Purchase a small set of playing cards which can be used on an airplane's tray table -- standard size cards are too large. Card games can be played with up to three people. Some easy airplane games are Go-Fish, Rummy and Old Maid. If your child has a favorite card game, it's sure to occupy time.
Almost every classic board game--checkers, chess, backgammon and Connect Four--is available in a handy travel version. The travel version uses magnets to keep the pieces on the board. Travel games are available at stores like Walmart or Target, or can be ordered from the Internet.
Silent, light, entertaining, and fits perfectly on a tray table. Coloring books are great for kids on airplanes. Either purchase an airplane related coloring book, or download and print one from the Internet. Bring along some blank paper for your child to draw an airplane which can be given to the hostess or the pilot. Blank paper also works well for playing games like hangman, tick-tac-toe and doodle wars. Another great game is to have your child draw a map of the flight. Help them fill in states, countries and cities between the destinations.
A kid can board a plane, sit in his seat, fly across the country and arrive without ever taking his eyes off his favorite hand-held game. The most important thing to remember is battery life. Allow your kid to take his hand-held video game system and a few games on the airplane. An iPod with music and stories can also keep him entertained. Bring extra batteries to last throughout the trip.
A quiet child for an entire flight is an unrealistic expectation. You need to channel your kid's talkativeness into a positive experience. The old standbys, I Spy and 20 Questions, work particularly well on airplanes. Counting games work well with children on airplanes. Have them count how many men and women are on the plane or how many people are wearing headphones. Keep the kids busy looking out the window by asking them where they are. This can be a specific city or just geography like the Gulf of Mexico or desert.
Some airlines, especially on long-haul flights, will provide a kids' activity kit. This usually includes art activities and a small toy. But don't rely on this kit to keep your kids busy for long flights. Also many airplanes have in-seat entertainment systems which have movies, television and games. Be sure to pick the movies your children watches because some are not suitable for young children.
