The timing of the tour is most fortuitious as I'm actually bringing the kids Stateside over the Easter holidays. And I'm bringing them solo for the first time ever. The good news is that they are fantastic travellers; the bad news is that I am not a fantastic traveller. Nineteen hours from door to door (starting at 3AM) does not a happy Amanda make. Any tips for me? Specifically, any recommendations for activity books that I can unveil on the plane to great critical acclaim?
Congratulations to all, especially Inglesita! I will be aware of all, great!
ReplyDeleteiPad all the way.
ReplyDeleteBut we only have one! We need at least three :)
DeleteFor the crafty one, new crayons, colored pencils, chalks, scratch-boards? Just new supplies! I don't know if you can take a glue stick on a place, tho.
ReplyDeleteperhaps personal music devices for everyone?
Introduce Sudoku?
Just bought loads of craft supplies, thank you!
DeleteMad Libs!
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd completely forgotten about them! I used to *love* Mad Libs.
Deletea tip for the plane - wrap up all the toys you are taking with a few new ones and a few old ones. extra time spent unwrapping = peace for you! you can buy good cheap activity packs in places like primark and the range. those osbourne sticker dolly dressing books go down well with my 4.5 year old.
ReplyDeleteBought a bunch of activity books, including an Usborne one. Maia does like those!
DeleteI find a nice fat glass of Bourbon seems to make traveling with children a breeze.
ReplyDeleteA woman after my own heart. Unfortunately frowned upon on early morning flights :)
DeleteI like Sew Little Time's idea of wrapping things up. I've never been on a flight with kids but whenever a friend of mine flies over from Australia she packs a new toy / book / craft activity for every hour of the flight and then gives one out on the hour. It means her boys don't get everything all at once and lose interest quickly, and if they get grumpy they know they've not got long to wait before they get something new to distract them. Red House have a good selection of books for under £3, both activity books and books for reading: http://www.redhouse.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_category_tbp?storeId=10151&catalogId=18201&langId=100&categoryId=&filters=4p1gbp%7C2a4
ReplyDeleteIf all else fails try gin.
Every hour is well beyond my capabilities but got them five new things each, and a portable charger to keep all devices juiced :)
DeleteHow exciting! Having flown with the kids a bunch (including 13 hours to Japan, during which the Benadryl backfired - be warned), I agree with breaking out a new thing every once in a while, and also my 10-yr-old highly recommends a bunch of books in a series. I can't remember what grades your kids are in, but some of our favorites were Junie B. Jones (there must be hundreds of those), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (like 6 or 7 books by now), and A Series of Unfortunate Events (12 of those I think). Or download lots of movies onto an iPad and bring a charger! Good luck...
ReplyDeleteJamie does like the Diary of a Wimpy kids series, but overall doesn't enjoy reading very much :( Bought some graphic books that hopefully he'll get into.
DeleteWe went home to SA a few months ago. Took books, toys, stickers - the works...the only thing that they were interested in were the new headphones that we unveiled on the aeroplane. Got great ones off of Amazon, not too expensive either. (FYI: one is 4 in April, the other 2 in May, maybe younger than yours). Anyhow, all sounds exciting! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteI finished mine last weekend and it´s absolutely a must have dress for a young girl!! Congratulations on this pattern Amanda
ReplyDeleteMarÃa