Page 2 | 4 hour flight with 9 and 12 year old - no screens

supersun23 · 2025-10-14T10:04:43+00:00

Need ideas to keep them amused. We don't have access to screens. Any good ideas? TIA

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 14/10/2025 11:30

didntlikeanyofthesuggestions · 14/10/2025 11:17

Years ago I travelled with two young children without screens and organised a treasure hunt around the plane once the seatbelts signs were off. I hid a series of clues and prizes around the plane and once they got bored of looking out the window they were allowed to start.

It kept them amused for 20 minutes before someone complained and they were asked to sit down again. People moan when kids are in screens and they moan when they're given an activity to do - you can't win.

This does not sound like a good idea at all 😯
And I think if people noticed you hiding stuff randomly around the plane it would make them quite nervous. Fear of explosives etc.

DingDongJingle · 14/10/2025 11:33

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 14/10/2025 11:30

This does not sound like a good idea at all 😯
And I think if people noticed you hiding stuff randomly around the plane it would make them quite nervous. Fear of explosives etc.

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Also, where on earth would you hide stuff? You couldn’t hide it amongst other people’s belonging/in their seating areas as they’d be disruptive to other passengers while seeking it out, and that doesn’t leave many other places to hide it! Seems a really bizarre thing to do in an enclosed space.

HannahHamptonsGloves · 14/10/2025 11:35

I know there will be loads of wholesome, much much better parents than me saying "Just read a book and play eye spy" in a superior way, but honestly unless there is a very specific reason you can't have a screen I'd just let them watch a movie or two on a tablet/phone. One device and two pairs of headphones and a headphone splitter = a very chilled out time all round. It's hardly going to break their brains! Would you not let them watch a film if there were seat back screens?

I remember when even short haul to Europe had in flight screens - often ones dotted down the cabin so you all had to watch the same thing. And they always used to have several different 'radio' stations you could listen to through the headphone jack in your arm rest. I think it's only with the advent of budget airlines that's gone.

Bitzee · 14/10/2025 12:03

HannahHamptonsGloves · 14/10/2025 11:35

I know there will be loads of wholesome, much much better parents than me saying "Just read a book and play eye spy" in a superior way, but honestly unless there is a very specific reason you can't have a screen I'd just let them watch a movie or two on a tablet/phone. One device and two pairs of headphones and a headphone splitter = a very chilled out time all round. It's hardly going to break their brains! Would you not let them watch a film if there were seat back screens?

I remember when even short haul to Europe had in flight screens - often ones dotted down the cabin so you all had to watch the same thing. And they always used to have several different 'radio' stations you could listen to through the headphone jack in your arm rest. I think it's only with the advent of budget airlines that's gone.

Yes exactly. Back in the pre iPad era short haul flights weren’t usually screen free and you’d get something reasonably family friendly on screens dotted around the cabin that you could plug into. I recall The Simpsons on the way to Italy when I would have been about 7. It all went away with the low cost carriers and also it’s just not needed now everyone has a screen in their pocket. Except young kids. But I do find it a tad unfair to hold them to a higher standard of self entertainment than the 1990s kids or today’s adults!

minipie · 14/10/2025 12:06

HannahHamptonsGloves · 14/10/2025 11:35

I know there will be loads of wholesome, much much better parents than me saying "Just read a book and play eye spy" in a superior way, but honestly unless there is a very specific reason you can't have a screen I'd just let them watch a movie or two on a tablet/phone. One device and two pairs of headphones and a headphone splitter = a very chilled out time all round. It's hardly going to break their brains! Would you not let them watch a film if there were seat back screens?

I remember when even short haul to Europe had in flight screens - often ones dotted down the cabin so you all had to watch the same thing. And they always used to have several different 'radio' stations you could listen to through the headphone jack in your arm rest. I think it's only with the advent of budget airlines that's gone.

Yes I remember this too. I don’t think they’ve disappeared just because of budget airlines, it’s also because everyone now has their own device! Except OP’s kids.

Girasoli · 14/10/2025 13:03

We quite often do 4h train rides with the DC (9 and 5) and we do a mix of dobble (they love this but i have to make sure they don't get too loud), proper book for the eldest and notepad/drawing for the youngest and a walk to the bar carriage for a snack.

Also (if we get desperate) if you turn your phone to airplane mode there is a little dinosaur jumping game.