25 Best Airplane Activities for Kids That Keep Them Busy
Flying with kids can feel stressful before the trip even begins. As a mom of four energetic boys, I’ve learned that the secret isn’t filling an entire carry-on with toys, it’s choosing a few quiet, compact airplane activities for kids and introducing them slowly throughout the flight.
Grab the Free Airplane Activity Book for Kids
Before your trip, download my free Airplane Activity Book for Kids. It includes airplane bingo, an airport scavenger hunt, I Spy, drawing prompts, a packing checklist, and a travel journal.
Print the whole book or choose a few favorite pages, add crayons or colored pencils, and tuck it into your child’s carry-on.
What Makes a Good Airplane Activity?
The best activities for flying with kids are:
- Quiet
- Compact
- Easy to clean up
- Simple to use in an airplane seat
- Interesting enough to hold attention for more than a few minutes
I also avoid toys with dozens of tiny pieces. Anything that rolls under the seat usually creates more stress than entertainment.
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1. Airplane Activity Book
A printable activity book gives kids several options without taking up much space. They can switch between bingo, drawing, scavenger hunts, and travel journal pages whenever they start getting bored.
2. Water-Reveal Books
Water-reveal books let younger children “paint” pictures using a refillable water pen. The pages dry and can be used again, making them perfect for mess-free travel.
Best for: Ages 2–5
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3. Reusable Sticker Books
Reusable stickers are much easier to manage than regular stickers that may end up attached to the seat, window, or your clothes.
Choose themes your child already loves, such as dinosaurs, animals, construction vehicles, or space.
Best for: Ages 2–7
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4. LCD Writing Tablet
An LCD tablet can be used for drawing, tic-tac-toe, letter practice, guessing games, and simple math challenges.
My boys can all use the same type of tablet differently, which makes it one of the most useful travel activities for a family with multiple ages.
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5. Activity Books
Look for books containing mazes, hidden pictures, dot-to-dots, word searches, and drawing prompts.
Choose preschool versions for younger kids and puzzle or brain-game books for elementary-age children.
6. Dry-Erase Activity Cards
Dry-erase cards can be wiped clean and reused throughout the flight. They’re especially useful for tic-tac-toe, mazes, matching games, and simple drawing challenges.
7. Wikki Stix
Wikki Stix are wax-covered strings children can bend into letters, animals, shapes, and pictures.
They stick to each other without glue and don’t leave a mess on the tray table.
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8. Magnetic Puzzle Books
Magnetic puzzle pieces stay attached to the board, making them much more practical for airplanes than regular puzzles.
Look for magnetic mazes, matching games, tangrams, or dress-up scenes.
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9. Travel-Sized Building Toys
A small magnetic tile set or compact building kit can keep creative kids busy for a surprisingly long time.
Pack only enough pieces to build simple structures, and keep them in a zippered pouch.
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10. Pipe Cleaners and Large Beads
Place a few colorful pipe cleaners and large beads inside a small zippered bag.
Kids can make bracelets, animals, glasses, shapes, and funny characters. Use only with children old enough to handle the beads safely.
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11. Travel Card Games
Simple card games are great for siblings or for playing with a parent.
Good options include matching games, UNO, Spot It!, Go Fish, and child-friendly trivia cards.
12. LEGO Minifigures
Instead of bringing a complete LEGO set, let your child choose two or three favorite minifigures.
My boys can turn a few characters into superheroes, pilots, explorers, or an entire imaginary adventure.
13. Finger Puppets
Finger puppets are tiny, lightweight, and ideal for younger children.
Use them to tell stories, sing songs, or create a quiet puppet show between siblings.
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14. Window Clings
Reusable window clings allow children to create different scenes without using glue.
Keep them on the airplane window or on the plastic sheet included with the set, and remove everything before leaving.
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15. Travel Journal
Older children can write or draw about the trip, what they saw from the window, their favorite snack, and what they’re excited to do after landing.
A travel journal also becomes a sweet keepsake after the vacation.
16. Audiobooks
Audiobooks are a great way to give kids quiet entertainment without asking them to stare at a screen.
Download stories before leaving home so you don’t have to rely on airplane Wi-Fi.
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17. Kid-Friendly Podcasts
Download a few children’s podcasts before the flight. Good choices include funny stories, science episodes, mysteries, and short educational shows.
Keep several options available because one child may want a story while another prefers facts.
18. A Kids’ Camera
A simple digital camera can turn the travel day into its own adventure.
Encourage your child to photograph the airport, luggage, clouds, snacks, and family moments.
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19. Airplane Bingo
Airplane bingo encourages children to pay attention to what’s happening around them.
Include objects such as a suitcase, pilot, passport, snack cart, airplane window, headphones, and flight attendant.
Airplane bingo is included in the free Airplane Activity Book for Kids.
20. Airport Scavenger Hunt
An airport scavenger hunt is especially helpful during long waits before boarding.
Ask kids to find a departure screen, luggage cart, stroller, pilot, coffee shop, backpack, and airplane.
21. I Spy
I Spy requires nothing to pack and works well when you need a quick activity.
Try prompts such as:
- I spy something blue.
- I spy someone reading.
- I spy three circles.
- I spy something that begins with B.
22. Alphabet Challenge
Ask children to find something beginning with each letter of the alphabet.
Younger children can work as a team, while older children can write their answers in a notebook.
23. Build a Story Together
Start a story with one sentence and let each family member add the next part.
Our stories usually become completely ridiculous, but that’s exactly why this activity works so well.
24. Surprise Snack Box
Snacks may not technically be toys, but they can break up a long flight.
Instead of packing one large bag, divide snacks into several small containers and offer them at different times.
Choose foods that are easy to eat and unlikely to spill everywhere, such as crackers, pretzels, cereal, dried fruit, or granola bars.
25. A Favorite Comfort Item
A small stuffed animal, familiar blanket, or travel pillow can help children feel secure in an unfamiliar environment.
Comfort items are especially helpful when the cabin becomes dark and you want your child to rest.
Best Airplane Activities by Age
Toddlers and Preschoolers
Try:
- Water-reveal books
- Reusable stickers
- Finger puppets
- Window clings
- Simple scavenger hunts
- Favorite picture books
Younger children usually need activities changed more frequently, so bring several small options rather than one complicated toy.
Ages 5–7
Try:
- LCD writing tablets
- Wikki Stix
- Activity books
- Magnetic puzzles
- Airplane bingo
- Simple card games
Ages 8–10
Try:
- Travel journals
- Audiobooks
- Logic puzzles
- Word searches
- Card games
- Kids’ cameras
- Drawing challenges
Older kids may stay focused longer, but they still appreciate having a few different choices.
My Best Tip: Don’t Give Them Everything at Once
One mistake I made when traveling with my boys was handing out all the activities too early.
Everything looked exciting for the first twenty minutes, and then nothing felt new.
Now I keep most activities in my own bag and bring out one item at a time. Depending on the length of the flight, I may rotate activities every 30–60 minutes.
What Not to Pack on an Airplane
Avoid anything that is:
- Loud
- Sticky
- Difficult to clean
- Made of many tiny loose pieces
- Likely to roll under seats
- Too large for the tray table
I would also skip glitter, slime, messy markers, and toys that require constant adult assembly. A travel activity should make the flight easier—not create another job for you.
A Simple Carry-On Activity Plan
For each child, I would pack:
- One printable activity book
- One favorite toy
- One creative activity
- One puzzle or game
- Headphones with downloaded audio
- A comfort item
- Several small snacks
That is usually enough variety without overfilling the bag.
Let your child choose one or two familiar items, then add a surprise activity yourself.
More Screen-Free Activities for Kids
For more calm entertainment ideas that work during flights, hotel stays, and quiet afternoons, read my guide to quiet time activities for boys.
You may also enjoy my collection of indoor activities for boys, especially when you need simple ideas for rainy vacation days or time spent inside a hotel room.
Final Thoughts
Flying with children probably won’t be completely peaceful from takeoff to landing—and that’s okay.
A few carefully chosen airplane activities, plenty of snacks, and realistic expectations can make the experience much more manageable. Focus on rotating activities before your child becomes completely restless instead of waiting until everyone is already overwhelmed.
The goal isn’t to create a perfect flight. It’s simply to help your kids feel comfortable, entertained, and included in the adventure.
Don’t Forget Your Free Airplane Activity Book
Before you pack the carry-ons, download the free Airplane Activity Book for Kids. It includes bingo, I Spy, an airport scavenger hunt, drawing pages, a packing checklist, and a travel journal to help keep kids busy from takeoff to landing.