How to Keep a Toddler Busy on a Plane (Without Screens)

A long flight with a toddler can feel daunting — especially if you'd rather not hand over a screen for two hours straight. The good news? With a little planning, most toddlers can be kept happy, calm and genuinely occupied without an iPad in sight. Here's how to keep a toddler busy on a plane, the screen-free way.

Start before you even leave the house

The single biggest thing that makes a flight easier happens weeks before you fly: building excitement about where you're going. A toddler who understands and looks forward to the trip is calmer, more cooperative and easier to distract on the day.

Talk about the destination often. Look at pictures of the beach, the pool or the aeroplane together. Some parents read a personalised book about the actual place you're visiting in the run-up — seeing themselves as the hero of the holiday turns nervous energy into anticipation, and gives you a familiar, much-loved book to bring on board.

Pack a ‘busy bag' they haven't seen before

Novelty is your best friend at 35,000 feet. Fill a small bag with a few inexpensive activities your toddler hasn't played with recently, and reveal them one at a time throughout the flight:

• Reusable sticker books — quiet, mess-free and endlessly re-playable.
• Water-reveal colouring pads — they ‘paint' with just water, so no felt tips rolling down the aisle.
• A small wind-up or fidget toy — something new and fiddly holds surprising attention.
• Pipe cleaners and a colander (yes, really) — threading them through the holes is brilliant fine-motor fun.
• A tiny figure or two from a favourite show for imaginative play on the tray table.

Wrap a couple of the items in tissue paper. Unwrapping is an activity in itself, and it buys you a few extra minutes each time.

Bring the story of the trip on board

Books are the ultimate screen-free plane activity: quiet, calming and perfect for a lap. A book about the holiday you're actually taking works especially well, because your toddler can spot the cathedral, the beach or the little train from the pages when you land. It keeps them reading and looking forward, rather than clock-watching.

Snacks are an activity, not just food

Pack snacks that take time to eat: a pot of raisins to pick out one by one, a rice cake to nibble around the edge, a squeezy fruit pouch. Slow snacks double as entertainment and help with ear pressure during take-off and landing, when sucking and chewing ease the discomfort that makes little ones cry.

Use the aeroplane itself

To a toddler, the plane is a world of wonder. Lean into it:

• Look out of the window and count the clouds, the trucks, the other planes.
• Explore the seat-back pocket, the tray table, the little light and air buttons.
• Take a supervised walk to the toilet and back — a change of scene resets a fractious mood.
• Play gentle lap games: ‘Round and Round the Garden', ‘This Little Piggy', peekaboo with the blanket.

Plan the timing around them (where you can)

If you have a choice of flights, a departure that overlaps with nap time can turn two tricky hours into one. Failing that, keep your own energy calm and unhurried — toddlers read our stress and mirror it. A relaxed grown-up is your best in-flight tool.

If you do use a screen, save it

There's no medal for a totally screen-free flight, and no shame in a bit of telly if it helps. The trick is to hold it in reserve for the final stretch, when the busy bag is empty and everyone's patience is thin. Used as the last card rather than the first, a short show can land you gently instead of leaving you with nothing left in the tank.

Frequently asked questions

What can a 2 year old do on a plane without a tablet?

Reusable sticker books, water colouring, threading toys, slow snacks, window-watching and a favourite book will keep most 2 year olds happy. Reveal one new thing at a time and keep a couple in reserve for the last half hour.

How do I keep my toddler's ears from hurting on the plane?

Offer something to suck or chew during take-off and landing — a snack, a drink from a cup or bottle, or a dummy. The swallowing action helps equalise the pressure that causes ear pain.

How far in advance should I prepare my toddler for a flight?

Start talking about the trip one to two weeks before you fly. Familiar routines, pictures and a story about the destination build positive anticipation, which makes the flight itself far easier.

Flying somewhere sunny? Create a personalised book about your child's real holiday destination — they become the hero of the trip before you even reach the airport. Or read our guide to Mallorca with kids.