In getting ready to fly with my kids when we head to Disneyland in September I reached out to some of my seasoned traveller friends. I am NERVOUS! This is our first time flying with the kids. Hubs and I both discussed not wanting to be those people with kids that are crying, won’t sit still or just generally crazy when we fly. At 8 and 6 I’m hoping it will be easier than when they were smaller but what’s that they say, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”
My friend Allison & I got to talking. Allison wrote our very first contributor post and has been a great source of advice for me!
Here are three things that have worked for her when she has to fly with her kids. Yes, I made notes! 🙂
Utilize your library
Allison told me about a super fun audiobook format called the Playaway. You just plug headphones into the “book” and away you go. Now, I have my Edmonton Public Library card handy and took a look but they don’t carry this format. However, the helpful librarian pointed me to melibraries.ca which, with my EPL card, gave me access to St. Albert Public Libraries, where Allison had gotten hers from. Who knew? You can actually join 8 other libraries all around Alberta including Calgary and Wood Buffalo, but I digress. There is of course getting yourself the old fashioned CD player and audio CD’s or the new fangled way, Hoopla and any tablet or old phone. Voila! Last but not least, the actual book for the kids who are old enough to read. A plethora of awesome assistance for entertaining your kids from the Library!
*tip* If you suspect both kids might want to listen to same thing at the same time bring along a splitter!
Obviously, take special care with items from your library. You don’t want to be paying for missing things when you get back!
The Dollarstore is your friend
You’re already spending a bunch of money on the trip. If you’ve gotta put some things together for the kids, you might as well go where it won’t break the bank. Activity books for one thing. There’s a lot of great options and if your kid goes through the whole thing on the trip there – NBD – you recycle it where you land and one less thing to bring back with you. Fill up a ziploc bag with string, stickers, modelling clay, coloured & white paper, markers, pens, and tape. Allison tells me that I’ll be amazed by what they create.
Keep your eyes open
During the months leading up to the trip, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for things. Chirp magazines for example are great time passer. When I head to LovePizza I’ll be letting the kids share one of the wikki stick packs they get with their kids cut and stashing the other for the trip. Extra trips to LovePizza? Don’t mind if we do! In all seriousness, there are often things you can snag or keep from dining out with kids. I’ll also be looking around for the pattern tape to add to their creativity bag too – or anything else I see that might spark their creativity.
We don’t have super long flights, and we have a stop over which I’m hoping will actually help them stretch their legs – less time cooped up. I know they’ll get hungry too so I’ll have to make sure I have some snacks handy of course. I’m so grateful to have friends who can give me ideas and tips to make this nervous mom just a little less so!
AM Community, have you got any other tips for me?
