Gadgets That Keep Young Boys Entertained On Airplanes

I recently took a plane trip with my three young sons and found these gadgets to be very helpful in entertaining them. They did get fidgety at times, but overall it was a smooth trip thanks to the gadgets below.

1.  The Boostaroo Hi-Def Portable Headphone Amplifier & Audio Splitter:

This is a great tool for families with multiple kids who need to listen to the same movie on a laptop or portable DVD player with headphones. We had three headphones plugged in and all the boys were very happy. Better yet, it is also an amplifier which helped the kids hear over the roar of the airplane engines.

2. Leapster:

I blogged about the Leapster in a prior post. I like the Leapster because I can control the games my kids use and most are educational. My 8 1/2 year old especially enjoyed the Math Mission, Nascar and Sonic X games. My 4 1/2 year old enjoyed the Nemo, Letter Factory and Backyardigans.

3. Headphones that fit nicely on kids heads.

4. Laptop or Portable DVD player to play DVD's (and a good selection of DVD's).

5. Books, Books and more Books...

Our 4 1/2 year olds enjoyed this series by Nora Gaydos because their are ten books in a cover with stickers to keep the kids busy. My 8 1/2 year old enjoyed reading Harry Potter books.

6. Wikki Stix (updated after the ride home):

The Wikki Stix are light to carry and fun to use for making shapes. Just watch out if they make a big ball of Wikki Stix, it will be too tempting for them to throw it.

7. Anything Lego (with a small amount of pieces - also updated from my ride home):

 

This Lego Mini-Digger is for 5 - 6 year old boys (my 4 1/2 year old twin boys love lego sets like these because they have a figure included). And they only have 36 pieces.

My 8 1/2 year old enjoys car sets so this Night Blazer Lego set is small enough to take on the plane and only has 66 pieces.

Better yet, they can play after they build them to extend the entertainment time. The sets should only be opened on the plane so that it feels like a new toy (I save mine as a surprise after the plane takes-off).

8. Low Tech Item - Cheerio Necklaces:

My friend sent me an email just before we boarded that suggested making cheerio necklaces using dental floss. I had one of those "darn it" moments because that would have been the perfect activity to feed and keep them busy when they were not reading or using their electronics. Maybe next time.....

What are your favorite gadgets to keep your kids busy on airplanes?

For more information on how to deal with other passengers on the plane that can not deal with fidgety kids, check out my post on the Silicon Valley Moms Blog.....

Comments

[Roger Berent]

We recently flew to Orlando about a 2.5 hour flight for us. I have three kids and my two oldest, boys, 7 and 5 loved doing sticker books. The books and my 7 year olds iPod kept them entertained almost the entire time. I highly recommend the sticker book idea.

Roger Berent
http://www.mydinoshirts.com

[Jill]

Etch-a-sketch!

[Jill]

Etch-a-sketch!

[Jill]

Etch-a-sketch!

[Jill]

Etch-a-sketch!

[Lisa]

Food, food and more food is how I keep my 2 yr old happy and occupied. Oh yeah, and lots of books, coloring books, those crayola no mess kits, magnadoodle, and those mini aqua doodle pads. I pack an army of toys for our trips and, so far, it works for us.

[Pamela]

We have a mini-Etch-a-Sketch-type thing (but which works with a pen instead of dials) that my 2-year-old enjoys on planes. He also gets a kick out me playing peek-a-boo, or other such games with him, with a soft (compressible into small spaces) puppet. The video iPod w/baby headphones is still the ace in the hole, though, I must admit. (http://www.parenthacks.com/2006/10/baby_headphones.html)

[Gift of Green]

Great tips that I will put to good use! Thank you!

[Children’s Wall Stickers]

I also like the tips.
Thank you!
Amy

[tech tigger 2]

i like it