Pedaling: Glen Sutton, Quebec

Biking meets the treetops at the innovative Quebec-based Au Diable Vert . The organization takes visitors through the forest canopy during their VéloVolant experience. The “flying bicycles” travel as quickly or slowly as you can pedal and moves across a high-performance cable, which was installed in the mature maple and hemlock forest by a group of specially trained riggers, climbers, and arborists over six months. You’ll start off close to the ground, but due to the steep pitch of the mountain-side site, you’ll pedal up to 100 feet into the air. The 3,281-foot circuit brings you clear above the Missisquoi River, through forest canopies, and over a panoramic view to Vermont’s Jay Peak.

Soaring With the Warbirds: Madras, Oregon

This trip in the clouds isn’t just about the thrill, it’s a way to fly through history. At the Erickson Aircraft Collection , a museum-like collection of over 20 rare, historical planes in Madras, Oregon, visitors can peek into aviation's past. It's worth the trip to look at the aircrafts from the ground, but the greatest excitement will come from flying in one with a pilot. Sign up for the collection’s “ Soaring With the Warbirds ” experience, and take flight in a one of three World War II planes open to guests. Book a ticket on a PT-17 Stearman, AT-6 Texan, or Douglas DC3 and fly high above Lake Billy Chinook, Mount Jefferson, or Smith Rock during your 20-minute adventure.

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11 Tips to Make Flying With a Toddler Go More Smoothly

Fact-checking standards, latest update:, time your flight plans wisely, book a nonstop flight when you can, read this next, choose your seats carefully, get to the airport early, plan for the security line, think twice before boarding early, consider the flight attendants your allies, pack plenty of toys and snacks to keep your toddler occupied, pack extra supplies in your carry-on, ease ear pain, childproof your bags.

Keep in mind that traveling to and from your destination is a small portion of your trip. Soon enough, you’ll be spending time together as a family making memories, and it’ll all be worth it. 

What to Expect the Second Year , Heidi Murkoff. WhatToExpect.com,  Baby Products You Can Take on a Plane , September 2020. WhatToExpect.com, Should You Bring Your Child’s Car Seat on an Airplane ? August 2021. WhatToExpect.com, What to Pack When Traveling With Baby , November 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Do Babies Need Passports? , October 2021. WhatToExpect.com, Best Travel Toys for Babies , February 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics, Is It Safe for Families to Travel Now? , August 2021. American Academy of Pediatrics,  Flying with Baby: Parent FAQs , November 2019. American Academy of Pediatrics,  Travel Safety Tips , August 2018.  Federal Aviation Administration,  Flying with Children , March 2021. Transportation Security Administration,  Traveling with Children . Up & Away, Safe Medicine Storage for Travel .

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

Level: Pre-intermediate (A2-B1)

Type of English: General English

Tags: travel and leisure transport at the airport making requests and offers Situation based

Publication date: 06/14/2021

Students define key vocabulary related to air travel. They listen to three airport situations and recognise functional language for questions, requests, instructions and announcements. The language is activated in a pair work speaking activity. There is also a short optional extension activity about the final stage of travel - arrival at your destination.

Please note that the audio recordings feature a mix of native and non-native English speakers to reflect what passengers will encounter in real-life.

by Stephanie Hirschman

international_travel_be.mp3

Good functional language lesson. My students were very engaged and lends itself very easily to additional personalization.

The students felt that the language work was long and tedious Q and A

Does this kind of check-in still exist? I always seem to have to use a machine.

Engaging lesson

Leave a Comment

Student worksheet

Teacher lesson plan

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Students define key vocabulary related to air travel. They listen to three airport situations and recognise functional language for questions, requests, instructions and announcements. The language is activated in a pair work speaking activity. There is also a short optional extension activity about the final stage of travel - arrival at your destination. 

by Stephanie Hirschman 

Internationa_air_travel_ae.mp3

COURSE PLANS

This comprehensive course plan covers the full range of language needs – listening, role play, vocabulary development.

Worksheets in English for Life course plan

Type of English: General English Level: Pre-intermediate (A2-B1)

Make your lessons unforgettable

Did you know that your students can review the target language from our worksheets with our Expemo flashcard app? To let your student know, just enter their email address below (multiple emails can be separated with a comma).

16 ideas for screen-free play on a plane

By Jessica Rolph, CEO of Lovevery

As someone who has done a ton of travel with three kids, I know how challenging it can be to keep babies and toddlers entertained on a plane. But in committing to going as tech-free as possible, our family finds that air travel is a chance for intimate family connection—something that is way too rare in our busy lives. 

Here are some screen-free activities for the plane to try with young children—they’ve worked for our family, and I hope they make the next trip with your baby or toddler not just manageable, but fun.  

Dot sticker play

Dot stickers are simple and fun and great for developing fine motor skills. They’re also inexpensive and easy for your toddler to peel off of a sheet or roll. Bring a few sheets of dot stickers , some plain white paper , and a sheet of construction paper for these play ideas: 

Name the dots: Stick the dots on different parts of your toddler’s body and your own. Play “where is your nose, elbow, arm?” 

Dot hide-and-seek: Stick a dot on yourself without your toddler seeing (on an elbow or knee, for example) and encourage them to find it.

Dot sticker collage: Stick dots on a big piece of white paper on the tray table. Have your toddler tear up a piece of construction paper and use the stickers to stick the pieces of torn paper to the white sheet 

Safety note: As always with small objects, supervise your toddler to make sure they don’t put the stickers in their mouth.

Win-win wipes

We know your toddler loves to pull wipes out of a container. Bring a small  travel pack  just for them and get them to put the wipes to additional use by wiping seats, airplane walls, and tray tables.

Little presents

Wrap up some new little toys for your toddler to open that you won’t be devastated to lose. You can wrap them in leftover wrapping paper or newspaper, or in little containers, bags, or small boxes. This is a great way to use up those extra scraps of odd-sized wrapping paper you have lying around if you are anything like me. Unwrapping loosely-wrapped gifts is a great fine motor activity for your toddler, allowing them to practice using both hands at once.

Ideas for inexpensive presents to entertain your baby or toddler on the plane:

Wind-up toys: Toddlers love to hold wind-up toys and stop the motion with their hands (they rarely want to just watch it go, and that’s okay).

Finger puppets: You can sing songs and play games like peek-a-boo with the puppets on your flight.

Feathers: Tickle each other with them, or stick them to paper with the dot stickers.

Sticky note flags

These are fun to stick around the seats and easy to unstick (and eventually reuse) when you are done.

Markers and paper

If you can stand the mess with washable markers, they make a mark more easily and can be more fun to draw with than crayons. If markers get on the tray table or your toddler’s hands, they can use their own travel pack of wipes to clean it off. For toddlers 2 and up, the Anywhere Art Kit (from The Helper Play Kit) is a travel-friendly portable case with bright, chunky tempera sticks for no-mess creativity.

I like to bring some blank sheets of white printer paper to color together. Coloring with your toddler makes it more meaningful and they are more likely to stay engaged longer. Child development specialists call this “shared attention.” 

You can also use one of the dot stickers to stick and display your toddler’s art on the airplane window or the seat in front of you.

Bring a couple of new, lightweight story books for the plane, as well as a couple of favorites to re-read. Introducing fresh books your toddler isn’t familiar with might get them more excited to be read to. And having at least one reliable favorite on hand is a good idea in case they’re not in the mood for something new. 

The Soft Book (from The Charmer Play Kit) and The Silicone Sensory Book (from The Senser Play Kit Book Bundle) are both especially great for traveling with babies, because they’re so light and durable. For toddlers, the interactive cloth book Plant a Seed and Watch It Grow (from The Explorer Play Kit Book Bundle) is a story and a plaything all in one. 

RELATED: Explore the Book Bundles from Lovevery

Portable, multi-purpose playthings

Our family’s favorite Lovevery playthings for travel with toddlers can be easily stashed in a carry-on, and do double (or triple) duty as a game, a puzzle, and inspiration for imaginative play. 

The Montessori Animal Match (from The Companion Play Kit) comes with a packable drawstring bag for travel‚ and can be played with so many ways on the plane. Match the animals to the tiles, make animal sounds together, play hide-and-seek with the animals, or let your toddler simply pull each animal and tile out of the pouch one by one—and stuff them back in.

One of our favorite on-the-go playthings is the Fuzzy Bug Shrub (from The Adventurer Play Kit). Your toddler can practice that peel-and-stick play that’s so irresistible to them, and they can open the container to stuff the fuzzy bugs in and pull them out, which they’ll want to do over and over again. 

Snacks — but more importantly, the snacks container

Snacks in packaging with open-and-close lids (like puffs) are the best kind. You can play so many games with puff containers or small raisin boxes. Some ideas:

Puff peek-a-boo: Hide some puffs in one of your hands and see if your toddler can guess which hand has the puffs.

Counting games: Line the puffs up and count them for your toddler on the tray table.

Here comes the airplane: If you’re up for it, your toddler will love feeding you. 🙃

Light switch and air blower exploration

Have your toddler stand on your lap or lift them up to reach the light switch (not the flight attendant call button 😉) and narrate “light on, light off.” My little guy said the word “light” for the first time while playing with the switches on an airplane and I will never forget it!

You can also twist the blower on and off and talk about how the air is blowing on their face or through their hair.

Lap songs and games 

Sing songs to your toddler while they sit on your lap or lie down across you. Clap, snap, and make the rhythms come alive—fellow passengers may just join in 🎶. Here are lyrics to songs that are great for singing and clapping along.

Ice and plastic cups 

Ask for an extra cup and pour ice from one cup to the other or slide the ice around the tray table. Talk about how the ice is cold and then, when it melts, talk about how it is turning to water. Your toddler can use the napkin to wipe up the water.

Opening and closing the window shades

If you have a window seat, helping your toddler practice opening and closing the window shade with your hand over theirs while saying “open, close” is entertaining.

An excursion to see the flight attendants

Sometimes flight attendants are busy and can’t take the time to engage with your toddler. But often they have a few minutes and will welcome the opportunity for a short visit. 

• You can have your toddler bring their trash to the back of the plane and throw it away in the flight attendant’s trash bag.
• Your toddler can hand the attendant some of their scribble art or some dot stickers as a “gift.” 
• You can go to the back of the plane with your toddler and ask for a cup of ice together. 

Play peek-a-boo

You can play peek-a-boo and if the person behind you is up for it, peeking through the cracks and over the seat is double the fun. The Bright & Light Play Scarf (from The Explorer Play Kit) is a great travel plaything for peek-a-boo.

Opening, folding, and closing the safety pamphlet

In the seat pocket, the safety pamphlet is interesting for your toddler to unfold and refold. 

A lot of the ideas for keeping a toddler busy at a restaurant work great for the plane too. DM me with your favorite tips for traveling with your toddler. I’m always on the lookout for more!

cofounder + CEO @jessicarolph

In This Post

The Charmer Play Kit

The Charmer Play Kit is designed to let your 3 – 4 month old baby explore with their mouth, eyes, and hands as their personality emerges and their social awareness grows.

The Companion Play Kit

The Companion Play Kit is a celebration of the things your child can do, and some things they’re just starting to explore: coloring, matching, comparing, categorizing, stacking, sorting, and more.

The Helper Play Kit

The Helper Play Kit was designed, tested, and perfected so you and your family can explore counting, separating, understanding routines, planning ahead, rhyming, building spatial awareness, and more.

The Explorer Play Kit

The Explorer Play Kit engages your 9-10 month old baby’s senses as they explore object permanence, shape changing, feelings, and basic concepts which help build their coordination and concentration.

Jessica Rolph

Posted in: 16 - 18 Months , Playtime , Travel , Screentime & Technology , Playthings , Play & Activities , Child Development

Keep reading

16 - 18 Months

19 - 21 Months

What you need to know about the ‘word burst’

Eighteen months is a common age for rapid language growth, but it can happen anytime between 15 and 24 months. Research suggests that once a toddler can say 50 words or so, their spoken vocabulary takes off. Discover the best ways to encourage your toddler’s language skills. In this post: When will your toddler’s word … Continued

22 - 24 Months

The power of doing something over and over 🙃

Through repetition, your toddler deepens their understanding of how things work and strengthens their brain architecture. They also develop focus and persistence, two key executive function skills. In this post: Your toddler gains confidence when they successfully complete a task. Simple repetitive play offers rewards When playing with the Carrots and Carrot Lid for the … Continued

How many words should your toddler be able to say?

The average vocabulary at 18 months is about 50 words, but toddlers can say far more or fewer and still be on track.

Printable Airplane Activities and Games

The BE Family Travel packet of Printable Airplane Activities and Games can be used to entertain your children while you travel, especially while flying and in the airport. The Travel Planner will help you and your family prepare for the trip.

These 62 printable pages include various travel-themed games, activities, and more for children aged three plus (and adults will want to join in too).

This Printable Airplane Activity Bundle is an inexpensive way to engage your children in fun activities and help avoid screen time while traveling. These Airplane Activities for Kids are the perfect way to entertain all ages and provide fun and enjoyment during flights and in the airport.

Watch this video to see inside the airplane activity pack.

What’s in the PDF Download of Printable Airplane Activities for Kids?

The 62 pages include a variety of airplane printable coloring pages, air travel activities, and children’s airplane games. Suitable for the whole family, this is fun for kids and adults.

What’s included in the Airplane Activity Bundle in Part 1:

• Part 1 of the airplane travel-themed activity pack includes a Travel Log, Travel Journal, and an Airport Scavenger Hunt.
• This printable download includes popular children’s games such as Pictionary, a Silhouette Guessing Game, counting games, and Spot the Difference.
• Activity pages include mazes, dot-to-dot, drawing, coloring, activity sheets, and more.
• It includes an alphabet game, word searches, word scrambles, word puzzles, and Scattergories.
• An Answer Page is also included.

What’s in Part 2:

• Part 2 has Group or Partner Games for your family travels and flights, including the hilarious game of Would You Rather?
• And Airport Bingo with six unique boards and a complete set of 45 calling cards that you can print and use to play bingo.

What’s in Part 3:

• Part 3 is a Travel Planner for Flying and includes a calendar to count down the days until your trip.
• There are Flight Information and Travel Information pages to organize all your important travel details, as well as a To-Do List to record all the things to do before your trip.
• There are multiple packing lists for flying with children, with checklists to help you remember everything you’ll need to pack for carry-on and checked bags.
• An Airplane Snacks list with kid-friendly travel snacks, a While We’re Away page for house-sitter and pet care information, and a Notes page.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Printable Airplane Activities and Games for Kids.

Airplane Activities For Preschoolers and Kids

These digital PDF worksheets are customizable by adding text to the pages; you cannot change the page designs or layout. You can handwrite information on the printable worksheets.

Consider printing the pages, hole punching, or storing them in a binder with sheet protectors to organize your travel activities easily.

Airplane Activity Bundle | Air Travel Activity Pack for Kids | Airplane Activities for Kids | Kid’s Airplane Games | Airplane Family Travel Activity Kit | Airport Scavenger Hunt | Plane Trip Activity Pack | Airplane Adventure Travel Activity | Airplane Activities for Preschoolers | Airplane Activities for Kids | Airplane Activities for Toddler | Airplane Activity for Preschool | Airplane Activity Book | Airplane Activity Book Printable | Airplane Activity Sheets | Airplane Art Activities for Preschoolers | Airplane Activity Packs | Airplane Activities for 10-year-old | Air Travel Activity | Printable Airplane Activities for Preschooler | Children’s Airplane Games | Air Travel Activities for Preschoolers | Printable Airplane Activities for Kids | Airport Scavenger Hunt Printable | Printable Airplane Activities | Airplane Printables | Airplane Printable Coloring Pages | Printable Games for Family | Zoom Party | Icebreaker | Instant Download l PDF l Family Vacation l Flying with Children.

www.befamilytravel.com

• B1-B2 vocabulary

Do the exercises to improve your vocabulary for air travel.

Have you travelled by air? What is the longest flight you have taken?

Language level

Actually, the first time I boarded on a plane was last year, I had a great and fun experience. When the aircraft started to leave the ground, I could feel a faint and awkward sensation on my whole body. The flight took approximately 1 hour long to arrive at my destiny. 

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I usually travel by air as it is fast and convenient way to travel. Despite the fact, that flights can transfer you in almost any place in a World, my longest flight was just three hours, from Hungary to the United Kingdom. I like airports, especially after check-in desk, when you can left you baggage and enjoy both duty-free and meal in restaurants. The parts with showing boarding card at the gate and the flight itself with its overhead lockers and seat belts are not my favourite parts of the air travel, but water makes it less stressful

I can't open the top part of https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/vocabulary/b1-b2-vocabulary/air-travel. It does not display in Chrome on some computers with Windows 11 and Chrome, nor in Edge please help me

Hello DavidLeonSosa,

I'm afraid there is a technical issue, which we are working to fix as soon as possible. 

In the meantime, I would recommend trying to view the page in an Incognito or InPrivate window. This worked for me yesterday, though it's not working now. It might allow you to see the main exercise as well as Task 2.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience!

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

I have not traveled by air, but I'd like to. I would like to fly to see a soccer world cup.

This topic is insane, it's helpful and help me a lot

A few difficult

I travel many time by air.Usually I travel with hand baggage and put there on overhead locker.I adore feeling when plane take off and lands.The most longer flight was 4 hours.

Great topic many thanks

I do travel by air sometimes. The longest flight I took was from Iraq Baghdad to Iran Mashhad. It was more than three hours flight. Unfortunately we sot at the end of the plane and the seats were very uncomfortable. The meal was so small.

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Fun with Mama

Toddler and preschool activities

Written by Nadia T • Feb 7, 2024 • 2 Comments

Travel Adventure Airplane Activity Book For Kids

With summer having recently begun I am sure many of you will be flying with kids. This printable airplane travel activity book for kids is filled with coloring pages, journal pages, tracing, matching, patterning, and other fun ideas to keep your kids happy while onboard a flight. From the moment kids enter the airport they will begin a scavenger hunt and then move on to activity pages while on the airplane.

The Airplane Travel Activity Book:

Please note that affiliate links may be used in this post.

You guys know how often we travel internationally with our kids. With family living in two different continents we are often taking flights for as long as 22 hours at a time with children. I am always looking for travel activities. I used this book aboard our most recent travel experience and my 3 year old as well as 7 year old enjoyed the activities.

You can also choose which pages you print out according to your child’s ages. If you have an older child then print out more of the journal pages. For my 3 year old I didn’t even include the journal pages.

Here is a sneak peak of some of the activities in the free printable airplane activity book.

I printed out all the pages and then bound them. You can find my how to bind worksheets tutorial here.

The scavenger hunt is also included:

We love this Travel DVD player for some airplane downtime.

This adorable pencil case is an activity in itself. Children can unzip it all the way out and then back again. It’s really cool.

Reader Favorites:

• Neck Pillow for children
• Fire Kids Edition Tablet
• This inflatable footrest for children enables children to sleep flat on an airplane.
• If you have an older child, check out this cool tiny booster seat for travel.
• This carseat travel accessory turns your hand luggage into a stroller of sorts.
• This lightweight stroller fits into the airplane overhead compartment. Now you’ll never have to be away from your stroller.

WHERE TO GET THE ACTIVITY PACK

Get the airplane activities pack here.

Looking for an airplane activity freebie? Then check out the Airport Scavenger Hunt For Kids .

If you are looking for more activity ideas check out my airplane travel activities to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy .

If you have a baby or toddler and want to see what I pack into my carry on bag then check out my travel essentials with children and babies post.

This is how I bring the book on the airplane.

I include our old markers and twistable crayons just in case they get lost.

Nadia is a mom of 4, with a passion for making childhood education fun through play. She encourages parents to spend quality time with their kids through fun kids activities and enjoys art, traveling, and doing activities with her children.

View all posts from this author

You May Also Enjoy These Posts:

Get easy and instant access to ALL of our printable activities and resources by joining the Fun With Mama printables club.

Get all the details and join here.

Reader Interactions

June 23, 2017 at 7:33 am

These are such a clever idea. My 3 year old would absolutely love the check off list so I’m definitely keeping it saved for the next time we travel. #littlemakes

October 3, 2017 at 4:50 am

Is your travel adventure book still a free download? I’m having difficulty finding it if so! We are traveling for the 1st time with a 6 & 3 year old & this looks really fun for them!

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