Entertainment for kids on a plane

[TurnItAround]

My kids (aged 8 and 6) have never been on a plane before.
In 2 months we are going to Ibiza, the flight is around 3 hours.

My dilema is do I take their nintendo ds's for the plane to keep them occupied? DP suggested that we buy them a new game each to take away their nervousness at flying but I'm worried they will become "addicted" and will want to play on their DS's whilst we're on holiday knowing they have a new game...

I dunno really. I suppose I'd take them but I wouldn't buy a new game.

I usually take a notebook and pencils for dd, and maybe a sticker book or something. I took a pot of beads and some thread too last time - that worked well.

Are they "addicted" to their DSs at the moment? If not, then I think it is highly unlikely that they will suddenly become so just because they get a new game. Three hours is not a very long flight so I would just take a mixture of things to keep them occupied - books, maybe a new magazine each (cheaper than DS games!), colouring things, snacks to eat. The flight will pass easily, esp if they've never been on a place before. If you really want to bring their DSs just let them use the games they already have? We always bring ours and find them useful for those times when your food takes longer to arrive in a restaurant, waiting around for a hire car etc

What Califrau says

Even though my DS isn't that age yet, that's what I would do if he was.

we've just been to Turkey which is a 4 hour flight. We went with friends who have 1 dd the same age as ours (just 4). We bought a couple of new books, and they did some colouring in. Also my friend has a portable dvd player which kept them happy for ages! I would take the nintendo with just the games they have already.

Entertainment for all children in general on flights;

Ist 15 mins - clicking and unclicking seatbelts. Creating seat belt chain across aisle, between rows, round hostesses who are trying already to ram them into overhead locker.
next 15 mins - opening and closing window blind for one of them, the second takes on the position of Chief Sick Bag Shredder.
next 15 mins - both make loud and timely comments about passengers in immediate vicinity (most notably recently about a slightly shorter than average passenger "he looks like mini me in Austin Powers....")
next 15 mins - ask questions endlessly about what does the brace position look like, where are the rubber boats, where is my rubber boat, do you think the fat lady over there will also be in my rubber boat, i think i´ve found my rubber boat under the seat just here mummy, why don´t you want to look....
next 15 mins - discovery of foldable tray. Bang it a bit into seat back to upset passenger in front further. Then stand on tray and peer over, usually with sticky hands.
next 15 mins - attempt to break the little known record of exactly how far plane food can be spread in such an enclosed space. spill every drink in the row.
next 15 mins - the toilet trip. lots of opening of cupboards and littering the entire galley with spare sanitary pads while simultaneously weeing on shoes.

You´ll have a ball.....