Fun and Educational Games for Long Flights with Kids In 2024

Taking a long flight with kids can be challenging. The confined space, lack of ability to run around, and potential for boredom can make even short flights feel endless. However, with a little planning and creativity, you can make your next long haul flight with children not only bearable, but actually fun. In this article we talk about Fun and Educational Games for Long Flights with Kids In 2024.

Pack a Customized Activity Pack

One of the best things you can do is create a special pack of brand new toys, activities, books and snacks specifically for the flight. Wrap each item individually so your child has something exciting to unwrap every 30 minutes or hour during the flight. You can match activities to your child’s age and interests.

Here are some ideas:

Preschoolers

• Sticker books
• Lacing cards
• Magnetic travel games like mini tic-tac-toe
• Snap circuits or building toys
• Mini etch-a-sketch or magna doodle
• Puppet finger toys to play make-believe
• Board books with textures to touch on each page
• Snacks like yogurt raisins, crackers and squeezable pouches

Elementary School Kids

• Mad libs books
• Travel bingo
• Mini dry erase board and markers
• Deck of cards
• Travel checkers or chess
• Handheld mazes and word search
• Wikki Stix
• Audio books and headphones
• Puzzle books like word finds and Sudoku
• Coloring and activity books

Tweens and Teens

• Portable DVD player and movies
• Digital tablet loaded with games, ebooks and movies
• Travel journal with cool pens
• Card games like Uno, Phase 10, Slam
• Mad libs
• Crossword puzzles
• Sudoku, word finds and logic puzzles
• Origami paper and instructions
• Podcasts and headphones
• Snacks like trail mix, nuts, beef jerky

Plan Hands-On Activities

While screens can be helpful for distraction, too much technology time can cause restlessness. Balance digital entertainment with off-screen activities that encourage creativity and movement.

Here are some easy ideas:

• Play with pipe cleaners by shaping them into letters, animals or objects. Make a pipe cleaner family!
• Bring a magnetic fishing game. Attach paper clips or small magnets to cardboard fish and go fishing with a magnetic fishing pole.
• Play with stickers, washi tape and sticky pads. See what unique crafts and designs kids can make by sticking materials together in creative ways.
• Finger knit using short pieces of yarn. This helps develop fine motor skills.
• Play “I Spy” for different things you see on the plane like types of shoes people are wearing, color of clothes, objects, logos, etc. You can tailor the categories to your child’s age.
• Invent secret codes and write coded messages to decode.
• Tell stories by taking turns adding to them. See how silly and creative you can get!
• Make puppets out of socks, paper bags or craft supplies. Put on puppet shows by creating characters, dialogue and stories.

Get Moving

Wiggles and restlessness are inevitable on long flights. Encourage kids to move and be active while seated as much as possible:

• Play “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”
• Do stretches like toe touches, arm circles and leg lifts
• Wiggle dance parties to music
• Chair yoga poses
• Isometric exercises like pushing hands together or against the seatback
• Scavenger hunts to identify items around the plane
• Imaginary trips around the plane to use various muscles

The possibilities are endless when you tap into your creativity. The key is planning ahead, bringing engaging activities, and sprinkling in movement breaks. This allows kids stay occupied, while giving their minds and bodies a chance to take a break from screens. Before you know it, you’ll be landing for the next exciting leg of your adventure. I sincerely hope you find this “Fun and Educational Games for Long Flights with Kids In 2024” article helpful.