Are you excited to take your kids on a holiday but worried about keeping them entertained on the plane?
More than 90% of parents surveyed in 2025 said they were likely to travel with their children in the following 12 months. As a parent, helping your kids stay calm, well-behaved, and engaged during long flights can be a challenge. It’s especially tough if your kids hate flying and struggle to relax until the plane lands.
Fortunately, you have more kid-friendly entertainment options today than ever — we’ll explore six below to help you fly in peace.
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Activity Packs
A good activity pack is loaded with enough fun stuff to amuse young kids. We’re talking mazes, colouring books, sticker sets, or word puzzles. Activity packs are often themed, focusing on dinosaurs, cute animals, Disney movies, and more.
With so many options, it should be easy to match a pack to your little one’s interests. An entire pack might not be enough to keep them occupied for a long flight. But it can encourage them to settle and concentrate for an hour or two. Save it for the restless stretch mid-flight rather than pulling it out straight after takeoff, so you have something fresh when they need it most.
Card Games
Card games are a quick and easy entertainment option when travelling with kids. A deck of standard playing cards may work for older kids who know how to play blackjack or poker. But simpler card sets are best for young children with no interest in traditional games.
For instance, Top Trumps is a popular card game for players of all ages. The concept is easy enough for young kids to understand, and there are plenty of themed packs to try.
Other options include:
- Uno
- Snap games
- Memory games
- Go fish
For teens who don’t want to use old-school playing cards, try something a little more exciting. Fluxx is a great pick, especially with sets based on Marvel characters, Doctor Who, and Star Trek.
Media Loaded Smartphones and Tablets
Loading a tablet up with fun films, shows, games, books, or comics puts hours of entertainment in your kid’s hands. Educational apps that combine interaction and learning are a fantastic way to engage their brain, too.
However, like any parent, you may be concerned about your kids using apps or websites that could be harmful. A smartphone or tablet is an easy tool to keep kids quiet, but you want to protect them.
Fortunately, you can choose the best parental control apps to help you keep your kids safe while they use any device. They’re simple to set up and prevent little ones from seeing inappropriate content or communicating with people they shouldn’t.
Before your kids start watching or listening, give them comfortable headphones that don’t leak sound. Otherwise, the noise from their apps and media is likely to annoy other passengers.
Travel Board Games
Some of the most popular board games ever made come in convenient travel sets. If your kids are old enough for Cluedo, Monopoly, or Battleships, you can treat them to a plane-ready version. These are suitable for small tables or laps and include everything you need for a full gaming experience.
Think your children may be a little too young for these classics? Amazon or any other store selling board games should offer plenty of options for little ones, too. Magnetic games (such as Snakes and Ladders) are ideal for flights and clumsy young hands.
Fidget Toys
Fidget toys are small and easy to pack in a rucksack, ready to pull out after takeoff. A squishy ball, a puzzling cube, or any other type of fidget goodie can help kids focus during flights. These toys could make a big difference to your kid’s mood if they’re afraid of flying or overtired, too.
You can choose from fidget toys that twist, bend, stretch, spin, light up, and feature squishy parts. The sheer range of options means there’s a toy for every kid.
Consider trying a few fidget toys at home before you go on a holiday. It will give you a good idea of what your kid likes and dislikes. A little hands-on research will stop you from giving them an unsatisfying toy when you’re already in the air. Bring two or three different types so you can rotate them if your child loses interest or one ends up under someone else’s seat.
Mini Jigsaws
In-flight entertainment doesn’t come much more straightforward than jigsaws. You can find mini jigsaws for everyone — from little kids to adults.
Piecing parts together can keep children engaged, especially if they’re making a picture of a character they love. Get a set with fewer, larger pieces and consider a small rollable mat to hold pieces in place for later use.
Making the Right Entertainment Decision for Your Family
You can pass long flights in many ways, but finding the right solutions for your family may take time. Discuss the flight and ways to pass the time well in advance. If your kids understand how long they’ll be in the air, they may feel excited about suggesting ideas.
Allowing your children to make suggestions can help you find entertainment options that work for everyone. But always have a backup or two in your carry-on luggage just in case!
*This post has been contributed to Owl Over The World.
**Featured photo is by minho jeong on Unsplash