8yr old boy on 4 hr flight -Any Ideas to keep him happy?

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Janet H

let him play with a game-boy or some type of game...... you might give him a disposable camera and tell him he cna take pictures for mom and dad of the clouds or something.....i dunno thats what my mom did for me

Bad Kitty!

My son is flying to Puerto Rico next week, so I can sympathize! I let him pack his carry-on, and we go on a shopping trip to pick out things he wants to take. He likes maze books, word search books, Sudoku, and takes a regular book to read. He also packs markers and colored pencils, and snacks, too.

Hand-held video games are a great idea, but Jon decided not to take his DS, since he doesn't want to accidentally lose it. There is an inexpensive hand-held game system that you can buy -- I can't remember what it's called ("video-something") that comes with 150 games already in it ... I think we'll include a search for that in our trip. I'll let you know what it's called when I find one!

Disney Dreamer

If you can get your hands on one, a portable DVD player and some of his favorite movies or videos.

Eddie c

Seat him next to the window he will love tht not unless he is scared.

Small toys

For children under 1 year old, toys that seem to work well are colorful and geometric toys that are familiar toys from home. Having toys from home can help comfort them as well as provide a tool for play

When a child gets to be 1 year old and older, you will have to put more effort into toy selection for flights. You should allow the child to bring a favorite toy from home so long as it is small and appropriate for play on a plane. Beyond that one toy, go shopping to purchase some new toys. Just pick out several new small toys that you think will be of interest to your child. Do not make your child aware of these toys. Just pack them in your carry-on for use during your flight.

Books

In general, children love colorful books. Pack several small picture books that you can pull out and read to your child or allow your child to sit and look at independently. Like with toys, do not pack books from home that your child has already read and seen before. Go shopping for some new books. New books will capture interest and retain it longer.

Art Activities

These activities include crayons and blank paper, coloring books, markers, magnetic drawing pads, etc. Depending on your child, you may find that these items are most effective for keeping your child occupied during waking hours on a flight. They encourage use of imagination and creativity. Such activities also give you a break from entertaining your child since they are independent activities. As a parent, art activities also give you an opportunity to instill a sense of accomplishment when you compliment their work, which will positively enforce the activity and result in the child wanting to spend more time drawing or coloring. As with books and toys, purchasing new art supplies or coloring books and surprising your child with them throughout the flight works best.

Interactive Learning Toys

There are many interactive learning toys on the market today that work well for a child sitting on a plane. These are toys such as the LeapPad Learning System. If your child is old enough to enjoy such devices, consider them as an option but be careful about bringing items that take up too much space in your carry-on.

Portable DVD Players

Do not count on your children getting video entertainment from movies shown by your airline. Yes, many flights do have movies available. However, flights that have one movie rarely show a movie that is appropriate for children 4 years old or younger. Long flights that have many movie channels available for personal selection may have 1 appropriate movie if anyâ€¦and it may only be shown at certain times, which may not coincide with times when you get in a jam and could really use the relief of a video babysitter. Small portable DVD players are becoming affordable for many families to own. If you bring your own DVD player and childrenâ€™s DVDs then you will have full control over content and timing of video entertainment for your child. A nice alternative might be to play DVDs on your laptop if you are traveling on business and carrying a laptop that has a DVD drive.

As suggested above, purchase new toys, books, art supplies, coloring books, or other items. Such items can become excellent rewards for good behavior and tools for redirecting behavior if your child gets bored during the trip. They make much better rewards than sweets, which sometimes work to control behavior in the short term but work against you in the longer term since sugar can have a powerfully negative effect on child behavior.

Just be sure that you ration your entertainment resources throughout the journey. If you pull everything out of your bag of tricks right after takeoff, you will have given up valuable tools for controlling behavior and keeping your child busy. Instead, bring out new items gradually throughout the flight and even think about ways to use new toys, books, activities or games as rewards for good behavior. You and everyone around you will be better off overall if you can maintain the momentum of spending your time and energy focusing on using positive tactics to achieve positive results.

Play Games

Take time to play some games with your child. Interacting with your child in a fun way can provide them with the close parental attention that children sometimes desperately desire. Every parent knows that if a child wants attention he or she is going to find a way to get it one way or another. Help make it a positive experience by taking charge of meeting that need. For babies, play peek-a-boo, tickle toes, bellybuttons, ribs. Give high-5â€™s, provide sensory stimulation by lifting and lowering your baby in the air. Play whatever little games get you cute smiles from your baby. When a child gets older, play games like â€œI Spy With My Little Eyeâ€ or â€œIâ€™m Thinking of Somethingâ€¦â€ to engage the imagination of your child. Think about this strategy and the games you will play in advance so you will be prepared to kick a game into gear when you sense the need to redirect behavior in a positive way.

Borrow from Those Around You!

You may have hit the jackpot if there is another family seated next to you with small children around the same age as yours. If you are so lucky then you will have the opportunity to make friends and leverage your newfound relationship to make everyoneâ€™s flight go smoother. The opportunity to share toys and books with the other family is a big plus. This can increase the amount of resources that you have at your disposal to keep your child occupied and behaving. You also have the benefit of letting the children interact and play together. As a bonus each family can provide the other with support by watching after all the children if a parent sleeps or must go to the bathroom.

Airline Provided Activity Kits

Some airlines have the foresight to offer small children activity kits on long flights. These kits commonly contain art supplies and some small games or toys. A flight attendant may provide you with an activity kit for your child shortly after flight. If your airline provides such kits, you will have a few more activities for your child and you will have the comfort of knowing that you are using an airline that recognizes the extra challenges that you face as a parent with children on the plane. You may later find that the flight attendants make an extra effort to help you out. Their help could include kind little gestures like coming by and striking up a conversation with a 1 year old if he or she begins to get bored or cries. Intuitive flight attendants can sometimes do a lot to help parents during those times when just a small amount of support can make a huge impact.

Take Walks

Larger plans offer lots of aisle space for toddlers to walk around and look at the plane and other passengers. This is a popular sport for small kids on big planes. It is common for them to want to walk around and look at everything. If a child is behaving well and flirting with the other passengers as he or she walks with you in the aisles, you will likely see the child get many smiles and pats from other passengers. If your child takes special interest in a passenger and starts to baby talk to the passenger or engages the other passenger in play, it is a good idea to ask the passenger if your child is a bother. Not all people like to play with kids. However, most seem to enjoy the few minutes of distraction that playing with a happy toddler can bring.

angelrose0105

portable dvd player with headphones, ps3 ( or other hand held game) plenty of snacks he will be happy enough. Ask if he can go into the cockpit ( my daughter loved it though mind only when the plane facing away from the sun , makes them ill otherwise.)
Hope he has a great journey bless the wee traveller =D

TTerrell

give him a small carry on bag and let him fill it with his own things to keep him busy. take him to the nearest dollar store and help him find things that will interest him to throw in the bag. let him choose what he wants to do with your guidance to help him think through his choices.

Sabrina s

video games
DVD's
movies again
drawing
sleeping
music
a friend
art

hope it helps

stephanie

pack snacks, maybe a little portable game, a puzzle, a coloring book...??
he can always watch the onflight movie

GoaliexKidd93

mmm, well i suggest bring him toys, maybe some of his favorite books, maybe a picture of you guys so he can look when hes upset, and im sure the airline might have a video playing [if they have t.vs]

Good luck!

~

That'sINTENSE!

books? Magazines? sketch pad? compact travel games? cards?

Jedi79

You could make sure he has entertainment and snack options with him.

Snacks--chips, jerky, candy, etc.. And the must have gum.

As for entertainment it depends on his likes.. If he likes reading etc, maybe a few comics and magazines. Or if he's a gamer buy him a sony psp with a few games that's always time-occuping. Or even a portable dvd player with a few dvd's and cd's for listening.

And possibly a favorite easy-to-travel toy or 2, or some hot wheels. Hot wheels are based since you can carry multiple and not be burdened.

Cait

First of all, that benedryl answer was retarded. Don't listen.
Anyhow, my mom actually bought me a little duffel bag with my name on it, and filled it with candy, coloring books and games like that. When I was a kid they had those little hand held water games where you try to get the little hoops on the little poles....lol kind of an 80's thing I don't know if they still have them. But if you go to a drug store, they usually have lots of little toys like that. lol the thing to remember is little boys have a short attention span, so make sure you pack him more than one activity lol. Also, promise him a treat for being good on the flight, just to encourage good behavior. And if you go with a bag of activities like my mom did, you may wanna take it an extra step further and pack something healthy for him too, if you can still take food on planes that is. Also maybe put a few notes in the coloring books or whatever you send with him, even just in his pockets. Have the notes say stuff that he'll like to hear and stuff that you don't wanna have him leave without saying. "See you soon, love you! _Mom" or "Be good and have lots of fun! I can't wait to hear all the stuff you got to do!!" or even some little jokes or riddles for him to solve. Flying alone when you're so young is pretty scary, and the flight attendents are great at making you feel better, but nothing helps more than a reminder that you're safe from the parent you always can trust. I hope this helps, just don't be afraid to spoil him a little for the trip, it can be scary for both the parents and the child. Best of luck!!!

ps. That guy who suggested someone call cps is a jerk don't listen to that. It's great that you're worried about you're kid on a flight, and it's sweet to want to keep him as comfortable as possible while he's away from home.

astutewoman

paper and markers (washable ones)... and snacks...

Michelle S

If your son has a handheld game (Gameboy, Nintendo DS, etc.) I would pack that along with plenty of games. You could also get some travel sized one person games. Pack him a pad of paper and pencils, pens, marker, colored pencils, or crayons. You could also pack him a portable CD player with headphones. If you have a portable DVD player you could pack that too. Hope this helps.

Dragonskeeper

Don't worry he will be able to watch movies and just looking around while being high in the sky is good for about 1 hour in it self. But if you like get him a couple of his favorite comic books and or an activities book that should do the trick.
(unfortunately with the way things are nowadays I don't think a hand held video game is an option)

neiner

little handheld video games?
like psp?
nintendo ds?

Susan B

well hopefully they will have a movie playing which could help him pass some time. he would need a pillow and blanket from home because the ones on the plains are little and wont remind him of home as much. maybe his game boy or what ever electronic thing he has also toy cars or crayons and paper.

WRRRRRR

Get a couple of movies and some video games. A nice book may help...other than that time it so he is sleeping.

jonl

Nintendo DS

LiveTheLife YouLove áƒ¦

Does he love games ? If so maybe a GameBoy
sorry..out of ideas lol
Good luck

Degrassigurl

give him a laptop.

CrAsH OVeRiDE

Buy him hand held games like psp, bame boy etc

bobalo9

Ask to pay for the movie in advance.

Grub

Give him Benedryl

aintlifegrand

To be honest with you the flight attendants totally entertain kids and give them an activity package.

job.edwards124

give him some "Xanax." just joking. if he's into video games send him with a PSP or nintendo DS. send him with a portable DVD player. if you have a 8 year old boy, then I'm pretty sure you don't need help with figuring this out, and if you do then you need personal help, and someone should call cps on you because your obviously neglecting the boy..

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