To ask for advice on how to keep kids entertained on a long flight

[Tipsojplease]

I’m flying out to Mexico later today to go and stay with my mother for a bit and it will be nice for us all to have a break. It’s just me as DH can’t come my dc are 15, 9. 5 and 2 obviously the older ones will be ok but can you give me any tips on how to keep the younger ones entertained (preferably quietly)

[HugeAckmansWife]

Ipad phone ec but with earphones absolutely not negotiable. Colouring, stickers, reading v quietly to them. For the 5 yo some kind of card game. Hopefully they'll sleep as well.

[shouldistop]

Yes to iPad with earphones, snacks, hopefully a nap

[emmathedilemma]

You probably should have thought about this sooner! books, stickers, colouring, ipad......hope they sleep......
Do not pump them full of sugar and then expect them to sit still!!

[AWanderingMinstrel]

Small games/gifts/activities etc- wrap them up and open one every hour. Four children 2 years apart, expats and lots of flights- in the days before iPads!

[Plumbear2]

I pads, headphones, games, peppa pig etc. Yes we used to take books and pens in days gone by but if I pads work use them theres no shame in it.

[winesolveseverything]

iPads and snacks have been what's worked well for mine at that age.

I used to make them up a lunch box of different things in little packets.

Sticker books were always good.

A magazine with a load of plastic tat on the front kills a bit of time.

Lots of wipes and a spare outfit for the little one. And enough nappies for each hour that you are travelling if still using them.

It is never as bad as you think.

You probably won't have time now but there used to be a good website called 'jet lag and mayhem' which was done by a mum who used to travel a lot, usually alone with her young children. That had some useful tips too.

Have a great time

[Bert2020]

Take all the snacks you can! It fills time and if they don’t like the food offered they will be hungry.

[winesolveseverything]

Just remembered- there are some brilliant apps for tiny ones called "Video touch- vehicles, animals, instruments etc.
Lots of different ones. You have to pay a small amount for them but they were worth their weight in gold when mine were toddlers.

It's basically lots of very short video clips of different animals, or vehicles, or pets. Great for short attention spans. My little boy used to spend hours watching a clip of a bin lorry emptying a bin over and over!