Your tickets are bought, your hotel is reserved, your suitcases are packed and now you are ready to fly off on a family vacation.

How are you feeling? Are you giddy? Anxious? Worried? Terrified?

I love flying. I may be nuts. Granted too small seats, inconvenient flight times, ridiculously priced prices, and refusal to serve meals on most flights has led us to drive more in the past few years, but I do love flying.

I was a little nervous the first time we took our kids on a plane. They were two months old and since they slept the entire time I am positive that the overstuffed bags we carried on were overkill. When our twins were preschoolers and early elementary schoolers they required a bit more effort to entertain, but they were, are still today, wonderful fliers.

Tip #1: Practice makes perfect.

This does not mean that we never have problems though. Our twins are active kids. Sitting still is not their forte and plane travel often involves a lot of patience and waiting.

So how do we do it? How do we travel successfully with super active twins?

updated from original post from November 2013 & affiliate links are included

How to Fly with Active Kids

Start getting your kids ready you even get to the airport.

Tip #2: Beforehand read and chat about what to expect.

We read a lot of books about airplanes (these are my favorite picture books about planes) and airports before their first plane ride. We used these as a starting point for a dialogue about our upcoming trip. This helps to get them excited and talk a little about what to expect.

read also: Activities for Road Tripping with 3-5 Year Olds

Tip #3: Things to Talk About

• Rules for the plane. Such as: You must have your seat belt buckled at all times
• Things that might make them nervous such as the loud noise of the plane or being separated from their teddy while it goes through security.
• Where you are going AND when you are coming back.

Tip #4: Where to Pack Activities

For the actual plane trip we pack a bag full of things for each kiddo. When they were younger we carried one bigger backpack with everything they needed. Starting around the age of 3, our twins started to each carry a backpack with most of these things and we each have a few backup games or toys in our carry ons.

Tip #5: Toys + Activities to Pack

• New Small Toys (some ideas; cars, planes, trains, little people, lacing cards) 
• Fine Motor Activities (these are our favorites)
• Rattles & Chew Toys (for infants) 
• New Books (Board Books for little ones, paperbacks for older kids)
• Stickers, paper or a small notebook
• Playdough or putty
• Triangular Crayons (don’t roll away) 
• DVD player and DVDs or Kindle Fire for Kids
• Child Sized Headphones

Read Also: Quality, Engaging, and Creative Activity Books to Bring on Family Trips

Tip #6: Also Pack for Contingencies

• Snacks (Prepped in little baggies) 
• Water Bottles (Empty. Fill it at the airport) 
• Diapers (if needed) 
• Lots of Wipes (regardless of age) 
• Gallon Sized Ziplock Bag (Handy in a million ways)
• Change of Clothes (For everyone. Extra if you are toilet training) 
• Nuk, Chew Toys, Chewy snacks or candy for take off

When we get to the airport we talk a lot about the different things we see and what we had read about in the books.

Tip #7: Prep Your Child As You Go

Talk to your child calmly and remind them before each major event (ie. Security, Boarding, Trays needing to be Raised, etc).

Tip #8: Have Electronics Prepped

Getting through security is one of the most stressful parts about flying with kids. We have found that having all of our electronics together is helpful. One of us is in charge of electronics, the other is in charge of getting the kids and their bags through security.

Tip #9: Get Out Some Energy

Find somewhere to let out some energy before you board. Don’t expect your little active child to sit still and wait for the plane and then sit still on the plane. It’s too much and they will meltdown.

Tip #10: What to Do While You Wait

• Our favorite airports have playgrounds but most have at least somewhere to move around a little. Try to research this ahead of time and check how long your layover is – if relevant.
• Play some movement games. Our favorite right now is timing each other to see who can balance on one foot the longest. Simple, but fun. Here are some more of our favorite waiting games.
• Take a walk to a far away water fountain or bathroom together.

Tip #11: Pre-Boarding Bathroom Break

A bathroom try immediately before we board or a fresh diaper is a must. Once you get on the plane it is not always predictable how soon your little kids will get to use the bathroom. A fresh diaper or a recent toileting try gives you the best chance for avoiding a bathroom related disaster.

Read also: 3 Simple Steps to Reset when travel goes wrong

Tip #12 Choosing Your Seat

When deciding where on the plane to sit, I actually prefer to be closer to the bathroom when flying with kids. This is especially true when you have a newly potty trained kid, but in general getting up to go to the bathroom is the best excuse to move around and my kids quickly caught on. When we are sitting closer to the bathroom this is less disruptive.

Tip #13: Seat Belts are a Must

We put on seat belts first and our rule is that they have to stay on. (Obviously when they need to use the bathroom, they can get up) This rule avoids having children climbing all over the seats and is a bit of physical reminder to be still for active kids.

Tip #14: Divide and Conquer

It’s not always possible, but when we can we each take one of the kids and sit near but not together. Our kids are obsessed with fairness, so we make sure one gets Mom on the way there and the other gets Mom on the way back. If we have a layover then we switch halfway both directions.

Tip #15: Fight Ear Pressure at Take Off

For take off and landing – when our children were babies nursing or bottles helped them. Now our twins drink water or eat a chewy snack.

Tip #16: Save Some Surprises

• For toddlers, we carried most of the snacks and new toys and books in our carry on. A second set of new toys, movies, and books was packed in our suitcase and kept hidden away until the flight home.
• Always wait until toys/snacks are needed before bringing them out one at a time. For our son, this moment didn’t come until the flight home. He spent the whole first flight playing with the Thomas trains in his backpack. Our daughter steadily worked her way through the items on each flight.

Tip #17: Focus on Your Kiddo

This may seem obvious, but being focused on your kid and giving that one on one attention will keep them happier longer. As your kids get older they will entertain themselves longer on their own, but the younger they are the more you should go into the flight mentally prepared to play with them / entertain them.

Nowadays, my twins are in middle school and I’m back to reading a book or watching a movie. You’ll get there too, but probably not this flight.

Tip #18: Pack a Variety of Activities

Try more active and imaginative toys that can be used on the tray. Cars and trains, little people to pretend with, or putty and playdo to squish are more entertaining and active than writing or coloring.

Tip #19: Ask for a Lid

When you get drinks for your kid from the flight attendant make sure to either ask for a lid on the cup or pour the drink into the water bottle / sippy cup that you brought along.

Tip #20: When You Dis-Embark Find a Place to Move

Try to find a way for your kids to move around a little after the flight. Let them play a movement game with you in a corner while the other adult waits for the luggage. Just get your wiggles out a little together. Jump, wiggle, twist, shake around a little while you wait for your luggage or taxi. If possible, also let them use a pool or go to the playground as soon as you arrive at your destination.

Happy Travels.

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