1. Sticker play 

Crayons and markers can leave a mess behind. Stickers are easy to clean up and allow unlimited creativity. Bring reusable sticker books that invite kids to explore different scenes or themes, like a farm, the ocean, or even the airport. A roll of basic painter's tape can also provide hours of free-form sticker-like fun. 

Image via Amazon

Developmental benefits: Supports fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, creativity, and problem-solving.

2. Clean up 

As you settle into your seats, show your toddler how to tidy your area with wet wipes, giving armrests and tray tables a quick refresh. If you're on a long flight with a meal, little one can revisit this task after eating and help collect or pass trash to the flight attendant when they come by to clean up. This is a win-win. Your toddler gets to be helpful and active, and you'll make life easier for yourself and the flight attendants.

Developmental benefits: Encourages cooperation, helpfulness, and independence.

3. Suction toys

Don't fight your kid's urge to fidget. Support it with toys they can play with quietly in their seat. Suction cups are a lifesaver during bumpy rides in small spaces and with little kids who tend to drop or misplace toys. Tempted to pack one for yourself? No judgment here!

Image via Suite Life Sanburg

Developmental benefits: Boosts fine motor skills and concentration.

4. Magnetic toys

Losing toys is a real risk during travel. Magnetic toys like Magna-Tiles keep the fun together for hours of creative play. A single magnetic drawing tablet replaces the need for paper, crayons, or markers, so kids can draw or practice writing without making a mess. Flying? These low-grade magnetic toys can be safely packed in carry-on or checked luggage, but may show up during x-ray screening. Keep all magnetic toys together for an easier trip through airport security.

Developmental benefits: Fosters fine motor skills, creativity, and imaginative play.

5. Skillful snacktime 

Would you normally feed your toddler this many snacks? Probably not. But snacking can be entertaining and intellectually stimulating on long travel days. Offering a variety of bite-sized healthy snacks like puffs, cut-up fruit, or crackers allows toddlers to practice their pincer grasp. Using a snack cup with a lid adds an extra challenge.

Your child can also use snacks to practice different skills. Treats can be counted and sorted by color or shape. As long as no one's throwing snacks or making too much of a mess, there's nothing wrong with playing with food on the plane. 

Developmental benefits: Supports hand dexterity, fine motor skills, independent eating skills, numbers mastery, and color recognition.

6. Storytime

Nothing beats a good in-flight read, and children's books are easy to pack. Bring reliable favorites from home and consider packing a few new titles that align with your kid's interests or stoke excitement for the adventure ahead. The Airport Book by Lisa Brown is a terrific picture book.

Keep in mind that not all books have to be narratives. To keep older children occupied and self-sufficient, consider packing activity, puzzle, or I Spy books. These are available at a variety of ability levels.

Developmental benefits: Encourages language development, imaginative play, and social-emotional learning.

7. Finger puppets

Finger puppets give your toddler more agency to tell and act out stories with you. They're easy to pack, and the possibilities are endless. Your little one can use them to recreate stories they know or make up something entirely new. Just make sure you remind them to use their airplane voice!

Developmental benefits: Boosts language development, imaginative play, and social-emotional learning.

8. Window gazing

Skip this, if you don't have a window seat. But if you do, take advantage and encourage little ones to observe the world outside. This is something you can model by taking turns pointing out different colors, shapes, landscapes, or animals. Another idea: Compare and contrast the different things you see outside. For example, "This part of the sky has more clouds" or "That building is bigger."

Developmental benefits: Fosters observational and comparative skills, color mastery, and vocabulary development.

9. Accompanied exploration

Even the most mundane situations and environments are interesting to kids. For a change of scene and a little exercise—when it's safe to do so—spend some time exploring with little one. Point out the little things, like how the seat back tray folds down on the plane, the sliding doors between the train cars, and the areas where pilots or conductors work. Show little one how to be considerate of other travelers while you do this.

Developmental benefits: Supports observational skills, vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and cooperation.

 

10. Mystery bag

Pack a few small, wrapped surprises (toy animals, soft dolls, etc.) and let your toddler unwrap them one at a time throughout the flight. The act of unwrapping engages fine motor skills, and each new item encourages exploration. To engage older kids, play 20 Questions or a guessing game about the item before allowing them to unwrap it.

Developmental benefits: Encourages fine motor, observational, and comparative skills and imaginative play.