10 Best Airplane Activities For Kids 2025 in the United States

The Cupkin Animal Sticker Book is a fantastic travel companion for kids aged 2 to 8, especially during flights. One of its standout features is the unique lay-flat design, allowing little hands to easily access stickers without flipping pages. This design enhances focus and engagement, making it perfect for long travels. With over 500 stickers and 12 colorful scenes, children can unleash their creativity while learning about different animal habitats, which adds educational value to their playtime. The spiral binding is also a great touch, ensuring the book stays open for uninterrupted fun.

In terms of portability, the book is lightweight and easy to pack, making it a mess-free option for parents looking for quiet entertainment during trips. The activity promotes fine motor skills and spatial awareness, which is a wonderful bonus for young learners while they’re busy creating.

It’s important to note that while the book is suitable for a broad age range, it may be best suited for children between 3 to 5 years due to the complexity of the scenes. Additionally, while the stickers are easy to peel off, there may be some instances where younger children might require assistance, which can be a downside for independent play. As a gift, it appeals to animal lovers and is well-received among grandparents and parents alike, adding to its charm as a thoughtful present. However, for older kids or those who might prefer more interactive or digital play, this might not hold their attention for long periods.

The Crayola Clicks Retractable Tip Marker Set is a solid choice for keeping kids aged 6 and up entertained during airplane trips. Its retractable design means no caps to lose, which adds convenience and tidiness—an important plus for travel. The markers are washable and non-toxic, making them safe and relatively mess-free, though some care is still needed to avoid stains on clothes or surfaces, especially in tight spaces like airplane seats.

With 10 vibrant colors and a cone tip that allows for both fine and broad lines, these markers can engage children creatively for a good stretch of time, helping them practice drawing and coloring skills. The ink is designed to last longer without drying out, which supports longer flights or multiple uses. However, while they are travel-friendly, the set's size (about 6 inches long) might be a bit bulky for very small hands or for packing in very tight travel kits.

The educational value lies mostly in encouraging artistic expression and fine motor skills rather than specific learning content. If you want a portable, familiar, and relatively clean creative activity to keep kids busy on a plane, these markers fit the bill well.

The "Hardest Hidden Pictures Book Ever" by Highlights is designed for children aged roughly 6 to 11, making it a good fit for early elementary school kids. With over 1,500 hidden objects spread across 144 pages, it offers plenty of challenging puzzles to keep kids engaged for a good length of time during a flight or travel. Its compact size and lightweight design make it easy to carry in a backpack or carry-on, which is a big plus for travel.

Being a book with puzzles, it is completely mess-free—no loose pieces, markers, or screens involved—so it won’t create any travel-related chaos. The puzzles encourage focus, problem-solving, and attention to detail, adding an educational benefit beyond just passing time. While the difficulty level is high, which can be great for older kids or those who enjoy a challenge, younger or less experienced children might find it frustrating without some help. Also, since it is a paper book, it might not hold up well if dropped or exposed to moisture.

This book provides a portable, quiet, and educational way to entertain kids on airplanes, especially if they enjoy puzzles and a good mental challenge.