✈️ How to Entertain Kids at the Airport (Without Screens)

Estimated Reading Time: 4 min

🧳 From Terminal A to Gate 22, Keep the "I'm Bored" Blues Away

Airports can be overwhelming for kids—and exhausting for parents. Delays, early arrivals, long walks to the gate… it all adds up. But with the right prep, you can turn waiting time into memory-making time (without relying on tablets the entire time).

Here are screen-free activities and airport hacks that keep kids happy, calm, and occupied—so your travel day feels more like an adventure than a countdown.

🎒 1. The “Airport Activity Kit” (Build This Before You Go)

Pack a travel pouch or backpack with items like:

🧩 Item	💡 Why It Works
Coloring book or mini sketch pad	Great for kids who like to doodle or calm down
Washable markers or crayons	Mess-free and TSA-approved
Sticker books or reusable sticker scenes	Creative and compact
Puzzle books / Mad Libs	Works well for ages 6+
Wipe-clean tracing boards	Reusable = no waste, fun for younger kids

Tip: Let each child pick their own items before the trip so they feel ownership over their bag!

🧠 2. Play “Airport Bingo” or “I Spy: Travel Edition”

🎯 I Spy Ideas

A pilot walking by 👨‍✈️

Someone wearing sunglasses 😎

A blue suitcase 🧳

A moving walkway 🏃‍♀️

Someone eating popcorn 🍿

Print ahead or write a list in your notes app before heading to the airport!

🎤 3. “Would You Rather: Travel Edition”

Turn wait time into laughter with silly prompts like:

Would you rather fly in a hot air balloon or on a dragon?
Would you rather sit next to a talking dog or a dancing penguin?
Would you rather pack 100 socks or no shirts?

Great for young kids AND teens!

🧺 4. Pack an Airport Picnic

Bring bento-style boxes with:

Cut fruit
Crackers
Cheese cubes
Trail mix
A “surprise treat” (mini candy or granola bar)

🌟 Why it works: Avoids overpriced airport snacks, gives kids something to look forward to, and lets you use downtime to fuel up!

🕵️‍♀️ 5. People-Watching Challenges

Turn your terminal into a storybook:

Count how many suitcases you see in 2 minutes
Guess where each person is flying to based on their clothes
Pretend you’re travel agents picking destinations for strangers

📸 Bonus: Have kids take pictures of interesting airport signs or displays to create a “trip story” later!

📝 Bonus Table: Quick-Grab Airport Game Ideas

🎲 Game or Activity	✈️ Ideal For Ages...	👜 Fits In
Spot It! or Uno	5+	Purse or carry-on pocket
Wiki Sticks / Pipe Cleaners	3+	Pencil case or snack bag
Magnetic travel games	6+	Flat pouch or ziplock bag
Memory game with playing cards	4+	Snack tray table or lap
“Draw Your Vacation” notebook	3+	Clipboard or notepad

✨ Final Thoughts

You don’t need a screen to keep kids engaged at the airport—you just need a little planning, a few surprises, and maybe a dash of silliness. Every airport trip becomes part of the journey, and you can fill that time with connection, not chaos.

🎒 Want a printable “Airport Bingo” or “Travel Day Activity Kit” checklist? Visit FuelYourLife73.com to grab your family travel freebies and follow along for more screen-free travel tips!