20 Best Toddler Plane Activities We've Used

Toddler Plane Activities Table of Contents

Screen Free Activities (12)
Tech-Friendly Activities (4)
Snacks as Activities (3)
Games for Parents to Play (2)

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Flying with a toddler can feel like preparing for a marathon—and trust me, I’ve been there. Having taken toddlers on long-haul flights from the U.S. to Europe and Asia multiple times, I know firsthand the mix of excitement and anxiety that comes with keeping a little one happy and entertained in the sky. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks (and survived a few meltdowns) to make those hours in the air smoother for everyone. And if you have Road Trip in your future, check out my 30 Screen Free Road Trip with Toddler Tips!

Screen Free Toddler Plane Activities

These are all my tried-and-true toddler plane activities which I've used with my 2 kids flying from the US to Europe and Asia multiple times. Whether you're gearing up for a cross-country hop or an international adventure, I know these activities will help keep your toddler engaged, and entertained, and maybe even give you a chance to catch your breath!

1) Sticky Notes are the Best Toddler Plane Activity!

Sticky notes are incredibly versatile and entertaining for toddlers—they can stick them on the tray table, seatback, or even on you! Use them for creating patterns, playing peekaboo, or even as a quick canvas for little doodles. You probably have a pack laying around the house or you can check out these fun ones:

2) Reusable Water "Painting" - My Fav Mess Free Toddler Plane Activity

These books are pure magic for toddlers: just fill the water pen and let them "paint" the pages to reveal vibrant colors and designs. As the water dries, the colors fade, allowing them to start over and keep busy for hours... 100% mess free! Below are the books my kids started with as well as a very fancy one:

3) Quiet Books

Quiet books are soft and interactive, filled with activities like zipping, buttoning, and matching shapes that are perfect for curious toddlers. They’re lightweight and quiet, making them ideal for keeping your little one entertained without disturbing fellow passengers. Some might be for kindergarteners but you can always mimic and show the toddlers.

Quiet Book for Toddlers 1-3 - Farm Montessori
Toddler Quiet Board Montessori Toys for Toddlers 1-3 Year Old
Toddler Quiet Sensory Board for Learning Fine Motor Skills: Including zipper, shoelace, belt, button, clock, calendar, shapes matching, threading 1 2 3 numbers, A B C and 1 2 3 hook&loop letter, and jigsaw animal puzzle.

4) Magnetic Drawing Boards - We Always Brought One on the Plane!

A magnetic drawing board offers endless creative possibilities without any risk of stains or messes. Your child can draw, erase, and start over as often as they like, making it a fantastic reusable option for flights. You can get these at the Dollar Stores or below are a couple of good ones perfect to fit in a toddler backpack for the plane.

5) Coloring Books and Crayons - Classic Toddler Airplane Activity

Small coloring books and a handful of crayons are easy to pack and provide endless creativity. Pro Tip: Choose triangular crayons to prevent them from rolling off the tray table mid-flight.

6) Sticker Books = Hours of Fun!

Sticker books are a classic travel activity that lets toddlers decorate scenes, create stories, or simply peel and stick for fun. They’re great for fine motor skills and keep little hands occupied without making a mess. I highly recommend the Melissa and Doug ones because the stickers are easier for little toddler hands:

7) Lacing Cards

Lacing cards help toddlers develop fine motor skills by threading strings through colorful shapes or pictures. Compact and easy to store, they’re a great way to keep little hands engaged on a plane. Pro Tip: Tie the lace to one end so it doesn't drop into the seat or on the floor!

8) LCD Writing Tablet - Great for Toddlers and Old Kids on Planes!

This lightweight gadget allows your toddler to draw, scribble, or practice letters with a stylus, and a single button erases the screen for endless use. It’s a quiet and mess-free way to encourage creativity during the flight.

Pro Tip: Only purchase the ones with a STRING to attach the stylus!

I've also included these in my Kids Car Activities Blog post!

9) Toy Cars or Animals in Paper Bags

Hide small toy cars or animals in paper bags for a fun unwrapping game that adds an element of surprise. Once revealed, your toddler can use the toys for imaginative play on the tray table. Then draw on the brown bags to create puppets! This is an easy one to find around your house or some ideas below:

Hot Wheels 10 Individually Packed Cars
Dinosaur Toy Pull Back Cars, 6 Pack
Small Animal Figures: Mini Jungle Toy Set with Sensory Bin, Realistic Wild Animal Kingdom, Zoo, Ocean, Farm Animals Figurines

10) Finger Puppets - Great Imaginative Play on the Plane!

Finger puppets are perfect for creating little stories or putting on a puppet show for your toddler. They’re lightweight, compact, and great for interactive play that sparks their imagination. We bought ours at Ikea but there are also some listed below:

11) New to Them Books

Bringing a couple of new or unfamiliar books adds excitement as your toddler discovers the story for the first time. Choose books with interactive elements like flaps or textures to keep them even more engaged like the ones below (or find at your local library for free!)

Amazing Airplane - Touch and Feel Board Book - Sensory Board Book
We are Going on an Airplane! A Book to Prepare Young Children & Toddlers For Their First Flight
Construction Site: Taking Flight!

12) Yoto Player

The Yoto Player is a portable audio device that plays kid-friendly stories, songs, or even white noise for naps. Its screen-free design lets toddlers independently enjoy content while giving you a moment of peace. I think this is the only one on this list that I have not used as my kids are older now but it looks amazing and I would loved to have used it!

Yoto Mini (2024 Edition)
- Kids Screen-Free Bluetooth Audio Player
- All-in-1 Travel Device
- Plays Stories Music Podcast Radio
- Ok-to-Wake Clock
- Use as Speaker or with Headphones
Hard Case Compatible with Yoto Mini Kids Yoto Disney Classics 6 Audiobooks
Yoto Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood 8 Stories

Tech-Friendly Activities for Toddlers on Airplanes

These tech-friendly options allow your little one to engage with content they love while giving you some peace of mind during your flight.

13) Apps for Toddlers

Preload a few engaging apps to keep your toddler entertained and learning on the go. Great options include Endless Alphabet, where kids learn letters and words with fun animations, and Toca Boca apps like Toca Kitchen or Toca Builders for imaginative play.

14) Podcasts for Toddlers

Podcasts are a screen-free way to entertain your toddler with stories or songs. Download episodes of “Little Stories for Tiny People” for delightful short tales or "Your Classical Kids Storytime" from Minnesota Public Radio.

15) Interactive E-Books

E-books with touch-activated features add an exciting twist to storytime. Try “The Monster at the End of This Book” (Sesame Street) for a classic interactive experience or Dr. Seuss’s digital beginner books that bring the illustrations to life with sound effects and surprises. You can easily purchase these on a Kindle Fire.

16) Songs

A playlist of your toddler’s favorite tunes can be a lifesaver on flights, providing entertainment and a way to burn off energy. Consider curating a Spotify playlist like “Toddler Tunes”, or bring along one of my personal favorite kids music Raffi timeless albums featuring sing-along hits like “Baby Beluga” and “Bananaphone." And for incredible original songs for toddlers check out Miss Katie Sings. She creates sons to support kids in social-emotional learning, imaginative play and community care! YouTube here and Spotify here!

Snack Activities for Toddlers on Airplanes

I met a military family once and asked the mom how in the world she managed to fly with 3 kids by herself from the East Coast to Japan and she said one phrase, "make everything take long!" Does your child want cheerios? One at a time! If your kiddo wants a snack, make a game and have them sort it! Below are other ideas.

17) Snack Necklaces - Fun & Delicious Toddler Plane Activity

String cereal like Cheerios or pretzels onto a piece of yarn or string to create an edible necklace. It’s a fun activity that keeps little hands busy and doubles as a convenient snack they can nibble on whenever they like.

18) Snack Sorting

Bring a mix of small snacks like colored goldfish, cereal, or fruit snacks and encourage your toddler to sort them by color, shape, or size. This simple game is great for teaching early categorization skills and can keep them occupied for quite a while.

19) Snack Surprise Bag

Pack small portions of different snacks in individual bags or containers (I used a pill container), and let your toddler open them one at a time as a “surprise.” The anticipation of discovering what’s inside each bag adds an element of fun and excitement to snack time. You can find these easily at the Dollar Tree or online here or larger one here.

Game Activities for Toddlers on Planes

These interactive activities help create memorable moments during the flight and keep toddlers entertained with the simplest tools—their imagination and a little guidance from you!

20) Finger Games - Classic Free Toddler Activities For the Plane

Classic finger games like "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "Where Is Thumbkin?" are perfect for keeping toddlers engaged while seated. You can also make up your own finger-play rhymes, adding new movements or actions to keep your little one entertained and giggling. These games are great for bonding and require no materials, making them an ideal option when space is tight.

BONUS: Plane-Themed Scavenger Hunt

Turn the flight into a mini adventure by creating a scavenger hunt with items your toddler can find around their seat or nearby. Include things like the seatbelt, the window shade, a magazine, or the tray table. You can also make it interactive by asking questions like, “Can you find something shiny?” or “Where’s the button to call the flight attendant?” This activity keeps your child engaged and curious, turning the plane into a world of discovery.