Long Haul ideas for a 9 y/o

[WonderingWanda]

Hi all, it's been a few years since I've flown long haul with no kids. The eldest has always been fine just watching films but the youngest who is now 9 needs a bit of entertaining. As she is a bit older now am a bit stuck for activity bits to pack in the hand luggage to keep her entertained.

So far I have sticker books, colouring, crossword and wordsearch books, headphones for downloaded music, a small friendship bracelet kit, dobble, quirkle and top trumps.

Does anyone have any other good ideas? It will be 10 hrs and she isn't great at being still or concentrating on one thing for a long time so I would like to have plenty prepared.

Also any good games that can be played on a piece of paper other than noughts and crosses, hangman or that one with squares.

How much hand luggage are you taking? I think a bit of eating and video/games would be an addition to what you know she likes. Mine were always easily pleased but how will you have all that entertainment handy? What about sleeping? Reading a book? Sticker book won’t last long. Start a Holiday diary?

There is usually a selection of games included in the inflight entertainment.
What type of sticker book have you got? My DD enjoys the ‘sticker by numbers’ books but anything else would be a bit too young and wouldn’t keep her occupied for long.
We’ve taken Quirkle on a flight (the travel edition) and found it wasn’t very easy to play it inflight on a tray table. It’s better for killing time at the airport.
Things we’re taking this year:
Sussed (card game)
This version of Articulate
French knitting
Lego dots
Foil scratch kits
Where’s Wally? books

If she doesn't have one, buy a secondhand DS /Switch and a few games for her. We got stuck on a flight from UK to US that had no in flight system, just the old drop down screens in the aisles. Clearly pulled the plane out of mothballs - I was so grateful my DC had DSes to play with.

She won’t read a book? Take one of the Harry Potter books and leave her reading that for a few hours.

Games on your phone also a good idea.

Download an audiobook to listen to?

Wow you're much more prepared than I am! Ive got a 9hr flight next week with an 8 and 10 year old, both with ADHD.

Thing is, neither of mine like crafty things (thanks dyspraxia).

My plan is:
be amongst the last to board, allowing them to keep moving right up until the last minute

As many films as they want to watch

Playing on the switch (unfortunately only 1 so they'll have to share)

Reading

Snacks

Listening to music

Letting the youngest (who is very hyperactive) walk up and down the aisle when its appropriate. He won't talk to anyone or disturb them.

I've booked the front row seats so they can stand up when they like without bothering anyone

If you are last to board, do not expect ANY room in the overhead lockers. You might be a long way from your hand luggage. It might even be taken away and put in the hold. Boarding last is a bad idea. Families often can board first. I really would take advantage of this. Get settled and have your luggage handy. Make sure you have something ready while you wait. Hopefully your DC won’t disturb others but they need to obey seat belt warnings. Good luck.

Fivemoreminutes1 we've got one of those Top Model fashion sticker books and an Usborne travel wardrobe one. Lego dots and scratch art are excellent ideas, I will take a look at rhe games too. Thanks for the tip about quirkle, maybe that can go in the hold luggage for when we are there.

TizerorFizz, thanks I like the holiday diary idea!

ClaryFairchild - we've got an old ds I will dig it out and see if she's interested in any games. She's got a kindle which we can load some games onto as well, I'd forgotten about that.

WhatsInAMolatovMocktail, we bought a book last week so that' a good idea too!

StottyCakeandJam also a good idea

InvincibleInvisibility, I hope your flight goes well!

Thanks for all the good ideas, I was at a bit of a loss but feeling much more prepared now.

Good point about cabin luggage Id totally forgotten that. Grrr. We ll have to board early and i ll just let Ds2 stand up and wait.

Don't rely on the in-flight movies - I've just flown long haul with BA and I felt the selection this month was is really poor and struggled to find anything I wanted to watch. You used to get films in the cinemas or just out - and surely every kid has seen Encanto!

We flew BA last month and had a huge selection. Easily found something to watch. Although we prefer to sleep! However children’s offerings are not necessarily adult choice films. There was loads of stuff for children.

Witb two parents and two children you could maybe split boarding. One parent and one DC goes early and takes entertainment bag?

We always put anything we might want on the flight in a nylon drawstring bag, inside our cabin bag. That way, if there’s no room in the overhead lockers, you can just pull out the drawstring bag and put it under the seat in front for take off & landing.

My children used to enjoy these invisible ink puzzle books, and so did I as a child!
www.liketotally80s.com/2014/05/invisible-ink-books/

Having had a couple of BA long fights where the inflight entertainment wasn't working properly we now take our iPads and phones downloaded with anything we want to watch, listen to and play. Most long haul flights now have usb sockets to charge and some have 3 pin plugs too.
We've also noticed you aren't getting the newer films anymore either, certainly compared to the past where films were very new, just leaving the cinemas and sometimes still showing in cinemas.

My DD spent hours on a long haul flight scratching one of the ‘art scratch colouring books’ - bonus you don’t need to pack any pencils or crayons. The hobbycraft one called super scratch art pad nature was her favourite. I’d say she did it non-stop for about 3 hours :)

also if you’re flying BA you can play UNO on the screen (multiplayer so everyone plays from their own screen)

When I’ve flown with BA they have a clear floor space policy for safety. Other airlines don’t.