A young child playing with colorful building blocks on an airplane seat with a tray table down.

18 Screen-Free Airplane Activities for Kids

Parents, what are your favorite things to pack in your bag of tricks when you're flying with kids? We want to hear about the best travel toys, creative workbooks, games and other airplane activities for kids that will keep them occupied and entertained when you want them off the screens. Add your picks to the list below.

Novelty is key when it comes to plane activities for kids, so try to keep any new things secret until you're in the air. Even better, plan to spread them out by letting your kids have one thing every half hour or hour. And don't forget to bring plenty of snacks!

Many of the ideas on our list of road trip toys are great things for kids to do on a plane, too.


 
    amazon.com

    Disney Eye Found It! Card Game

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    The Disney Eye Found It! Hidden Picture Card Game is a compact, portable search-and-find game with kid-favorite Disney characters and scenes.

    amazon.com

    Crayola Clicks Retractable Markers

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Crayola Clicks are retractable, washable markers designed to prevent lost caps and dried-out ink, making them ideal for on-the-go coloring.

    amazon.com

    Magna-Tiles microMAGS

    Rating 1
    Rating 2
    Rating 3
    Rating 4
    Rating 5

    Magna-Tiles microMAGS are a smaller, travel-friendly version of the classic magnetic building tiles, a favorite for open-ended play. They are 75% smaller than traditional Magna-Tiles but remain 100% compatible, allowing for detailed additions to existing builds or standalone play on an airplane or at a restaurant.

Primary photo:   Alex P on Pexels

Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.