UAE COVID-19: 10 Tips for occupying kids on a pandemic plane journey

International travel with kids can be stressful at the best of times. But during the pandemic - with volatile new variants still at large and those under 12 years old still unvaccinated – it’s on a whole other level. Hanan Ezzeldin, positive discipline educator and founder of The Family Hub, shares her tips for keeping kids occupied and safe on a journey during the pandemic…

COMMUNICATE WITH THEM: Kids understand far more than we give them credit for and are usually so much more cooperative if we just talk to them. They can brainstorm on activities they want to do, talk about their fears and concerns and more.

ARM YOURSELF WITH ACTIVITIES: Have “fun” plans ready - activity books, colours, simple toys, something to listen to music on and sets of games.

SPACE OUT THE ACTIVITIES: This one is key: don’t give them all the activities at once! The novelty is only going to occupy that child’s attention span for a limited time. Space them out and reuse them when necessary.

PACK EXTRAS: Make yourself a back-up supply of everything - clothes, reusable water bottles, masks and sanitisers. You can never go wrong with extras!

BRING FOOD: Nothing keeps a kid quiet like a good snack. Pack low-mess, plane-friendly food and give it to them during intervals when you anticipate a long waiting time. Do yourself a favour and choose relatively healthy options – anything too high in sugar is going to come back to bite you in the form of a major sugar crash.

ADAPT FOR INFANTS: If you are travelling with a baby then make sure that they have a good supply of milk, especially during take-off and landing for their ears. Napping during the flight is the ideal case scenario – pick a bassinet seat if possible, and try to be savvy with your flight times, if you have a choice. My personal recommendation would be to schedule a consultation with a sleep consultant to adjust sleeping hours without creating a huge disruption in their routine.

TRAVELLING WITH TODDLERS: Nap time is also important for toddler, as is a multitude of small activities to keep them going. Plan and space them out and make sure to repeat the games as much as possible. Make a big deal out of each of them and get them excited so they get more involved.

BE SAVVY WITH SCREEN TIME: Screen time will distract kids but will also overstimulate them. Plan out screens during long waiting times and try to split the screen’s usage into 20 minute intervals. Nip arguments in the bud by agreeing with them prior to starting screen time on the frequency of their usage. For example, “You will watch two episodes of ‘Daniel Tiger’ and then we will colour again!” If they go overboard, don’t stress too much about it (it’s always nice to give yourself a break from the stress of it all!) and then just go back to the routines that your family has in place after your journey.

A HAND WITH YOUR HAND LUGGAGE: Make sure that as a parent, you also have something you love to unwind with! The kids’ packing will definitely take the most packing space but make sure to include yourself in the mix. You’ve earned it!

THINK AHEAD: Check in early online to avoid longer queues in the airport and arrive early enough with well-fed kids so that they’re not cranky and tired. Try to book a window seat for your children so that they will have a constant distraction on the flight and effectively social distance the family.