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[tinyzombie]

If you need an "electronic babysitter", why did you have children?

A spot for my lawnchair! Finally!

[aristotelian]

Thanks to everyone who answered the question.

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?

Wow, what is your problem?

I am aware that I could buy coloring books.  But it's tough to carry enough books for a flight to Hawaii the connecting flights, plus strollers, car seats, and luggage.  Even then, my kid is likely to get bored, so I am considering getting something to occupy him out of respect to the other passengers. 

You could have made your point in a less insulting and judgmental way by simply saying "option D".

[annmarie]

Try books, coloring books, dolls (or toys lsuch as action figures if your child is a boy), puzzles or blocks that can be used in a plane, various foods (as somebody else mentioned).

[marigolds]

Pish-tosh.  I say load up an iPod with fun kids' music and a couple of short videos and some podcasts of childrens' stories (Storynory is a good one) and maybe a kids' game or two (of course bring headphones) and let the kid at it.  They also make reusable, wipe-off type coloring and drawing books now; that might cut down on the freight you have to haul as well.

This will save you and all the other passengers untold misery--AND THE CHILD.  Traveling is boring as heck at that age.  There's no shame in using the resources that are available!  (And euro_trash: hush.  That wasn't nice.) 

[madhatter]

Thanks to everyone who answered the question.

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?

Wow, what is your problem?

Problems, multiple. It's a long, sad list.

Just ignore him. That's what most of us do.

[molli_sols]

We've had a Leapster for almost 3 years and she's still not bored with it.  We started with only 2 game cartridges but each has multiple activities on it and the Leapster itself has some pre loaded.  For a plane I suggest getting a pair of kids headphones (non-earbuds) for any kind of electronic toy. 

For the non-electric toys I have also read aloud on a plane (not too loud) from a chapter book.  My daughter needs to be constantly in motion so things she can manipulate in her hands like pipe cleaners, silly putty (probably not allowed now), small action figures, and stuffed animals work well.  A viewmaster packs up small and it's fun for everyone.

I have not found coloring or drawing to work too well if they are sitting in their carseat for the flight. 

[euro_trash]

Aristotelian - I meant no harm and was just joshing - but that did not get through.  Sorry about that.

I do find it surprising how important computer gadgets are to American and Japansese culture generally.  Of course, kids here go nuts about their mobiles too. 

We didn't allow anything electronic until our kids turned 12.

Madhatter ---> beans, beans, beans...

[mended_drum]

I apologize for my "duct tape" response.  As I noted on another thread, an injury was making me more irritable and snarky than usual this week.

My niece likes those miniature Etch-a-Sketches on a plane.  She can't draw anything on them, but she likes to make the adults try and giggle at the results.

It's possible she takes after me.

[tee_bee]

I apologize for my "duct tape" response.  As I noted on another thread, an injury was making me more irritable and snarky than usual this week.

My niece likes those miniature Etch-a-Sketches on a plane.  She can't draw anything on them, but she likes to make the adults try and giggle at the results.

It's possible she takes after me.

You may be on to something here. When I was a kid, when we grew tired (quickly) of attempting to draw anything on an Etch a Sketch, we turned to that all-time favorite pastime: drawing closely-set lines up and down on the screen until all the aluminum powder is etched off, and you can see the guts of the mechanism inside. Set that up as a goal: That could take hours to achieve--and perhaps longer if you hit decent turbulence.

[mouseman]

Notoprof's suggestion is, by far, the best, IMHO.  The Mousewoman took the Mouselet to Israel and back (11 hours, I couldn't be with them either way) when she was almost 4, and we did the exact same thing - backpack full of toys, puzzles, games, and snacks, as well as a "Discman" (or watever it's called) with CD of stories (she took the Just So Stories and Winnie The Pooh, if I remember correctly).  Of course, girls at that age are usually easier to occupy with "sit-down" activities than boys.  I also want to chime in on those who are saying to space the activities, time-wise.  You can also read to him for a while - it passes the time for you, as well.  

For the flight back from Hawaii, which will be overnight (I think that most flights to the mainland USA are overnight), you can make a little "nest " for him to sleep in.

[spork]

Duct tape.

Benedryl.

[sunny_side_up]

If at all possible (miles?) travel in business. Your kids will be able to sleep, the service is so much better, you'll get real food and your kids can play with the entertainment system and plug in their own gadgets.

[monsterx]

Food can be a bit of a problem, if the kids don't like what they are served.  Last time it was a greasy, slightly aged cheeseburger, the bottom bun sitting in a soup of cold grease, and I could not blame my son for turning his nose up at it. 

I think coloring and sticker books are a good idea.  Also, just some blank paper and a set of pens can be good.  For some children, stories with lots of text work well, if they have the attention span for it.  Picture books often don't have enough story line to last a significant portion of the trip, and it is too heavy to carry enough of them to matter. 

Seatback entertainment is the best thing, though, if it is good, which depends from one airline to the next. 

A laptop computer, if you are carrying one, can be used to play DVDs.  Some notebooks have a very long battery life nowadays - but then you need an external player.  They can also be used to review vacation photos, which sometimes children find interesting to look at.    Also, there are computer games for young children.   The problem is it kind of gets unwieldy in the small space in the airplane, especially if there are frequent demands to change between activities.     

[ahsonek]

Coloring books - yes,

crayons and markers - um no... Nothing like turbulance, and screaming child who wants her crayons especially the blue one that is now 10 rows back and over....

If you go the crayon route - make sure you have a secure containment device.  the little cup holder on the tray is useless.....

[madhatter]

Coloring books - yes,

crayons and markers - um no...

Methinks someone needs to RTFM for coloring books.