Mom reveals ‘weird’ thing she brings on plane trips, and it’s beyond brilliant

Few things in life are as stressful as traveling with children. Between planning, packing and scheduling, your vacation doesn’t seem like much of a vacation at all. And then there’s the most challenging part of it all: flying.

Despite us all being kids at one point in time, some people really don’t like children being on airplanes (and despise babies even more). Even though this is definitely more of a them problem than a you problem, it still adds extra stress to the trip. So what do you do? Overpack all the activities, snacks, pillows, stuffies, blankies and whatever else you can think of to keep your kiddo occupied and happy, and thus keep everyone else on the plane cordial for the sake of your sanity.

When we think of airplane activities for kids, our brains usually go to a tablet or coloring book, stickers, toys, books, things like that, but Instagrammer Nichola Knox (@nicholaknox) has a different must-have that she admits is “weird” but is honestly brilliant: painter’s tape.

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A post shared by Nichola Knox | Canadian Photographer + Creator (@nicholaknox)

In a viral reel, Knox showed all the things she uses painter’s tape for both on the plane and during her trip, including an extra cup holder, button blocker, window stickers, counting games, rescue the toy game, practicing letters, a truck bridge, a napkin bib, toy hide and seek game, a snack holder, unwrap the toy game, toy swing, and roads when you get to where you’re staying. The reel shows her toddler actually using the tape in all these ways and seeming genuinely happy about it. (Of course, that could’ve lasted 30 seconds and was followed by a meltdown, but still, even just 30 seconds of entertainment is a win when you’re flying with kids). 

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As if that list isn’t long enough, Knox also shared some other uses in the reel’s caption. “I swear to you. It’s great on the plane but also on vacation,” she wrote. “Label the kid’s cups, a bandaid for when your toddler ‘really needs one,’ taping over locks and drawers you don’t want them getting into. The list goes on. It’s forever the ‘weird’ thing I bring on trips.”

There are so many high-tech gadgets we use to help entertain our kids when we need it most, but sometimes it’s the simplest things that can make the most impact. Who knew painter’s tape could be so versatile?