Stationed in Hawaii with Kids: Tips for Traveling with Kids by Air

As much as I love living in Hawaii, it is nice to get off the island and take the kids to do something different.   This year, we were fortunate enough to make two trips to the Mainland.  The first was San Diego in March (which you can read about here, here, and here).  The second was to visit some family in Florida.  Total travel time (door to door) in either direction ended up being roughly 20 hours.  

This was our 2 year old's first cross-country trip but my 12 year old has been back and forth 6 times (4 round trips prior to his 5th birthday!)  So, how do you make it there in one piece?  Here are my favorite tips for surviving long plane rides with small children.

1.  Travel as light as you can possibly stand to.  Trust me, it's just better this way.  Carry on snacks, diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for everyone, and some activities... if your luggage gets lost, there are stores where you're going.  If you want to carry on your car seat, fine, but you might want to make sure it fits through the xray machine at the passenger security screening station (or find out what happens if it doesn't fit).

2.  Feed the kids a full meal prior to getting on the plane (even if it's chicken mcnuggets) and pack snacks that are lower in sugar.  Sitting still is hard enough without the sugar rush and being quiet is hard enough without the sugar crash.  Yes, they even make sugar free chocolates.

2.  Bring a leak proof drink container.  You can fill it with something once you make it through security if you want to or wait until you get on the plane.  Try to avoid sugary drinks or cut them with water.  They do make disposable plastic cups with lids and straws.  The idea is to minimize spills so you don't have to change clothes.

3.  Let them run around at the airport while waiting for the plane.  Walk back and forth.  Run in circles.  Make new friends.  Anything.  Kids' brains are wired to need physical activity.  You can't be out of your seat and playing at the back of the plane like you may remember doing as a kid.  (You know, the whole post 9/11 security thing.) 

4.  Have a plan for keeping them occupied inflight.  Whether it's loading free tv shows on your iPod or a new coloring book, don't assume they'll fall asleep or watch the inflight movie.  Sometimes little ones can't see the screen, sometimes the features really aren't kid friendly.  Bring a favorite story.  I always make a trip to the dollar store and spend about $10 on cheapy new toys (card games, mini coloring books, small plastic figurines, stickers, temporary tatoos etc)  and wrap them all in several layers of off season tissue paper.  Then I break them out as needed.  The wrapping keeps them occupied for a few minutes.  If something gets left on the plane, no big deal.

Some of our favorite time killers on long plane rides:

• Mini Magna Doodle
• Color Wonder art kits (some are pretty small)
• Mad Libs
• Finger puppets
• miniature card games

Hopefully that helps get you started on figuring out your own game plan.    Traveling with kids isn't as hard as it seems.  Make it a positive experience for the kids and yourself with just a little bit of planning.

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