12 Toddler Airplane Activities That Really Work for Long-Haul Flights

Got a long flight coming up with your little one? I know that feeling – equal parts excitement and “Oh my gosh, what am I getting myself into?” But don’t worry, I’ve got your back!

After countless flights with my own toddlers, I’ve put together a list of 12 activities that actually work. Trust me, these aren’t just Pinterest dreams – they’ve been battle-tested at 30,000 feet with real, squirmy toddlers. From easy no-prep singalongs and snacks that’ll keep those little hands busy, I’ve got you covered.

So grab a coffee, settle in, and let’s chat about how to turn your next flight into an adventure rather than a nightmare.

1. Sing-along Silliness

Who says you need fancy toys to have fun? Bust out those classic nursery rhymes and watch your toddler light up! From the alphabet song to “Ba Ba Black Sheep” to “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” singing is a free and fun way to pass the time.

Pro tip: Add some hand motions or silly faces for extra giggles.

Here are the lyrics to some common nursery rhymes if you have forgotten them:

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
How I wonder what you are!

Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
How I wonder what you are!

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full
One for the master, one for the dame
One for the little boy who lives down the lane
Baa, baa, black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full

Baa, baa, blue sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full
One for the master, one for the dame
One for the little boy who lives down the lane
Baa, baa, blue sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full

Baa, baa, pink sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full
One for the master, one for the dame
One for the little boy who lives down the lane
Baa, baa, pink sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full

Baa, baa, white sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full
One for the master, one for the dame
One for the little boy who lives down the lane
Baa, baa, white sheep, have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir, three bags full

If You’re Happy and You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands
If you’re happy and you know it
Then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet
If you’re happy and you know it
Then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet

If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray (hurray)
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray (hurray)
If you’re happy and you know it
Then face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, shout hurray (hurray)

If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (hurray)
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (hurray)
If you’re happy and you know it
Then your face will surely show it
If you’re happy and you know it, do all three (hurray)

Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some cows
Ee i ee i oh
With a moo-moo here
And a moo-moo there
Here a moo, there a moo
Everywhere a moo-moo
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some chicks
Ee i ee i o
With a cluck-cluck here
And a cluck-cluck there
Here a cluck, there a cluck
Everywhere a cluck-cluck
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o
And on his farm he had some pigs
Ee i ee i o
With an oink-oink here
And an oink-oink there
Here an oink, there an oink
Everywhere an oink-oink
Old MacDonald had a farm
Ee i ee i o

Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Pat it and prick it and mark it with “B”
Put it in the oven for baby and me

For baby and me
For baby and me
And there will be plenty for baby and me

Pat-a-cake, pat-a-cake baker’s man
Bake me a cake as fast as you can
Pat it and prick it and mark it with “B”
Put it in the oven for baby and me

For baby and me
For baby and me
And there will be plenty for baby and me

2. I Spy

Turn your surroundings into a game! Point out different objects, colors, or shapes around the plane.

• “Can you find something blue?”
• “Where’s a circle?”

This activity is not only entertaining but educational too.

Bonus points if you do it in a second language – your little linguist will be impressing the flight attendants in no time! I’m trying to teach my 3 year old daughter Vietnamese, so we are currently learning colors, numbers, objects, and animals in Vietnamese through books and songs.

3. Drawing and Guessing

Grab a drawing tablet, iPad drawing app, pen and paper, or even napkin and start a game of draw-and-guess. Draw simple shapes, faces, or animals and let your toddler guess what they are. Then, switch roles. If they can draw, let their imagination run wild! My daughter draws shapes and houses and trees mostly.

Some simple ideas to draw:

• Shapes (triangle, square, circle, star, heart)
• Faces (happy, sad, mad)
• Letters
• Numbers
• Nature (trees, flowers, clouds, sun)

4. Coloring Fun

Water Wow Coloring books are also great for mess-free coloring. As soon as the brush hits that special paper, boom…COLORS! Even cooler than that is that once the page dries, it becomes white like a blank canvas again, ready to color another time. We took this to Thailand with us and our 2 year old, Serena, loved coloring it on the plane and sometimes when we had downtime at the hotel. You can also buy several of these to keep it interesting and new. I also use these as educational and we can identify different objects on the page together.

Bring crayons and a coloring book for a classic entertainment option.

💡 Pro-tip: Triangular crayons are easier for young toddlers to hold and less likely to roll off the airplane tray.

5. Stickers

Make-a-face sticker sets are a lifesaver! These lightweight, mess-free sets are perfect for travel and can keep your little one entertained for a good chunk of time. Kids can create silly faces on animals and characters with fun props, though be prepared for some interesting creations as little ones don’t always put objects and props where you’d expect!

I love these sets because they come with a variety of characters, so when your toddler finishes one, there’s always a different one to try next. They’re incredibly versatile – I’ve used them on planes, at restaurants, and even to entertain my nieces and nephews during family dinners out.

As an added bonus, you can toss the completed sheets as you go, lightening your bag throughout the trip. I’ve even shared extras with other young travelers we’ve met, like a 3-year-old during our layover in Taipei. It’s a great way to spread a little joy and maybe make a new friend along the way!

This is something I always stock in our diaper bag, except I buy different versions of it to go with the season. I’ve gotten an Easter set, a Halloween set, a Thanksgiving set, and a Christmas set.

6. Fidget Fun

Fidget spinners and Pop-its are great for keeping little hands busy. Look for ones with suction cups to stick to tray tables or windows.

We borrowed some fidget spinning toys from my sister on our Europe trip, and wow, did it keep her entertained. We used it on a window of the airport while waiting to board, on the window of the airplane during our 12 hour flight to London, on train tables throughout Europe, at restaurant tables in Europe. There were 3 different colors with different animals, so I would rotate between them to keep it new and interesting. Ultimately, fidget toys are fun, even for me!

Pop-its are perfect for sensory stimulation. It’s such a simple, quiet, yet fun toy, and can help calm anxious travelers.

7. Window Clings

Gel window clings are a fun way to decorate the airplane window. They’re easily removable and can be used multiple times. Create scenes, practice letters, or just enjoy the squishy texture.

8. Busy Books

Quiet books or busy books are fabric books with interactive pages. They often include activities like zipping, buttoning, or matching, which are great for fine motor skills and keeping little ones engaged. These books have a variety of different shapes, colors, textures that make each page fun as kids want to touch the textures and identify shapes and more. Basically each page has a slightly different activity. I’m a huge fan of these.

However, stay away from the busy books that have a lot of detached pieces. Pieces must be attached! You don’t want another item to bring where you can lose pieces. It’ll make your child whine and you frustrated.

9. Walking the Aisle

The difference between car road trips and flights is that you’re allowed to move around and take off your seat belt when the seat belt sign is off!

On long flights, letting your toddler walk down the aisle can be a good way to burn off energy. Just ensure the seatbelt sign isn’t on, and it’s not meal time when flight attendants are busy taking food orders.

10. Snacks and Drinks

Never underestimate the power of snacks! Pack a variety of healthy options in small containers.

Toddler-friendly snacks include:

• Milk (if bringing whole milk, I think the shelf-stable milk is most convenient because it doesn’t have to be refrigerated)
• Pureed pouches (way more convenient and less messy than feeding your child from a baby food jar and a spoon)
• Dissolvable puffs or cereal
• Fruits like bananas and tangerines
• Gummy bears and Pockys (for occasional treats)

Did you know that TSA allows pureed pouches, formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, baby food, and ice packs to keep any of these items cold in carry-ons as “medically necessary liquids,” even if they’re over 3.4oz (100ml)?

Turn snack time into an activity:

• Count out pieces of cereal
• Make a cereal necklace
• Build a snack tower
• Form numbers or letters with food

If you forget to pack snacks, don’t worry. Almost all airlines offer free snacks and drinks like juice, water, chips, crackers, and cookies, so all you have to do is ask the flight attendant.

11. Screen Time

When nothing you bring works or you have no more energy to entertain your toddler, I think it’s perfectly reasonable to pull out the screen!

Prepare: Download videos and apps on a tablet, iPad, or phone before the flight. Aim for content that works offline.

Ipad/Tablet Apps for Toddlers include:

• YouTube Kids videos or Disney+ movies for offline viewing
• Baby piano app (something different and interesting that my baby and toddler both like)
• Drawing app (a favorite of my toddler)
• Khan Academy Kids app
• Duolingo ABC app
• PBS Kids Game app
• PBS Kids app
• Toca House app (my toddler really likes this one for some reason)

No prep:

• You can also show your toddler photos and videos of family or friends, which can be both entertaining and comforting during the flight.
• On longer flights, airplanes will usually have a TV screen where you can select kid-friendly TV shows and movies to play for your child.

12. New Toys: A Surprise Up Your Sleeve

When it comes to keeping toddlers entertained on flights, sometimes the element of surprise is your best ally. Pack a few new or “new-ish” toys that are lightweight, have few or no detachable pieces, and are reusable for future trips. Remember, don’t bring anything you can’t bear to lose – accidents happen, especially when you’re on the go!

The key is to introduce these toys strategically throughout the journey. Keep them hidden and bring them out one at a time when your little one starts to get restless. For an extra touch of excitement, try wrapping each toy in tissue paper – unwrapping becomes part of the fun!

You don’t need to break the bank for these surprise toys. Check out budget-friendly options at stores like Daiso, Dollar Tree, or Target’s Bullseye’s Playground section. While these cheaper toys might not get as much long-term use, they can be lifesavers during your trip, whether you’re on the plane, at your hotel, or trying to keep your toddler seated at a restaurant. You can also browse toys at the gift shops at the airport and let them pick. That’s where I found this cute coloring book above (at the airport).

On your return flight, one of these new toys could also be a souvenir from your travel destination to remind your child of their trip.

If you’re looking for even more ideas to keep your little one entertained, check out my post on The Best Toys to Entertain Toddlers on a Flight. It’s packed with additional suggestions for travel-friendly toys that can make your journey smoother.

Final Thoughts: Entertaining Toddlers on the Plane

There you have it – 12 toddler-approved activities to survive and conquer long-haul flights! Remember, variety and preparation are key. Mix and match these activities, introduce them gradually, and stay flexible.

Every child is different, so be patient and don’t forget to take care of yourself too. With these ideas, you’re well-equipped to turn a potentially stressful experience into a fun adventure.

And hey, fellow parents, we’re all in this together! If you have a great activity that worked for your toddler, please share it in the comments below. Your tips could be a lifesaver for others.

If you try any of these activities and they work for your toddler, tag me on Instagram or Facebook at @diaperstodestinations. Your success stories not only make my day but also help other parents.