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Safety first: Always supervise little ones, and skip small parts for kids who still put things in their mouths. Please read our play safety notes before you start.
Key takeaways
- Pack about one new activity per flight hour, plus two favorites, in the order you'll use them.
- Window and sticky toys are made for takeoff and landing, when the tray table is up.
- Most toddlers on a plane are under 3: skip small parts, loose magnets and button batteries, and use jumbo pom-poms only.
- Save one unopened activity for gate delays, and keep a tablet as a backup, not plan A.
In this post34 sections
- Before You Fly: The Carry-On Rules (One New Thing Per Flight Hour, the Tray-Table Test, the Low-Mess Test)
- Airplane Activities for Toddlers 12 to 18 Months
- 1. Lift-the-flap board book
- 2. Wipes-box scarf pull
- 3. Nesting stacking cups
- 4. Soft fabric busy book
- 5. Soft silicone building blocks
- Airplane Activities for 2 Year Olds
- 6. Buckle busy toy
- 7. Magnetic drawing board with an attached pen
- 8. Felt board story set
- 9. Silicone pop-it fidget
- Airplane Activities for 3 Year Olds
- 10. Mini animal figures in a travel tin
- 11. Lacing cards
- 12. Wax craft sticks
- 13. Look-and-find book
- Low-Mess Airplane Activities (Water-Reveal Pads, Mess-Free Markers, Reusable Stickers)
- 14. Water-reveal coloring pad
- 15. Mess-free marker set
- 16. Reusable sticker scene book
- Window and Tray-Table Toys for Takeoff and Landing (Suction Spinners, Sticky Notes, Painter's Tape)
- 17. Suction spinner toys
- 18. Painter's tape and sticky notes
- Toddler Airplane Activities for Long Flights: A Rotation Plan for 3, 6 and 10 Hours
- DIY and Dollar Store Airplane Activities for Toddlers (Surprise Bags, Pom-Pom Drop, Pipe Cleaner Shaker)
- 19. Wrapped surprise bags
- 20. Pom-pom drop bottle
- 21. Pipe cleaner shaker
- Snack Activities That Double as Entertainment
- Toddler Headphones and the Screen Question (When to Use Them, When to Save Them)
- Holiday Travel Extras: Gate Delays, Layovers and Day One at Grandma's
- Choking, Magnets, Supervision and Airline Rules: What Not to Pack
- FAQ
Before You Fly: The Carry-On Rules (One New Thing Per Flight Hour, the Tray-Table Test, the Low-Mess Test)
You don't need 40 toys for a flight. A good plan is one new activity for every hour in the air, plus two old favorites, packed in the order you'll use them. For a 3-hour flight, that's about five things.
Every activity here passed two checks. The tray-table test: it fits on a seat-back tray or a lap without falling off. The low-mess test: no paint, no loose glitter, no crumbs you'll be picking out of the seat cushion for an hour.
Each idea lists ages, prep time, mess level, noise level and a safety note. Small parts are marked for under-3s, because most toddlers on a plane are exactly that age.
Airplane Activities for Toddlers 12 to 18 Months
At this age, the best airplane activities for toddlers are things to open, pull, stack and look at. Keep everything big, soft and free of small parts, because everything goes in their mouth.
1Lift-the-flap board book
A new lift-the-flap book is a surprise on every page. Read it once, then let them flip the flaps on their own while you hold the book steady.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes, on a lap.
Supplies: one or two new board books.
- Safety: board books are a safe choice for this age. Check that flaps are thick board, not thin paper they can tear off and mouth.
Small, quiet and new every page.
2Wipes-box scarf pull
Stuff a few thin play scarves or baby washcloths into an empty wipes box. Your baby pulls them out one by one, then you stuff them back in. It's a repeat game they'll play again and again.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: an empty wipes box, 3 or 4 thin scarves or washcloths.
- Safety: use short scarves only, play while you're holding them, and put the scarves away when your baby sleeps.
3Nesting stacking cups
A set of nesting cups stacks into a tower, nests into a single cup, and turns into a peekaboo game. It packs small, since the set nests together.
Ages: 12 months and up.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low (soft plastic). Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a set of plastic nesting cups.
- Safety: pick a set with no small removable parts, and check for cracks before packing.
Stacks, nests and packs flat into one cup.
4Soft fabric busy book
A quiet book with zips, buttons, snaps, peekaboo flaps and crinkle pages. Each page is a small new job for little hands.
Ages: 12 months and up (simple pages), 2 and up (buttons and snaps).
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes, on a lap.
Supplies: one fabric busy book.
- Safety: check that every button and snap is sewn on tight before you fly. Loose buttons are a choking hazard for under 3s, so this one stays supervised.
Many small jobs in one soft book.
5Soft silicone building blocks
Squishy silicone blocks that press together. They're easy to grip and soft to hold.
Ages: 12 months and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a small set of soft silicone blocks.
- Safety: check the label for age and size. Count them out and back in so none roll under the seat for the next family to find.
Easy to grip and soft to hold.
Airplane Activities for 2 Year Olds
Two year olds want to do things themselves. These activities give them a real job, like buckling, drawing or popping, without needing much room.
6Buckle busy toy
A soft toy or pillow with different buckles and clips to open and close. Two year olds work hard at it, and a new one can last a good stretch of a flight.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low (buckles click). Fits a tray table? yes, on a lap.
Supplies: one buckle toy.
- Safety: check that straps are short and stitching is tight. Keep it supervised.
Real buckles to work on, which two year olds love.
7Magnetic drawing board with an attached pen
A doodle board that wipes clean with a slider. The pen is tied on, so it can't roll under the seat in front.
Ages: 18 months to 2 and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: one magnetic drawing board.
- Safety: the magnet beads stay sealed inside. Check the frame for cracks before packing and retire a cracked board.
The pen is tied on, so nothing falls under the seat.
8Felt board story set
A small felt board in a folder with big felt shapes: a house, a tree, a sun, animals. Toddlers stick them on and pull them off while you tell a story.
Ages: 2 and up.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a felt story board or a DIY version in a file folder.
- Safety: choose big pieces only for under 3s, and count them out and back in.
9Silicone pop-it fidget
Pushing the bubbles in and out is oddly satisfying, and it needs very little room. Older toddlers can count the pops with you.
Ages: 2 and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: one pop-it fidget.
- Safety: pick one solid silicone piece with no small attached parts, and retire it if it tears.
Washable and easy to pack.
Airplane Activities for 3 Year Olds
Three year olds can follow a simple game and play for longer. They're also ready for a few toys with smaller pieces, as long as a younger sibling isn't sitting with them.
10Mini animal figures in a travel tin
Pack six to eight small animal figures in a tin or snack box. Make a farm on the tray table, line them up by size or play "which one is missing?"
Ages: 3 and up.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: small animal figures, a tin with a lid.
- Safety: Choking hazard for children under 3: small figures can fail the toilet paper tube test. Use only with kids 3 and up, keep them away from babies in your row, and supervise play.
A whole tray-table zoo that packs into a tin.
11Lacing cards
Chunky cards with holes and a plastic-tipped lace. Kids sew around a shape, pull it out and start again. It's slow, quiet work.
Ages: 3 and up.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a few lacing cards with laces.
- Safety: keep laces short and take them away when your child is sleepy or unattended. Laces are a strangling risk for little ones.
Slow, quiet fine motor play.
12Wax craft sticks
Bendy wax-coated sticks that stick to the tray table, the window and each other. Kids make letters, snakes and faces, then peel them off and try again.
Ages: 3 and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a small pack of wax craft sticks.
- Safety: Choking hazard for children under 3: small bits can break off. Use only with kids 3 and up and supervise, and keep them away from babies.
Sticks to the window and tray, then peels off.
13Look-and-find book
A busy picture book where kids find the dog, the red balloon or five snowmen. Ask one question per page and let them hunt.
Ages: 3 and up.
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: one look-and-find book.
- Safety: nothing special to watch for.
Low-Mess Airplane Activities (Water-Reveal Pads, Mess-Free Markers, Reusable Stickers)
These airplane activities for toddlers skip paint, glitter and crumbs. The usual worst case is a few drops of water or a sticker on the seat back.
14Water-reveal coloring pad
Kids "paint" with a water pen and colors appear, then fade as the page dries. One pad can be used again and again on the same flight.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 1 minute (fill the pen).
Mess: very low (water only).
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a water-reveal pad and its pen.
- Safety: fill the pen with water only, and keep the pen cap away from toddlers who chew. Don't leave the pen with a sleeping toddler.
Water only, used again and again.
15Mess-free marker set
Special markers that only show color on their own paper. If they draw on the tray table, nothing shows up.
Ages: 2 and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: very low.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a mess-free marker set with its paper.
- Safety: keep marker caps away from kids who chew, and count them back in.
Color only shows on its own paper.
16Reusable sticker scene book
Peel-and-stick scenes kids can move around again and again. Pick a theme they love, like vehicles, animals or the airport.
Ages: 2 and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: very low.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: one reusable sticker book.
- Safety: keep peeled stickers away from babies who mouth things.
Stickers peel off, so the scene changes every time.
Window and Tray-Table Toys for Takeoff and Landing (Suction Spinners, Sticky Notes, Painter's Tape)
Takeoff and landing are when you can't stand up and the tray table is up. Window toys and things that stick are made for these moments.
17Suction spinner toys
Spinners with suction cups that stick to the window or a folded-down tray. A flick sets them spinning. Toddlers love sticking, pulling and moving them.
Ages: 18 months and up (check the label).
Prep: none.
Mess: none.
Noise: low (a soft pop when pulled). Fits a tray table? yes, and the window.
Supplies: a set of 2 or 3 suction spinners.
- Safety: check that the spinner heads don't come off, and wipe the suction cups before use.
Sticks to the window for takeoff and landing.
18Painter's tape and sticky notes
Stick strips of painter's tape on the tray table for your toddler to peel off. Add sticky notes to the seat back for them to pull off and put back. Draw shapes on the notes for a matching game.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 1 minute.
Mess: low (tape and paper).
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a roll of painter's tape, a pad of sticky notes.
- Safety: peel the tape off the seat before you leave, and don't let toddlers chew the paper. Keep it supervised.
Cheap, flat and easy to clean up.
Some parents offer a sippy cup or a snack during takeoff and landing. If you're worried about your toddler's ears on a plane, ask your pediatrician before the trip.
Toddler Airplane Activities for Long Flights: A Rotation Plan for 3, 6 and 10 Hours
For long flights, rotation matters more than the number of toys. Bring each activity out, then put it away before your toddler gets bored, so it still feels fresh the next time. This is a plan, not a rule; follow your child's mood.
| Flight | Pack | Order |
|---|---|---|
| 3 hours | 4 or 5 activities plus snacks | Window spinners at takeoff, board book, water-reveal pad, snack break, tape and sticky notes, spinners for landing |
| 6 hours | 6 to 8 activities plus snacks and a nap plan | Repeat the 3-hour order, add a surprise bag and a busy book after the nap, save headphones for the last hour |
| 10 hours | 8 to 10 activities, rotated twice | Two rounds of the 6-hour order, with a walk to the galley (when the seatbelt sign is off) between rounds |
DIY and Dollar Store Airplane Activities for Toddlers (Surprise Bags, Pom-Pom Drop, Pipe Cleaner Shaker)
Some of the best toddler airplane activities come from the dollar store or your kitchen drawer. These cost a few dollars at most.
19Wrapped surprise bags
Wrap three or four small, cheap things (a new board book, a toy car, a sticker sheet) in tissue paper. Unwrapping is half the fun. Hand one out each hour.
Ages: 18 months and up.
Prep: 10 minutes at home.
Mess: low (tissue paper).
Noise: low (crinkly). Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: tissue paper, small toys from the dollar store.
- Safety: Choking hazard for children under 3: pick surprises without small parts for anyone under 3, check every age label, and supervise unwrapping. Collect the tissue paper so it doesn't get chewed.
20Pom-pom drop bottle
Give your child a clean plastic bottle or wide-mouth plastic jar and big pom-poms to push through the opening. Shake them out and do it again.
Ages: 3 and up (2 and up with jumbo pom-poms and close supervision).
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: low.
Noise: low. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: a clean plastic bottle or wide-mouth jar, jumbo pom-poms.
- Safety: Choking hazard for children under 3: pom-poms can be swallowed. Use jumbo pom-poms only, never small ones, keep it in your hands for under 3s, and count the pom-poms back into a zip bag.
Big ones only for the drop bottle.
21Pipe cleaner shaker
Push pipe cleaners into the holes of an empty spice shaker or a colander-style container. Toddlers poke them in, pull them out and poke them in again.
Ages: 2 and up.
Prep: 2 minutes.
Mess: none.
Noise: none. Fits a tray table? yes.
Supplies: an empty clean spice shaker, 6 to 8 pipe cleaners cut in half.
- Safety: fold the cut ends over so no sharp wire pokes out, use with an adult watching, and pack them away after.
Snack Activities That Double as Entertainment
Snacks fill time on a plane, especially if opening them is part of the fun. A snack tray with several small lidded sections turns a snack into a few minutes of opening, closing and choosing.
Pack only snacks your toddler already eats safely at home, and follow your family's own allergy and choking rules. For under-4s, the AAP lists foods like whole grapes, nuts and popcorn as choking risks. Seated snacks only, with you watching.
Toddler Headphones and the Screen Question (When to Use Them, When to Save Them)
We're a screen-free site, but we're also realistic about a 6-hour flight. Many parents save a tablet for the last hour or for a meltdown, and that's a fair call. Pack the screen-free activities first so the tablet stays a backup.
If you do use one, kid headphones with a volume limit are a good idea. They're also handy for blocking out engine noise during a nap.
Pack list for the flight
- Top pick
1. Lift-the-flap board books, toddler set
Price varies
Small, quiet and new every page.
Check price on Amazon for 1. Lift-the-flap board books, toddler set -
2. Nesting stacking cups for toddlers
Price varies
Stacks, nests and packs flat into one cup.
Check price on Amazon for 2. Nesting stacking cups for toddlers -
3. Fabric quiet busy book for toddlers
Price varies
Many small jobs in one soft book.
Check price on Amazon for 3. Fabric quiet busy book for toddlers -
4. Soft silicone building blocks
Price varies
Easy to grip and soft to hold.
Check price on Amazon for 4. Soft silicone building blocks -
5. Buckle busy toy for toddlers
Typically $15 to $25
Real buckles to work on, which two year olds love.
Check price on Amazon for 5. Buckle busy toy for toddlers -
6. Magnetic drawing board with attached pen
Typically $8 to $15
The pen is tied on, so nothing falls under the seat.
Check price on Amazon for 6. Magnetic drawing board with attached pen -
7. Silicone pop-it fidget toy
Price varies
Washable and easy to pack.
Check price on Amazon for 7. Silicone pop-it fidget toy -
8. Mini animal figure set (ages 3+)
Typically $8 to $15
A whole tray-table zoo that packs into a tin.
Check price on Amazon for 8. Mini animal figure set (ages 3+) -
9. Lacing cards for preschoolers
Price varies
Slow, quiet fine motor play.
Check price on Amazon for 9. Lacing cards for preschoolers -
10. Wax craft sticks for kids
Price varies
Sticks to the window and tray, then peels off.
Check price on Amazon for 10. Wax craft sticks for kids - Budget pick
11. Water-reveal coloring pads
Typically $5 to $10 each
Water only, used again and again.
Check price on Amazon for 11. Water-reveal coloring pads -
12. Mess-free marker and paper set
Typically $10 to $20
Color only shows on its own paper.
Check price on Amazon for 12. Mess-free marker and paper set -
13. Reusable sticker scene book
Typically $6 to $12
Stickers peel off, so the scene changes every time.
Check price on Amazon for 13. Reusable sticker scene book -
14. Suction cup spinner toys
Typically $10 to $20
Sticks to the window for takeoff and landing.
Check price on Amazon for 14. Suction cup spinner toys -
15. Painter's tape and sticky notes
Price varies
Cheap, flat and easy to clean up.
Check price on Amazon for 15. Painter's tape and sticky notes -
16. Jumbo pom-poms
Price varies
Big ones only for the drop bottle.
Check price on Amazon for 16. Jumbo pom-poms -
17. Volume-limited toddler headphones
Typically $15 to $30
A backup for the last hour of a long flight.
Check price on Amazon for 17. Volume-limited toddler headphones -
18. Snack tray with lidded sections
Typically $8 to $15
Turns snack time into an opening-and-closing game.
Check price on Amazon for 18. Snack tray with lidded sections
Holiday Travel Extras: Gate Delays, Layovers and Day One at Grandma's
Holiday flights come with long lines and delays. Save one or two activities you haven't opened yet in case the flight runs late. At the gate, let your toddler walk, watch the planes out the window and burn energy before boarding.
Day one at grandma's house is often the hardest, with new rooms, new people and a missed nap. Our toddler activities at home by age work with whatever is in someone else's kitchen. Our free 50-activity pack prints as cards you can slip into the carry-on, with under-5-minute ideas for ages 2 to 6.
Flying with an older sibling too? Print the countdown cards from our Christmas Activity Pack for ages 3 to 8, and once you land, try these Christmas activities for toddlers at home.
Choking, Magnets, Supervision and Airline Rules: What Not to Pack
Most toddlers on a plane are under 3, so small parts matter. The CPSC small parts rule exists because small pieces are a choking hazard for children under 3. A quick home check: if something fits through an empty toilet paper tube, keep it away from your under-3. The tube is a rough guide, not the official test.
Skip toys with loose small magnets and toys with button batteries that aren't behind a screwed-shut door. The AAP warns that magnets and button batteries can cause serious injuries if swallowed. Also skip long strings, cords and anything with a pointy end.
Every activity on this list is for supervised play. Put things away when your toddler falls asleep, so nothing ends up in their mouth while you're dozing too. For rules on liquids, car seats and lap infants, check your airline before you fly.
Before you zip the carry-on
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep a toddler busy on a plane without screens?
Pack one new activity per flight hour and rotate them: a water-reveal pad, suction spinners, a busy book, painter's tape on the tray table and a wrapped surprise. Put each one away before your toddler gets bored.
What should I pack in a toddler's carry-on for a long flight?
Five to ten small activities in separate pouches, snacks your toddler already eats safely, wipes, a spare outfit, a comfort toy and volume-limited headphones as a backup.
What are low-mess airplane activities for an 18 month old?
Lift-the-flap board books, a wipes-box scarf pull, nesting cups, a water-reveal pad and suction spinners on the window. None of them needs paint or crumbs.
Are magnetic toys and small figures safe for toddlers on a plane?
A magnetic drawing board with sealed beads is fine, but skip toys with loose small magnets. Small figures are for kids 3 and up only, with an adult watching.
What are cheap dollar store airplane activities for toddlers?
Painter's tape and sticky notes, wrapped surprise bags, a pom-pom drop bottle with jumbo pom-poms and a pipe cleaner shaker all cost a few dollars at a dollar store.
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