We took a couple of different trips this past summer with Harrison. He was very, very mobile, uninterested in screentime for any length of time at this point, and he is suuuuuper active and physical. Basically, I’m telling you that being trapped on a plane with Harrison on our laps for hours on end was like gearing up for our Super Bowl. Child vs. Parents. Who would win? Would we all be in a good mood leaving the plane? Or would we embarrassingly shuffle out with a screaming child?

I’m happy to report that we survived both sets of flights. Surviving is key. That is the most basic of goals. But we were able to keep Harrison pretty well entertained for hours on end. Here are some of the activities I brought to keep our little man busy.

These craft poms and his stacking cups. He spent thirty minutes taking the poms out of the bag, putting them in the cups, putting them back in the bag. Not to mention that he loved playing ‘which hand is the Pom in?’ With his Daddy.

Post-it notes and stickers. He can tear sticky notes apart, crinkle them, stick them to the seat or tray table, stick them on his head, on his mommy’s head. He loves taking the stickers and putting them on different body parts. And then peeling them off, and seeing if they stick again to a different body part. Good for another 15 minutes of activity.

Window clings. Harrison loved putting the clings on the window and off and on again. There’s a pattern here. And it’s name is repetition.

These coloring books. Zero mess. Happy mama.

Loads of snacks. All the snacks. Every last one. Pack it. When in doubt, feed the child.

What’s worked for you with a toddler on a plane?