Flying with children: Tips for keeping kids happy on board

So, here are a few tips that will help streamline your air travel and keep your kids, you, and everyone around in a better mood. 

Nonstop flights are often preferable because there’s only one ear-popping descent to worry about. Young children can have a hard time handling the uncomfortable pressure changes of landing. Also, with nonstop flights you avoid the hassle of lugging everything and everyone to a connecting flight. On the other hand, depending on the length of your flight and the temperament of your child, you may want to schedule a layover. Some parents find that splitting international or long domestic flights into two legs is helpful because it lets their children stretch their legs and enjoy a brief change of scenery.

For a three-hour-long, journey you need around ten activities to keep young kids entertained (as the first and last 15 minutes you can occupy them by looking out the window for take-off and landing). A favourite story book, drawing and snacks are all good activities to keep them entertained. It’s unlikely you will need all ten (especially if you manage to get them to sleep) but better to have too many than too few.

Wrap up small toys that you can present to your child as a reward for being good every half hour or so. These don’t have to be expensive and can even be your child’s old forgotten about toys. Small soft animals are ideal, as are little wind-up toys that can travel across the fold down table – although there is always the possibility that they may end up driving into nearby passengers or a passing steward. A good idea is to wrap up your various activities as presents, like snacks or stickers. 

Before you board, download some kids’ games or kid-friendly apps on your smartphone or tablet. Some good ones include Bubbles (where you simply have to pop bubbles with your finger, an endlessly fascinating pastime for toddlers), Toddler Cars (animations of all sorts of vehicles, complete with noises — make sure to bring headphones) and Peppa Pig Happy Mrs Chicken (anything starring the pink one will inspire awe).