| How to Entertain Children on Long Flights | | | | your kids, there are things that you can do |
| | | | to help things run as smoothly as possible. |
| There is nothing as incredible as a family | | | | For one thing, when you get to the airport, |
| vacation somewhere exotic and far away. The | | | | lead them in activities that can be quietly |
| only trouble with that is that the most | | | | active. Have a competition for who can do |
| exotic and far away locations are, well, far | | | | the most jumping jacks (just watch out for |
| away! You may feel great once you have | | | | other passengers) or otherwise allow them to |
| removed yourself from the hassles of home, | | | | tire themselves out. You can keep this up on |
| and the farther away they are, the better it | | | | the plane, walking in the aisles a little |
| sometimes feels, but getting there can be | | | | when the seatbelt sign is off. Do not skip |
| especially stressful in itself, and it is | | | | naptime for young kids in hopes that they |
| really difficult when there are children who | | | | will sleep on the plane, though. Sometimes |
| are going to be coming along for the ride. | | | | the more tired they get, the harder it is for |
| | | | them to sleep. Then you will just have a |
| There are ways to break up your flights when | | | | cranky child on your hands. |
| you are traveling over a single continent, | | | | |
| with multiple stops in multiple places to | | | | Make sure that you have some of their |
| make your vacation that much more varied and | | | | favorite quiet activities on hand, whether it |
| keep your kids from losing interest or from | | | | is coloring books, toy cars (if they can play |
| getting bored because they are sitting for | | | | relatively quietly with them) or stories. |
| too long in one place. | | | | Don't let your children carry these special |
| | | | activities on, but rather dole them out over |
| If you have kids and you are crossing an | | | | the course of the trip, giving them a new |
| ocean for your vacation, though, there are | | | | thing to do each time they become bored or |
| not really many convenient ways to break up | | | | overactive with their current activity. |
| your flight and let your kids relax and | | | | |
| unwind a little, as anyone who has ever | | | | Another great idea for keeping your small |
| traveled from the United States to Australia | | | | children entertained is to make a point of |
| well knows. Keeping your kids entertained | | | | buying them a special toy like a stuffed |
| for these long periods of time can be a | | | | animal, just for the trip. Hopefully they |
| difficult challenge. | | | | will spend much time making much of their new |
| | | | toy, and less time thinking about having to |
| If you are going to be on long flights with | | | | sit still. |