|
aristotelian
|
 |
« on: September 01, 2010, 09:23:29 AM » |
|
We have yet to take the plunge on any kind of "electronic babysitter" for our preschooler, but we are facing a plane trip to Hawaii with him plus a one year old and are considering some type of device to keep him occupied.
What device should we get for under $100?
-Portable DVD player - big screen but short battery life (probably no more than a couple of movies)
-Personal Media player (ie generic brand Ipod) - more portable and longer battery life, but tiny screen
-Video game device (eg "leapfrog") - more interactive and "educational" but possibly expensive to get enough games to keep it interesting
-None of the above. Somehow our parents survived long trips without any fancy devices. If we expose him to a gadget for this trip, he will want to use it all time.
Thanks for your recommendations!
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
notaprof
Not a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 11,084
This space for rent
|
|
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2010, 09:50:08 AM » |
|
I traveled solo with three kids, ages 2-5 and my advice is to get together a cute little backpack for each kid with lots of distractions inside. You want to have lots of alternatives available and ration them out during the trip. Snacks, both healthy and a few special treats as well. But the rationing part is important. I watched one young family on a plane and they had pulled out everyone of the contents of the backpack before we even pulled back from the gate.
I also recommend Valium for you and dimetap for the kids on the return trip (wishful thinking only) because the novelty will have worn off. If you can get them to sleep that is the best way to travel I was dreading our trip and it was not as bad as I had expected. But do have something for the baby to suck on, a bottle or a pacifier, during take off and landing to ease the pressure changes in the ears. Give your other child gum to chew and let him know that his ears may feel funny for a while but it will go away soon. That is why most kids cry at those times and if they have the sniffles it can be even more painful.
I can't comment on the electronics. They didn't exist when my kids were that age.
|
|
|
|
« Last Edit: September 01, 2010, 09:51:32 AM by notaprof »
|
Logged
|
"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
"When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
|
|
|
notaprof
Not a
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 11,084
This space for rent
|
|
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2010, 09:56:19 AM » |
|
Sorry to double post but on behalf of your fellow passengers please avoid any gadgets that make noises as your son does the activities unless there is a way to mute the bells and whistles or a way to use headphones. Those sounds can get really annoying to listen to repeatedly on a long flight.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"That's a great deal to make one word mean," Alice said in a thoughtful tone.
"When I make a word do a lot of work like that," said Humpty Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
|
|
|
madhatter
We proudly present the fora's Least
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 5,673
Just killing time
|
|
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2010, 10:04:48 AM » |
|
Multiple layers of distractions are good. For the Dormouse, we have a portable DVD player as well as my own iPhone which I load up with videos she likes. And, yes, she uses headphones.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
"I may be an evil scientist, but it doesn't take a degree purchased from the Internet with your ex-wife's money to know how special and important you are to me." -- Dr. Doofenschmirtz
|
|
|
docmama
Junior member
Posts: 90
|
|
« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2010, 10:24:15 AM » |
|
We drove cross country with a two year old and I did what a previous poster suggested, packed a big bag of new toys: matchbox cars, stamps, stickers, temporary tattoos, crayons and coloring book, lap desk, magnetic drawing board with magnetic stamps. These toys got doled out one at a time. We also had a portable DVD player, some Yo Gabba Gabba and Thomas the Tank Engine, but we didn't pull that out until the last two days of a six day drive. She liked listening to music, too.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
bibliologos
After six years of mostly lurking, finally a
Senior member
Posts: 703
|
|
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2010, 10:53:08 AM » |
|
Depending on the airline and the plane, a flight to Hawaii may have a seatback entertainment system. You should be able to determine if it does from the airline website. In that case, headphones (not the earbuds they sell on the plane) would be all you'd need.
They didn't have those when Little Bib was very small, so we did the "unpack the backpack" routine. A good alternative to gum for the descent is a sugar-free lollipop.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Just make sure your syllabus makes clear the means by which passing is optional, too.
|
|
|
|
mended_drum
|
|
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2010, 10:59:43 AM » |
|
Duct tape.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
sciguy
Has still not paid to be a
Senior member
Posts: 250
Wielder of the Evil Red Pen
|
|
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2010, 11:00:40 AM » |
|
If you do put a Portable DVD player in your "bag of tricks" (which I highly recommend), there are some models that have a rechargeable battery pack. So you could bring an extra battery to prolong the distraction.
Make sure you find some kind friendly headphones for the DVD player too, generic ear buds don't work well for the little ones.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
niceday
|
|
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2010, 12:41:29 PM » |
|
<bookmarking>
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
offthemarket
|
|
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2010, 12:54:12 PM » |
|
My preschooler has been fine with a few favorite toys and some books, including some books he hadn't seen before.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
melba_frilkins
Doing laundry.
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 8,136
Doing laundry (still)
|
|
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2010, 07:11:25 PM » |
|
What about renting a portable DVD player from the airport. I'm just thinking that would be less of an investment and then you don't have the issue of the child wanting/expecting the DVD player at home. (Of course, renting the player at airport is an extra hassle, and I know you don't need more of that when traveling with two little ones).
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
|
anon99
|
|
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2010, 07:51:36 PM » |
|
Make sure you find some kind friendly headphones for the DVD player too Plus the people around you will appreciate not having to listen to whatever DVD they are listening to. What do they like to do? Could you get them a colouring book with the special pens that only colour on the paper? Do they like acting? Finger puppets would entertain them and take up no space. |
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
gennimom
Somewhat Southern (Have I really posted that much?)
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,983
Let's get summer over with! Me want snow!
|
|
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2010, 08:09:03 PM » |
|
Leapster2s (especially if kept away from the kid before the flight) are good. Two games can provide a lot of fun, they have a few built-in games, and there is a place to plug in earphones. It helps with trips with Genni, and fits in a backpack. Carry extra batteries though, or an extra set of rechargeable ones. I think the Leapster2 and 2 games would be under $100.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
...only after reading gm's post, my new mantra is "always listen to gennimom".
Monday reeks! - Garfield The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person (or something like that). |
|
|
|
watermarkup
|
|
« Reply #13 on: September 01, 2010, 08:38:46 PM » |
|
The seatback entertainment was highly effective on our preschoolers the last time we crossed the Atlantic. Kids that are too young to be distracted by that are the really difficult cases.
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
|
|
|
euro_trash
stands with the workers of Wisconsin
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 1,653
Just toxic enough to keep you on edge
|
|
« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2010, 12:30:12 AM » |
|
If you need an "electronic babysitter", why did you have children?
Do you know how many colouring and children's books 100 dollars can buy?
|
|
|
|
|
Logged
|
Euro_trash is blinded by his love for Endnote
I hate to sound like euro-trash, but
|
|
|
|
