Keyword: Airplane Busy Bags, Flight Busy bags
Why should you make Airplane Busy Bags:
Well, the first and the foremost question is, and should be, that why should you go into the trouble of making and carrying these Busy bags with you?
The answer is a simple line:
To save your life!!
If, you don’t want to spend hours walking down aisle 23 side B, then you need to make these Busy bags, and you need to make them now!!
Chances are that you already know the importance of busy bags if you are reading this article, so without wasting any more time, let’s dive into this Ultimate list of Airplane/ Flight Busy Bags that is going to save your life (or atleast a headache)
(Note: I would like to make a note here that though this post is about Airplane busy bags, you may want to take these along on a long road trip too)
Airplane Busy bags: An Ultimate list
While making Airplane or Flight busy Bags you should keep in mind that they should be lightweight (because you are already carrying tonnes of stuff and you shouldn’t have to carry an extra 10 pounds just to keep your toddler entertained), Something that doesn’t occupy too much space, and are fairly quiet (we don’t want to scare off that old couple sitting next to us with loud drumming and pianos, do we?)
So, keeping these three things in mind, here is a list of easy-to-make airplane busy bags that will save you a lot of trouble on that 24 hour flight to whatsoever land!
1. Stickers & Cardsheets:
Stickers are something that I have found to be utmost useful while travelling on long or short trips. Keeping a variety of stickers like these Alphabet ones or jewel stones one has saved me many a headache.
(Just a little tip: Add a few spare card sheets or even paper to stick those stickers on, otherwise you are gonna find them all over their clothes, hands, shoes and even car/ plane seats.)
2. Playdough and Icecream Sticks:
Playdough is an all time favorite kids activity. Add a little tub of playdough or even rainbow colored ones along with a few Icecream sticks. Adding icecream sticks to playdough offers a lot of innovative options for play like:
1. Playdough with popsicle stick flowers
2. Playdough Popsicles
3. 2D shape Activity using playdough and craft sticks
3. Cutting wooden Vegetables:
I agree that you will have to buy these wooden vegetables, but it is so worth it. This toy is actually pretty addictive. My daughter used to cut the veggies, join them again and keep cutting them. And in between she would try to make us eat those veggies too!
You obviously, cannot take them all. But even 2 to 3 fruits or veggies will go a long way in keeping your toddler busy, happy and entertained!!
4. Color Matching Pegs and Card:
This is extremely simple to make. And in addition to keeping your kid busy, these will be something educational yet fun. Simply take a piece of card sheet and make 6 to 8 squares on it. Color each box with a different color.
Buy mini wooden pegs like these, and color the front of the peg with each different color. IT’S READY!
Now, your little one can try to match the colors and learn them at the same time!
Also try this: Magnetic felt Color Matching game for toddlers
5. Reusable Felt Stickers:
If you haven’t read my post on Reusable felt stickers for busy bag, then you must check it out now! This Busy bag basically uses the same technique of using velcro dots and felt to make Reusable stickers. You will find many inspirations to make your own felt stickers.
These felt stickers are colorful tiles. Just cut out different colored felt squares and attach velcro at the back. Use a thick felt sheet for base. Your kids will love sticking and peeling off these Reusable felt stickers again and again.
6. Peekaboo Wipe flap Activity:
Ahmm, Before I write about this activity, a big Thank you to all my friends who collected and stored wipe flaps for me, without asking many questions :p Thanks for the unconditional support guys, there is another Wipe flap activity coming soon 😉
For this activity, I used two wipe flaps and glued them on a cardboard with a strong glue gun. Next, I had some old board books, so I cut out some animals and put them inside the flap. You can put anything inside the flaps, as long as your little one finds it interesting.
Check out this Sensory lift the flap activity if you are looking for some inspirations.
7. Color Pencils and plain sheets:
This is a must have in any busy bag I believe. Because colors have the potential to grab a child’s attention.
A word of advice: Use a color medium that you haven’t used before. There are many color mediums like crayons, pastels, chalk, pencils, markers, stamps, glitters, highlighters etc. Try something you haven’t used before. In my experience, new things are interesting for longer. However, if you feel like you have used all mediums already, you may want to try a different size, shape or a different brand, to give it a new feel.
8. Shape Magnets:
I used shape magnets from a magnetic writing board that I had at home, but you can use any magnets that you have on hand. Alphabet magnets, number magnets, even simple fridge magnets. Just put some adhesive magnetic tape on the lid of your box (if you are using one) or a plain cardboard and let the children arrange the magnets.
Alternately, You may also want to take a few of these magnetic tiles. These are super addictive and fun. I myself played for it for an hour!! Okay, maybe I am a child. Ouch. But, your child is a child too! So, he will play with it one hundred percent!!!
Okay, so this was my list of what I put in an Airplane Busy Bag. You can add another item too. This is something I use very frequently on road trips and it is a huge success!
9. Lego & Sharpie Puzzles:
These are super simple and easily customizable puzzles using LEGOs. You can make them as easy or as difficult as you please. You can decide the level of difficulty by your child’s age.
So, this here was the list of Busy bags for your next flight, road trip or a whole new adventure!! All the best for your trip and do let me know which one you liked best (or rather your toddler liked best) in the comments section below.
Other Toddler Activities:
I really like your idea’s . I will definitely make these things for my daughter thankyou so much for sharing your creative thought with us .
Lovely sis I read your good tips for airplane busy bag on your b.day
I think it’s a nice gift from your side
I like it very much N I personally think that children like it too
It’s too convenient for not only airplane ride . It’s help you in party where your child feel alone
So very well done N keep it up
This is so great! We definitely need to take an airplane survival kit LOL! We just took our first flight with our toddler and we booked a red eye JUST to avoid any meltdowns. He slept through which was great but we were exhausted and lost the rest of the day. I’ll have to get one of these done before the next trip.
I love these ideas! Having been on several planes with a toddler, I know how stressful it can be. Good luck on your next flight!
I love these ideas! Having been on several planes with a toddler, I know how stressful it can be. Good luck on your next flight!
I enjoyed your post, I will definitely make these with my kids, thanks for sharing your ideas.
I love airplane busy bags! My favorite items are the Melissa and Doug coloring books with the magic markers or water color. I also love finding some toys that we wouldn’t mind losing from the Dollar Store!
I loved this article. I wrote a similar post about busy boxes for toddlers and I found some of your ideas to be way better than mine:)! I will have to add your ideas to my own son’s busy boxes.
Thankyou Hannah, I will head over right now to read your post about busy boxes. I am sure it will help me too 😀
Yes, they magic markers are pretty awesome. Will have to add that to my list as well 😀
Thankyou for the appreciation Nimo 🙂
Yes!! And the worst part is that you can stop the car and get out to get some air on a road trip, but you can’t do that on an airplane!!
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