Since flying can be an overwhelming and new experience for kids, these easy tips for flying with kids will make a world of difference for your trip. Sometimes we forget that a trip doesn’t start when you arrive at your destination, but from the moment you leave your house. Preparing your child adequately for their first flight will make for such a better experience for the whole family when flying with kids! Read to the end for a FREE printable!
Let your kids know what to expect
Kids behave SO much better when they know what to expect—especially kids with special needs. Our autistic son will stay so much more regulated if he knows what is going to happen. And our other kids have benefited from this preparation as well.
Reading books about flying and airplanes with Zach before his first flight was super helpful in preparing him for what to expect in language and pictures that were easy for him to understand.
A few books we liked included: The Noisy Airplane Ride, My First Airplane Trip, My First Plane Trip: Flying for Kids, and On the Plane Activity Book.
Zach was asking all sorts of questions when we got to the airport like “Is that the jetway?” because he had read about it in his books. It really kept him engaged in the process. He even brought his airplane books with him on the plane to read again during the flight.
Discuss with your child what will they can expect every step of the way. Include pictures and videos where possible. Think about things leading up to the flight like how will you get to the airport, going through security check, what will happen with your luggage, and what they might see at the airport. For during the flight, talk about what noises they might hear, what and when they will eat/drink, expectations of when and how to wear your seat belt, etc. And don’t forget the things you will experience after you get off the plane like retrieving your baggage, going through customs, what transportation you’ll use to get to your destination from the airport, etc.
What to prepare before flying with kids
When choosing your flight time, keep in mind that many kids will not be able to sleep on a flight. They will be too excited and overloaded to be able to relax and sleep. You may be tempted to choose a nighttime flight or a flight during naptime in hopes that your child will sleep, but you might just end up with a cranky kid. We like to fly mid-morning, so that our kids can get a good night’s sleep before we have to leave for the airport. We don’t plan anything for that day except the flight and getting to our destination. Because who wants cranky kids to start out your trip?
If possible, choose seats as close to the front of the plane as you can. This helps with noise, temperature, and turbulence. It also usually decreases the amount of time you spend on the actual plane, so your kids won’t be confined to such a small space for as long.
For any special needs, you can call the airline ahead of time and discuss any accommodations you may need.
You may even want to call your airport and schedule a practice run a week or so before your actual flight so that your kiddos can see what it’s like in person before the big day. If your airport won’t allow this, you can always do a role play at home. (Remember things like taking off shoes and jackets, holding arms up for the security scanner, etc.)
Ask the airport ahead of time if they have family bathrooms, sensory-friendly areas, quiet spots, etc. that could help your child not get overstimulated.
What to bring when flying with kids
Help your child pack a backpack with a few things they enjoy. This will help your child learn to be responsible for their own entertainment. You can also sneak a few other things in as well to surprise them. Besides the things they pack on their own, we like to bring:
- Food. You never know what the food situation will be on your flight, and no one wants hangry kids. I like to pack a small lunchbox with snacks and treats for each child to put in their backpack. You may think you’ll have time to grab some lunch during your layover or whatever, but you just never know. Always best to be prepared! I also bring a few lollipops in my purse to give them during take-off and landing to help with ear popping.
- New book. I like to surprise my kids with a new book for the trip. Sometimes it’s something to read, and sometimes it’s more of an activity book, but new books are always a hit.
- Stuffed animal. I encourage my kids to bring one small stuffed animal in their backpack for comfort.
- Jacket. You never know what the temperature might be—even in the middle of summer. It’s always a good idea to bring a jacket in case the temperature on the plane gets too chilly.
- Weighted lap blanket. This is super helpful for Zach, our child with autism. The extra weight helps him get the proprioceptive sensory input he needs and helps him sit still. It helps that it’s soft too. These weighted stuffed animals are also great!
- Noise-reducing headphones. These help if your kid is overstimulated by loud noises.
- Electronics. I like to use electronics as a last resort, but your kids’ favorite games, tablets, music, etc. do help when on a long flight. Especially when you save them for things like this.
Don’t forget about the airport
Sometimes we focus so much on the flight portion of the trip when flying with kids that we forget that the airport is a big part of the trip too. Even when we’ve prepped our kids for going through security and what to expect, there’s still often a waiting game. Things like waiting for your turn to board, waiting for a rental car, waiting for your bags, going through customs—often cause meltdowns with kids if we’re not prepared. Discuss with your kids what to expect during these waiting periods and come up with ways together that you will handle them.
We like small fidget items for these occasions. These are helpful when standing in lines for security, car rental, customs etc. to keep your child’s hands busy. We like these poppers, sensory putty, and small sequin pillows (I found some at the dollar store).
We also like to play “Airport I Spy”. I’ve created this FREE I Spy at the Airport printable to help your kids keep busy during these waiting times. Grab it it below for free!
Make sure to go to the restroom, fill up water bottles, get some food if you need to, etc. to prepare for your flight. It’s also important to have your child move during some waiting periods since they’ll be sitting for so long on the plane. Walk around, ride the escalator, look out the windows, etc. so your kids can get their wiggles out!
While this preparation may seem like a lot of work, it’s totally worth it to have a smoother airport/airplane experience!
What has worked to help your kids prepare for their first flight?
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