How to entertain children on a car or plane trip

Article author: Iveta Bartošová

There are many children who, as soon as they are strapped into a car or sit down on a plane, fall asleep within a few minutes and are capable of sleeping through the whole journey. In short, when they’re on the move, they sleep. However, if you are among the parents whose children rarely or never fall asleep, we have a few tips for you on how to keep them entertained so the journey is more pleasant for everyone. 

Timing the journey correctly

If you are planning to go somewhere farther away, it is a good idea to plan the car journey for the night so the children can sleep and their biorhythm won’t be disrupted. Shorter trips can then be planned for after lunch, when even children who no longer nap during the day are more likely to fall asleep, and if they don’t, you can try some of our tips.

Flying is a little more complicated, because a night flight is nice, but you still need to get to the airport in advance and then move around the airport, which can wake the children up, and at night they may then want to romp around in the airport play area to keep themselves entertained. So for short flights, feel free to plan daytime hours, and for longer flights, depart in the evening so the children fall asleep only after boarding the plane.

Things you will definitely use on the road

To make the trip pass more easily, it is definitely worth packing the following:

• a snack and plenty of drinks - on a plane you can bring an unlimited amount for children;
• wet wipes - children get dirty easily;
• spare clothes - sometimes even wet wipes are not enough (spilled T-shirt, soiled pants);
• a car seat organizer, so the child has everything at hand - food, drinks, toys, books, etc.;
• candies or lollipops for takeoff and landing to prevent ear pressure, or if you are breastfeeding, nursing is also a great way;
• a pillow and a blanket - useful both in the car and on the plane;
• sea water spray - dry air on a plane can cause trouble and weaken a child's immunity.

How to keep children entertained on the journey

It will always depend on the age and number of children you are traveling with. Often, it is easier when you have two children rather than one, because they can keep each other entertained just by looking at each other. Either way, you can try this entertainment:

• a favorite stuffed toy;
• a favorite toy - a figure, a car, a doll;
• any toy that is new and still unfamiliar;
• books, coloring books, stickers, magnetic board, pocket board games, puzzles;
• car bingo - gradually tick off what you see along the way (e.g. a red car, a dog, a motorcycle, etc.);
• audio fairy tale in their ears;
• singing in the car;
• the silence challenge - just for part of the journey;
• a tablet with fairy tales - useful for longer trips, when you have already exhausted all prepared entertainment; it is ideal to pack headphones with the tablet too, so the child does not disturb others.

Word games

• guess what I see - can be played during a long standstill, such as in a traffic jam or while waiting at a railway crossing
• counting - count along the way how many cars have passed in the opposite direction, how many white cars, how many motorcycles, how many traffic signs you saw, etc.;
• who will see it first - for example, who will see a train first, who will see a blue car first, who will see a grandmother on the sidewalk first;
• guess who I am;
• word football - everyone says a word that begins with the letter at the end of the previous word (for example: car, monkey, stove, pineapple).

In short

Especially long journeys by car or plane can be demanding for the whole family. It is good to choose the timing carefully. It is advantageous to set off at night so that the children sleep during the trip. For the journey, it is useful to pack a snack and enough drinks for the children, but also for yourself. Also bring spare clothes in case of an accident, wet wipes, and a blanket for covering up. On the way, you can keep the children entertained with a word game such as word football, guess who I am, or who will see it first. In the car, you can sing, play an audio fairy tale, or play bingo. On the plane, you can look through books, draw, stick on stickers, or watch a fairy tale on a tablet once you’ve used up all the entertainment options.

How do you spend time traveling with children? What works best for you, and what must you not forget at home?