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ADVICE-longhaul with toddlers

8 replies

spiceisnice · 02/03/2011 20:42

Has anyone got any ingenious tips on how to keep 2 boisterous boys entertained and happy on a Uk to Oz flight???? (ages 19 months and just over 3 years)

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cheekeymonkey · 02/03/2011 21:51

I have seen on offer somewhere a really good deal on 2 dvd portable players.Sorry wish I could remember where. Found these invaluable on long haul flights with a 3yr old as in flight programmming not always entertaining for adults OR children. Air staff usually give you crayoning etc when you board.Also the ipod or dsi are good for games. Sounds expensive but our little one wasn't bored or annoying to other passengers.Also plenty of sleepy carbs like rice and absolutely NO chocolate - due to the caffeine. Sound fab, am jealous!

mono3 · 02/03/2011 22:02

Done this a number of times as we used to live there and used to pack a bag of new little toys that they had never seen before - nothing expensive. Spread them out over the journey. Play dough was a great favourite and with a few tools entertained for a while. Not as messy as it sounds. Def agree with dvds as even though in flight entertainment good sometimes does not suit all ages. Good to have a few fav things to watch.

And is all else fails my DS1 used to love playing with the taps in the toilet! (Not ideal though!)
Also very jealous. Would love a bit of sun. Enjoy!

MotherJack · 02/03/2011 22:09

Oh, I asked this question a few years ago. Best tip I got was a selection of new toys, but not just new toys... new toys wrapped in gift paper. They needn't be expensive at all, but totally hidden until the journey itself (and you need to be light in terms of cabin baggage weights). One of the best things I wrapped was one of those drawing board thingummies with a stylus/stamper that you can wipe clean. Also just the bog standard colouring book and pens.

DS also brilliant but prob only for the older one.

Wotznotnow · 02/03/2011 22:28

Peel off sticker books - ended up with them all over our arms, very amusing

spiceisnice · 03/03/2011 12:57

Thanks everyone...better get shopping!
Weirdly I had a dream last night about making play-doh to take with us, as eldest loves it!! (I need to get out more obviously)
I found an interesting website called lucylovesaustralia.com, it seems to be purely an information website for people going to OZ, and she has written some useful tips there.

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silverfrog · 03/03/2011 13:06

we did this 18 months ago with dd1 then aged 4 and dd2 then aged 2. dd1 also has severe ASD.

ipod touch/ipad (depending on how far your budget can stretch!) is invaluable - much better battery life than a portable dvd player, much smaller/lighter too.

you can watch films/programmes on it, listen to favourite music and also the apps are amazing - everything form drawing/colouring to puzzles, simple letter/number games, even picture books.

kept my two quiet for ages.

sticker books are a must. you can also get little magnetic board playscenes - we have a hungry caterpillar one and a Night Garden one (prob both form ELC). big hit last holiday was also a fabric book of the Hngry caterpillar, with washable pens - so dc colour in the book, then you bung it in the wash and they do it all over again. marvellous.

the aquadraw mats are good too -endless colouring with no mess.

one thing we did was to take essential nighttime comforters on board with us - so come bedtime, we changed the girls into pyjamas, had their bedtime cuddlies, read the right stories etc. it really helped settle them down, and they both slept 7/8 hours, which was really good.

cheekeymonkey · 03/03/2011 14:36

Forgot to mention 'colour wonder' pens and colouring books, which are great as they only work on the colouring book and not on the seats or themselves. Available asda and wilkinsons

spiceisnice · 05/03/2011 20:32

I guess it is a good idea to try and make the trip a little 'home from home' - so bedtime routine, games to play, books to read and lots of snacks!! - just without taking the kitchen sink too!! LOL Cheers everyone for your contributions. x

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