Keeping children entertained on long-haul flights

As I may have mentioned approximately 10,232 times already in 2014, this year I am taking the children to Florida. Naturally we're all very excited about the trip but before get to the Happiest Place on Earth we have the biggest endurance test of all - 3 hours of thumb-twiddling at the airport followed by a 10-hour flight.

I'll be honest, my children are very portable and very adaptable. They travel well and need little entertainment, normally happy with no more than a (very loooooong) game of i-spy. However that doesn't mean I go unarmed, oh no. To ensure our trip goes as smooth as possible I always make sure I have a backpack of AWESOME with me.  Here's my tips for making your flight as stress-free as possible.

A happy child is normally one with a full tummy. I always make sure I pack a pile of well-loved snacks in their bags. Generally if they are stuffing their faces, they're not whinging so that means I am happy and so are the people sitting around me! Biscuits, dried fruit packets, sweets, lollipops, fresh fruit, crisps - I don't really worry about the nutritional value when travelling.

Pack a stash of books. This works even better if they've never seen them before, the novelty factor works wonders. Puzzle books, colouring books, story books, sticker books - I take a variety and bring them out at different intervals. 

Loaded MP3 player. Whilst most (all?) long-haul flights provide seat-back entertainment and music, my children enjoy repetition and an MP3 filled with their favourite music or audio books can be a sanity saver buying you a little bit of quiet time - just make sure you show them how to use it before you go!

Give into the electronic games. I don't normally bring out games unless I have too but if you have an iPad or a Smartphone, a few well chosen Apps can be a great back-up plan, especially if you have any delays on your trip. Load it up with favourite tv shows, films, music, photo albums and new Apps that they've not seen before. 

Give into the traditional games. This is something I use as a last resort as a) I'm a terrible parent and b) I like to relax on the flight too but have some games in the memory bank and remember to bring some paper and pencils. Good games for the plane other than the ubiquitous i-spy are Noughts & Crosses, Hangman, the Shopping List game, 20 Questions and Rock Paper Scissors. 

We all love a present. I try to always bring a few small new toys - nothing expensive, remember it's the novelty factor that counts. Things like Top Trumps, Fuzzy Felt, a little doll or teddy, those little foil packets that you get characters and mini-figures in. For extra added-value you could wrap these in cheap tissue paper to make the excitement last a bit longer.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas to work with if you're taking your children on a flight. If you've got any secret tricks of your own up your sleeve, I'd love to hear about them!

Disclaimer: This post was written in association with APH who provide a range of services for independent travellers. All words are my own and in return for this post I received a package of children's books. I received no other form of payment for this post.

Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kossy/