Parents jetting off on a holiday with their family this summer are encouraged to follow some easy tips to keep their children entertained during the flight. Confectionery experts at Wholesale Sweets have put together a list of suggestions to avoid every parent’s worst nightmare - a noisy tantrum on a long plane journey.
Spending a long time at the airport going through security and waiting for the flight, to then be stuck on the plane for hours can be exhausting. However, there are plenty of options to make the kids feel comfortable and happily engaged during the flight, promising a stress-free experience for the entire family.
Kathryn Hague, from Wholesale Sweets, said: “A little preparation can go a long way when travelling with children. The excitement can quickly turn into exhaustion when children’s routines get disrupted in an unfamiliar and busy environment, especially with missing naps and delayed mealtimes.
“Make sure you prepare some activities, bring plenty of snacks and most importantly stay calm when you’re embarking your summer holiday.” Here are some suggestions on keeping the kids occupied on a plane:
Get them a seat by the window
Gazing out of the window will keep them distracted during the take off and landing. Flying is a thrilling experience and the kids will appreciate being able to see how everything looks so tiny while being up in the air.
Download music, films, games or audiobooks
The easiest way to keep the children occupied is to make sure you’ve downloaded something for them to watch or listen to on their devices. This way the children can entertain themselves and it gives the parents a chance to catch a breath amid the travelling havoc. If you don’t want the kids to stare at the screens for too long, then they can close their eyes and relax while tuning into an audiobook or listening to music.
Colouring books
Colouring is a relaxing tech-free activity that will help your child unwind from all the travelling exhilaration. You could get them a themed colouring book that has their favourite characters and don’t forget to bring some pencils or crayons.
Play card games
Kids who are a bit older might want to spend the plane journey attached to their screens, so if you want to give their eyes a break, then pack a card game in your cabin bag. You could go for a pack of classic playing cards or jazz it up with Monopoly Deal, Uno or What do you Meme.
Pack plenty of snacks
Have a good mix of healthy snacks to keep them happy and satisfied throughout the flight. Bulk buy the sweets with wholesale prices before your holiday. You can create a pick and mix from your favourites in your stash to take on the flight. This way you’ll ensure that you won’t have to resort to buying overpriced snacks from the food trolley.
Read a book
Your child will listen quietly while you read an interesting story to them while pointing at the illustrations and having a discussion with them. You can also get a book that is about planes or travelling which makes being up in the air even more exciting. If you’re travelling with older children then you could get them a new page-turner for the holiday.
Take their favourite toy
When children are in an unfamiliar environment, then it’s good to bring along something that reminds them of home. If they have a favourite toy or stuffed animal, then having it around might alleviate their travel fears and make them feel more comfortable.
Prepare a surprise
This doesn’t have to be big - for example you can treat them to playful sweets that keep them entertained for hours, like PEZ candy dispensers, candy necklaces and bracelets or light up lollipop dolls.
Lick on a lollipop for the air pressure
One way to make sure that your trip goes without a hitch is to avoid the children’s ears getting blocked during take off and landing. Although it’s a common part of flying, it can be scary and uncomfortable for the little ones. This can be prevented with a method that children will have no objections against - give them a Chupa Chups lollipop or hard candy to suck, which will help equalise the air pressure.
Pack pyjamas and a blanket
The best possible option for every parent would be if their child slept through the flight, but sometimes children struggle to fall asleep in new places. The best way to help your kids get some shut eye is to make them feel as cosy as possible. Pack their favourite pyjamas and a blanket that they can snuggle to before easing into deep slumber.
