Surviving an airplane ride with an antsy toddler is not easy. The last time we flew on an airplane with my son he was about to turn 2 and the plane ride was almost 4 hours, so we had to come up with a few tricks to keep the trip as enjoyable as possible for him, us, and the rest of the passengers.

New, bright, and shiny toys

I know it’s bad, but seriously, if you want to ensure a toddler will pay attention to a toy, buy them a new toy just for the plane trip. And buy them a toy that can be used in a variety of ways. One toy that works extremely well for us is the Fisher-Price Doodle Pro Tag-Along. There is absolutely no mess, and you won’t have to climb under seats to find dropped markers or crayons.

You can use it in a variety of ways. We use it to practice letters, numbers, and shapes. We also use it to help him practice his drawing skills. But, if the child is a bit older, you can use it to play tic-tac-toe, hangman, and other simple games. [Read more...]