25 (quiet) airplane activities for kids

There’s a reason Highlights magazines and books have stood the test of time. They are as entertaining as they were when we were young—even for today’s tech-savvy kids who have been raised on iPads. Grab some of these for your next plane ride and you’ll enjoy the sweet, sweet silence of your kids solving puzzles and peeling stickers as you sit back and relax.

Wikki Stix are a dream for exhausted parents traveling with kids. These bendable craft sticks are made from yarn and non-toxic food-grade wax, making them fun to create with, easy to reuse, and safe for kids’ tiny hands. This travel pack comes with an activity book chockfull of ideas, more Wikki Stix than your kids will know what to do with, and a handy case to carry it all in.

These wooden lacing cards are another great idea for airplane travel. No tiny pieces that can get lost, no loud noises to distract those around you, and easy to pack–just take them out of the wooden box and zip them into a pouch instead.

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s tape. So tossing some fun, colorful crafting tape into your bag is not a bad idea at all. Let your kids stick their “fun” tape all over paper or card stock or workbooks or whatever else you brought with you and watch their creativity soar. (It’s also super easy to remove from trays or windows!)

Colorforms have been popular since we were kids—for good reason. Only now, our kids can get specialty ones like this set with their favorite Bluey characters. Not a big Bluey fan? No problem. There are only about 900 other options as well, so pick one your kid will love!

Pack pipe cleaners! Your kids can let their imaginations run wild bending and shaping them into whatever they like. Or, you can come prepared with extra activities—like bringing an empty coffee can or an oatmeal container with holes punched through the lid. Let your toddler feed their pipe cleaners through the holes and they’ll happily sit still for a while.

You can never go wrong with a Melissa & Doug product, and these Water Wow! reusable activity pads are no different. You can choose from all sorts of categories including vehicles, safari animals, farm animals, and dinosaurs. Your kiddos will love coloring page after page, watching all the colors “appear” like magic.

If you have a child who loves to draw, this doodle pad might just the thing for a long plane ride. It’s colorful, bright, and the screen can be cleared to start anew with the click of a button.

The only complaint we’ve ever had about magnetic tiles is that they aren’t great for travel. Well, times have changed. The Crayola Mini Magnetic PIP-Tiles are slightly smaller than the standard version which is perfect for on-the-go playtime! Our only suggestion is tossing them in a canvas bag or pouch since getting them back in the box is a real pain.

If your child loves Legos, you know that having all those tiny pieces on a plane is risky. But a Lego set like this one is perfect for travel as everything is contained in a base with walls, keeping all those treasures well contained. This choice is perfect for a child who loves Encanto, but if not, have no fear—Lego makes something for everyone.

Every mom traveling with kids knows she definitely needs to pack snacks. But how about packing them into your child’s own personal snackle box? (Not gonna lie. We kind of love that phrase.) This one seals well, comes with two cute little sauce containers and a pair of tiny tongs which kids are guaranteed to fight over. (You can’t win ’em all, right?) It’s also BPA-free of course!

This one is literally called The Ultimate Quiet Book. It’s a busy book for busy little fingers that includes 10 pages of learning activities. With page after page of moveable, touchable, interactive pieces and parts—this one is a must-have in your carry-on.

For an imaginative child who loves to create, tell and act out stories, a finger puppet like this one can help them do just that—even if they are stuck in a chair for a few hours on an airplane.

Preschool workbooks are always a good option for travel entertainment. This Sesame Street 4-pack is a classic and never goes out of style.

Keep your little ones quietly busy on a long airplane trip while also helping them practice their letters and spelling. This one will make you feel good as your kid is doing something educational, and it will make for a more peaceful trip for everyone around you.

Nothing beats a good old game of Go Fish or Old Maid. Help your kids appreciate the simplicity of our childhood with this 6-pack of classic card games. And, this one’s perfect for the plane ride as it barely takes up any room in your bag and will keep your kids entertained for hours.

Here’s another great choice for travel and little ones because it’s one big piece. This magnetic ball maze game by HABA will keep your kids focused for a while so you can hopefully enjoy a coffee or a cocktail or maybe even close your eyes for a second.

Dry-erase books are the greatest gift ever to parents of young kids. Knowing that our little ones can redo pages over and over makes for a very happy mommy (and very busy child!) This busy book is full of endless activities to make that plane ride “fly” right by.