How to Keep Your Preschooler Entertained on a Flight
Traveling with littles can feel like packing for a small circus but it doesn’t have to be a test of your patience. The secret is planning ahead with the right toolkit of quiet, engaging activities. With a little prep you can turn even a cramped airplane seat into a cozy play zone.
Here’s a curated list of our favorite plane-friendly activities for preschoolers that are light to pack, screen-optional and parent-approved.
Mess-Free Fun
These picks are tidy, portable and surprisingly engaging:
Reusable Sticker Pads: Kids can create their own worlds again and again without sticky residue.
Water Wow! Books: Just add water to the refillable pen and watch the colors appear. Zero cleanup required.
Look and Find Books: Perfect for curious preschoolers. These are our favorite!
Little Escapes Co. Bonus tip: download one of our Little Escapes Activity Packs for a printable version or shop airport bookstores where you can sometimes find location-specific look and finds that double as a fun pre-boarding activity.
Triangle Crayons and Mini Coloring Pads: No crayons rolling down the aisle. These stay put and are life changing for travel!
Electronic Drawing Pads: Kids can doodle endlessly and erase with one tap.
Screen-Free Story Time
Sometimes the best way to keep kids happy is to transport them into another world.
Toniebox Audio Player: Place a Tonie character on top and your preschooler can instantly listen to stories or songs, screen-free. Some of our favorites are the Paw Patrol Tonies and the National Geographic animal stories which mix fun with learning. We’ve had this since ours was 2 years old and still use it 4 years later.
Download Kid-Friendly Podcasts: Short, engaging episodes are perfect for flights. Try Brains On, Wow in the World or even my son’s favorite, Pokémon for Kids, if your little one is a fan.
Kid-Friendly Headphones: Volume-limiting and cushy for small ears. These protect hearing while blocking cabin noise.
Portable Games and Playtime Picks
Rotating activities keeps little ones entertained without overwhelm.
Magnetic Games and Puzzles: Matching games, tangrams, puzzles or tic-tac-toe that won’t lose pieces mid-flight.
Reusable Activity Books: Think wipe-clean mazes, dot-to-dots or early handwriting practice for a learning boost.
Travel Card Games: Simple options like UNO or Go Fish work well in the air and add variety beyond coloring.
Mini Building Sets: Small bags of LEGO, magnetic blocks or magna-tiles can keep kids building without taking up much space. These are great for any age kids.
Snacks and Parent Hacks
A cozy, well-fed preschooler is a happy traveler. These extras make the biggest difference:
Snack Box: Pack all the snacks, but make it fun by filling a multi-compartment box together before the trip. They’ll love choosing their favorites and you might want to pack a few refills because chances are the whole box will disappear before takeoff!
Water Bottle: Bring it empty through security and fill it at the airport so they stay hydrated without pricey bottled water.
Travel Pillow and Blanket: Soft comfort items help with naps and ease the transition to rest time. We love this set that also hooks onto your luggage.
Mini Backpack: Preschoolers love carrying their own bag. Fill it with their favorite toys and activities so they feel independent.
Wrapped Surprises: Pack a few inexpensive toys or trinkets and wrap them individually. Hand one out when needed or save for those desperate moments throughout the trip. We are in our Pokemon era so a pack of trading cards works for us!
✨ Little Escapes Co. Pro Tip: Think variety not quantity. A small rotation of well-chosen activities goes further than overstuffing your carry-on.
And let’s be real, when all else fails, don’t feel bad pulling out the iPad with a few downloaded shows. Sometimes a little screen time is the best sanity-saver at 30,000 feet!
Plan Your Next Family Escape
If you’re ready to turn inspiration into a real trip, explore our Family Weekend Escape Guides and kid-friendly downloads. Each one is designed to make traveling with little ones feel easy and enjoyable, with handpicked hotels, family-approved restaurants, play spots and thoughtful activities. No stress. No endless scrolling. Just effortless, curated escapes.
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