If you’re planning on flying with young children you can safely assume that the journey won't be the most relaxing plane journey you've ever been on.
Preparing in advance for a flight can, however, make it a fun new experience with your kids and an easier ride for your fellow travellers.
It's really important that you always have plenty of things with you to keep your little ones 'entertained'. Try to make sure that a wide variety of toys can be doled out to your children whenever the need arises. Putting everything into a backpack that the child can carry himself is great but it does mean that they can literally get everything out in one go if they want to. Perfect things to put in kids’ backpacks include stickers, car toys, colouring books and cuddlies.
Ideally try to make every toy/game last as long as possible and always hold something back for dire emergencies. Only bring out one toy at a time to maximize the use of each toy, and put each one away before bringing out another. Some mums wrap the toys up before the journey to make things more fun! This is one time too when you don't need to limit the amount of time your child spends watching in-flight movies or playing video games! Take advantage of every available opportunity to keep your child enteratined and peaceful
Puzzles and packs of cards can keep children occupied for longer than many other toys. However if your little ones are simply too young for these, colouring books and crayons are brilliant. Save a few snacks for those times when nothing else will keep them quiet and if all else fails make puppets with the sick bags!
Being prepared will make travelling with your children not only bearable, but believe it or not, fun too! And just remember getting there is actually part of the adventure!
April 2010 | 
Canvas Holidays 2012
