The Hawaii Traveler

Sometimes there’s not much to do on a plane besides… Photo credit: Jody Reale

I saw, through the magic of Twitter, that a virtual friend of mine was reading (I assume to one of his children) June B., First Grader: Aloha-ha-ha

For those of you who don’t normally delve into literature for the Kindergarten to second grade set, the story is about June, a first grader who sets off to Hawai’i with her parents. Which begs the question in real-life: What DO you do with a child on a flight that can take as long as eight hours or more? Parents, the answer is simple: Everything you can.

Depending on the age of the child, consider packing a little bag for your little traveler that he carries all by himself. Ours is an extremely lightweight bag with wheels that resembles a plush teddy bear, but there are a million models out there just for Junior’s big day of traveling. (Check Zwaggle or a consignment shop for one if you’re trying to keep your budget down to the minimum.)

Now, fill the bag with both some oldies but goodies–toys and distractions that are time-tested, and tried-and-true–and some brand-new indulgences that will make a nice surprise when attention spans start to go south (no pun intended.) Because your carry-on real estate is limited, go with lightweight stuff that’s smashable. For this reason, choose hardcover or board books with care; then cut your selection in half.

Of course, crayons and paper/coloring books are a must. Try PostIt notes instead of plain paper. The sticky side keeps the project on the tray table, and it’s fun to stick them…wherever you want to display your finished works of art. Consider some of these other travel-and-time-tested crafts.

Wikki Stix are wax-covered strings that can be molded and folded into figures and shapes over and over.

Modeling clay is preferable to Play Doh during trips, since it never dries out, no matter how long it’s separated from its container.

Origami–since scissors are forbidden on commercial flights, you’ll have to fold instead of cut. And the paper is pretty, too.

Movies–Forget the DVD player if you’re taking your laptop. You’re not going to work during your vacation anyway, are you?

Meet and greet other children on the flight and hang out together. Most flights to Hawai’i these days are crawling with children (no put intended). Since just hanging out together is distraction enough for kids two and older, I always feel more relieved than not when I notice a plane full of little ones. (Sorry, singles and business travelers.)

Bring all of your tot’s favorite snacks. With the hubbub of flying and the change in schedules and time zones, there’s no telling when and what she’ll eat before you get there.

Finally, the halfway to Hawai’i game some airliners play is good for a good five minutes of entertainment. I even won once when I was seven. (The complimentary champagne was summarily swiped by my parents.)

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