Top ways to keep your kids entertained on a flight
Janine Eberle | August 2018
iStock
Electronic devices, non-screen activities and good old-fashioned games – here are some top tips for getting your family holiday off to a fun start.
Congratulations – you made it! Holiday booked, bags packed, and now you’re ready to hit the airport and start the adventure. One last thing: if you’re on a long-haul flight, you’ll need to put some thought into how you’ll keep the kids amused for the duration.
Thankfully, once your kids are a little older it’s much easier to keep them entertained, so the flight can be time for you all to relax and settle into your holiday together. (If you’re flying with babies or toddlers, see our article on having a happy flight with them.)
What to consider when you book
If you’ve already booked your tickets, it’s not too late to add extras to your booking to increase your family’s enjoyment levels. Would a little someone really love a window seat? Do you have enough devices to go around, or should you book some in-flight entertainment? Would a kid’s meal or activity pack raise the fun levels? (Jetstar’s activity packs include a puzzle, colouring set and card games.) Check Manage booking to see what’s available on your flight and get yourself organised, and remember that when you add extras in advance you’ll save money.
iStock
Devices – the flying parent’s best friend
If there was ever a moment to relax your screen-time rules, this is it. Tablets and smartphones are a godsend for making those hours fly by. Make sure they’re charged full of goodies – apps, games, films, etc – download everything you think you’ll need from your streaming service of choice, for offline viewing and listening. If your kids have a favourite movie they need to see for the 40th time, or a series they’ve been waiting to binge-watch, now is the time to break it out.
iStock
Non-screen-based amusements
While your kids may be happy to spend the entire flight glued to their screens, variety is the best boredom-killer. Depending on your kids’ ages and interests, there are plenty of offline activities perfect for inflight amusement. If your pre-teen is a reader, pack the latest instalment of their favourite series or must-read new release. Activity or sticker books can keep younger kids amused for hours, and arty kids can get stuck into a craft pack or a set of felt tips and blank paper to draw on. For the littlies, Play Doh is a perennial favourite that’s plane-friendly (just bring some wet wipes to tidy up afterwards).
Fun and games for all the family
Before there were screens, people with time to kill and limited resources played games. Actual games, with each other. ‘I Spy’ might work for younger kids (many parents recommend using the duty free catalogue as material); for tweens and teens ‘Celebrity Heads’ (or ‘Who Am I?’) works a treat as an in-flight game and it’s super fun to boot – all you need is some Post-It notes and a pen.
Packing some snacks can help keep the kids free from an attack of the ‘I’m bored!’s. You know what’s on their high-snack-value list, but think small, non-messy and not too sugar-intensive (no one needs a sugar rush on a long-haul flight).
iStock
In-flight entertainment strategies
Get the kids to take responsibility for their own entertainment and pack their goodies in their own carry-on luggage – but make sure apps are downloaded, devices are fully charged and nothing is left behind. Apart from that, it’s good to retain an element of surprise: have a couple of treats – a sticker book, a fun activity – packed away to pull out when boredom levels peak. For younger kids, help them regulate their fun by telling them they only get one new activity each 30 minutes or each hour (depending on how long the flight is).
