Gallery: HOW TO: Fly Cross-Country Wit...
6. The digital dilemma & my favorite iPad apps for young kids
First of all, let me start this off by saying that I'm an anti-media kind of parent, so I'm not condoning a no-holds-barred access to digital technology for kids. I don't let my son watch TV and I definitely think that TV watching and excessive gadget use is bad for developing young brains. That said, there are some moments (such as on your 5th hour in an airplane), when your child is getting fidgety, tired, tantrum-y, and is no longer engaged with books, toys, or treats and you just get desperate. For those such moments I recommend the following:
+ Home photos / video on the phone or iPad
see point #5
If you've exhausted that one...
iPad / iPhone Apps For Kids + Ballonimals
+ First Words: Animals
+ Dr. Seuss ABCs
+ Glow Coloring
+ Animal Fun
+ Talking Tom
+ Fish School
First of all, let me start this off by saying that I'm an anti-media kind of parent, so I'm not condoning a no-holds-barred access to digital technology for kids. I don't let my son watch TV and I definitely think that TV watching and excessive gadget use is bad for developing young brains. That said, there are some moments (such as on your 5th hour in an airplane), when your child is getting fidgety, tired, tantrum-y, and is no longer engaged with books, toys, or treats and you just get desperate. For those such moments I recommend the following:
+ Home photos / video on the phone or iPad
see point #5
If you've exhausted that one...
iPad / iPhone Apps For Kids + Ballonimals
+ First Words: Animals
+ Dr. Seuss ABCs
+ Glow Coloring
+ Animal Fun
+ Talking Tom
+ Fish School
I think some of these tips could work on my boyfriend as well.
Smart ideas, especially taking photos and looking at pics. Kids love that!
LOL Yuka. I think the key point for any age is to pack snacks galore! I’ll be using the surprise gifts tip too! Thanks!
Also check out the First Flight audio download here: http://bit.ly/q8mBoc
Great for reducing the likelihood of meltdowns from the strange new sounds encountered during travel.
We’ve passed many a 1/2 hour playing “I spy with my little eye.”
other ideas for toddlers that help esp during takeoff & landing when you can’t use electronic devices:
in a ziploc-sized reusable bag, have crayons/markers (clementine), small writing pad (ecojot), a half dozen lego blocks, a travel-sized container with two q-tips for him/her to pull out & put in (discovered this by accident–more environmental option probably could be imagined), 1-2 small toys (we have a tiny wind-up train that i had as a child and a plan toy bus), and stickers (we use free ones sent in mail solicitations that would be trash anyway). only pull out this bag at takeoff and landing–otherwise, the novelty wears off.
Small children do not belong on planes. Period. There is no way to guarantee that they will not disturb dozens of people who paid full fare for a peaceful flight and they do not need the disruption of a child to ruin their trip. Leave the kid at home or wait until it’s old enough to be considerate. Selfish parent. Selfish child.
Nice tips! I made many long plane trips with my children. Fourteen hours! Two games only needing pencil and paper are “Sprouts” and “Boxes”. Surprise gifts were timed to landmarks or an actual event. Also, I had unplanned gifts too. Changing outfits takes up some time. Backscratching, my kids liked tickles. Drawing a story they tell you. When mine were young I could cut out paper dolls. With newsprint paper you can tear out paper dolls and animals. Tapping out name that tune like Jingle Bells. Cleaning out moms purse was always a hit. My two liked to be read to into their early teens. We read The Hobbit to Australia and Jurassic Park home. My daughter later carried her Red Cross babysitter certificate to show and carried many a cranky kid up and down the aisles. Anyway anybody can think to make that time pass!
There’s nothing selfish about taking my 16 month old to Australia to see half of this family that he’s never seen before, especially a grandmother that has failing health. We need more patience and understanding in the world.