Taking a trip on an airplane can be stressful for kids and parents alike, especially if the flight is a long one. If you have a few fun games for your kids to play while on the flight, they will provide a needed distraction, and the trip will likely go much smoother. Here are some suggestions for games to play with your kids when traveling on an airplane.
I Spy
This classic game can be played anywhere, and the airplane is no exception. Find something in the plane (it can be on someone else), and say “I spy something (fill in the color).” Then your child must look around and try to guess what it is that you see. Once they have guessed it, then it is their turn to pick something and have you guess. Another variation of this game is to use letters to play instead of colors; for example, you can say “I spy something that starts with the letter (fill in the letter).”
Animal Guessing Game
This game is so fun that it has the potential to use up hours on your flight! Pick an animal, but do not tell anyone what it is. Then your child must ask you questions to try and guess the animal. Questions can be things such as “Does it live on land or in the water?” “Is it large or small?” “Is it mean or nice?” “Can it be a pet?” Once your child has figured out your animal, then it is his or her turn to try and stump you!
Tic Tac Toe
All you need to play this game is a piece of paper and a pencil. Draw a grid on the paper using vertical and horizontal lines that make nine squares. One person will be the Xs and the other will be the Os. When it is your turn, make your mark (either an X or an O) in one of the spaces. The goal is to get three Xs or three Ox in a straight line to win. As a strategy, you can focus on trying to get your three in a row or on blocking the other person, or both.
Card Games
Card games are a great choice for an airplane trip because they are small and easy to tuck into your bag. You can take a regular deck of cards and use them to play games such as Go Fish or War. You could also take specific card games such as Uno, Phase 10, or Old Maid. Take several card games along to pass the time, and your child is sure to be distracted during the flight.
The great thing about all of these games is that they require either nothing extra to bring along or only very small items. Make sure to plan for some games on the flight with your children, making the trip smoother for everyone and creating some great memories in the process!
Taking a road trip instead? Here are some fun family games while traveling on the road!
