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Tios to keep two lively boys entertained on way to NZ

13 replies

overthesea · 04/04/2011 12:30

My DSs are 6 and 5. DS2 is particularly a bundle of energy and I just don't know how we are going to keep them calm and entertained for 26 hours stuck in economy. Any tips? I'm starting ot have cold sweats!!

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TennisFan · 07/04/2011 12:11

My DD who is just 7 just did this journey in December. She was great, just got changed into comfy clothes and watched movies, played on her DS, chatted a bit, drew pictures etc.
Then when she was tired, just curled up with the blanket and had a sleep every now and then.

The worst thing for my DC was the food, they didnt really like it and you dont want them just eating crisps and snacks for the whole flight. Maybe you could bring some food they will eat, and book childens meals (although we did this on the way back and they werent any better, but they did get served first.

They will be so excited about their trip I bet they will both be fine.

LunarRose · 07/04/2011 12:25

Get a cheap media player with a screen (doesn't have to be a hge screen) and load a couple of of they favorite films or TV series onto it
like this
or this one has a larger screen

DD has the 2nd one. They're a bugger to get the video onto but well worth it for train or car journeys

nlpmum · 07/04/2011 14:51

Ours were 4 and 0 when we last made the trip. The 4 year old had a great time, chatting to people, playing with the games on the back of seat screen, watching videos and doing puzzles and stuff that we'd brought with us. We stopped for 36 hours in LA which was well worth it. It's a long trip but I'm willing to bet it'll be worse for you than the kids - after all, the seats are kid size ;-)
Fiona
www.fantasticimperfectfamily.com

GeorgeT · 07/04/2011 17:57

I travelled with a 6 and a 2 year old last year. I took a trunki packed with colouring books, a blow up ball - good for waiting at the gate. little toys which would entertain. I also took our laptop which was a godsend when we had a 5hour wait at Sydney. On flight they were amused with the kids gift bag and the TV - yes it was a screenfest. Trunki also provided amusement at the airport. I diid let them run free a bit bearing in mind they were going to be stuck on planes for a long time. They were fine and yes i would do it again. You know your kids so prepare things for them for the journey. Best of luck and have a good trip.

gillybean2 · 07/04/2011 18:09

It is absolutely fine. Don't take too much to entertain them as you won't need most of it but make sure you are covered if the tv packs up.

Firstly check if your airline has tv's on the seat backs. If they do you are sorted as there's a cartoon channel usually. My ds was glued to this most of the time he wasn't asleep.
If they don't have them get them both a nintendo ds if they don't have one already and a couple of games each including multiplayer they can download together.
Don't rely totally on either of these though. nintendo will run out of charge at some point and on one of our flights the tv's were broken so there was nothing available to watch!

Last time we flew we didn't get given the puzzle pack they had on previous occassions. So do take a simple pencil case with crayons, pencil etc and a small colouring book and puzzle book as a surprise. Then if the airline doesn't provide it you are covered.

Try and get the window seat if you can as it's easier to ask someone else to move on the aisle seat if you/they need to get up than it is to get your child to move, especially if they are tired/asleep. I find window better than aisle as they can lean against the wall to sleep and not be disturbed by people walking past.

Take a drinks bottle (empty) and ask for extra water/juice to put in it when the drinks trolley comes round. Less likely to have spills and you'll have it for the rest of the journey without having to wait on the steward if they get thirsty.
Also take travel sweets, a packet each is usually fun. Make sure they have one on take off and landing to prevent ears popping. My ds likes the travel sweet tin type, and I let him choose before we go as we don't have them often otherwise and he's excited doing that.

Oh yes, get them a small travel bag/rucksack each so they can carry tehir stuff in it. It should fit easily under their feet/seat so they can get their stuff out of it without you having to get to the overhead lockers or carrying a huge bag yourself which you have to rummage around in. The bag I have for ds has a strap that fits over the handle of his suitcase so I don't need an extra hand to carry it if he's tired/asleep.

This isn't the case I got for ds (I don't think his available as I can't find now - it was bright blue witha monkey on it and had a matching holdall bag) but this is along similar lines, is fun and a great way to encourage them to be responsible for their own luggage too.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002UOZ6WG?ie=UTF8&tag=kidssuitcases-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B002UOZ6WG

gillybean2 · 07/04/2011 18:16

They have a whole choice here of those cases
www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_18?url=search-alias%3Dbaby&field-keywords=cutie+trolley+case&sprefix=cutie+trolley+case
So you should find something for them both if your budget can stretch too it.

Also I found a big poncho better than a blanket. It didn't slip off and ds practically sleepwalked onto the plane wearing it from a sleeping start in the departure lounge on the last leg of our trip back to the uk. I use his scout one from camp and we collect blanket badges from everywhere we go too which adds to the fun and gives him something to talk to other passengers about when they ask his about it.

overthesea · 10/04/2011 15:18

Thanks ladies for some brilliant tips that I hadn't thought of. I love the idea of the poncho though no idea where to find one. Dh and I are both going with the two boys. Do you think we should take the four middle seats or go for threes and one of us across the aisle?

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gillybean2 · 17/04/2011 02:37

beaver/scout poncho here
www.scoutshops.com/acatalog/info_1019472.html

With 4 of you not sure what to suggest re seating options. It may seem easier to pick the middle seats but I would still pick a window seat personally as it gives leaning room and less being knocked by people walking past. Perhaps the 4th seat could be in front/behind so you are close but able to get a break by swapping around from time to time?

Has always been just ds and myself so not able to give specific advice on that sorry.

Parietal · 17/04/2011 02:50

A new Lego model and a torch. When the kids drop a piece of Lego, they can take the torch to crawl on the floor and look for it. Takes up time & energy.

Also at the airport, get as much exercise as possible. Find an empty corridor and have them run races before you board the plane.

overthesea · 17/04/2011 20:29

Brill tips. Love the idea of making them race and the torch is so obvious but would never have thought of it!

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sunnydelight · 18/04/2011 06:14

I would try and do 2 and 2 at the back of the plane personally. Those last couple of rows have a bit of extra space for kids' crap in the gap between the window and the seat and sometimes, depending on the plane, there is space behind the last row which you can reasonably use if you are sitting there.

Horopu · 18/04/2011 06:27

I took my 3 boys aged 11,9 and 3 to NZ on my own just over year ago.
The 9 year old was ill for the whole journey so he just slept/shivered/sobbed.

Nintendo DSi's were a great help, and just watching the programmes offered took up a lot of time. We all chose new books at the airport. We had 14 items of luggage checked in (we had to travel up in 2 taxis) so little room for carry on stuff . A pack of cards was used a couple of times I think. The airline gave us activity packs too which were great.

Our first flight we were 4 across, then from Singapore 2 in front, two behind. Both were fine.

You will get a bit stir crazy coped up for long so take every chance for a run around on the ground.

It was all OK but when I met my DH at the other end I burst into tears with relief!

overthesea · 19/04/2011 18:27

horupu I think I'll probably feel like bursting into tears when I get on! Thanks sunny

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