The world of toys can be overwhelming. Kids have so many options, particularly in the current landscape of instant gratification, they expect to be entertained 24/7. Finding unique, educational, QUALITY toys for kids can actually be a challenge – especially if they’re not your kids. Add airplanes to that scenario and it can seem impossible to find the perfect gift for the traveling kiddo in your life.  We’ve found brilliant children’s presents to help you with that gifting dilemma – you’ll be super grandparents, wicked uncles and aunts, amazing friends or awesome godparents before you know it!

Airplane rides are synonymous with making parents cringe at the thought of keeping their kids busy and struggling to find a solution for everyone. Check out these best airplane toys and you can be their hero!

Best Toys for the Airplane are Games

Games are the perfect thing to keep a child occupied on a long flight, but it can be a challenge to find something compact enough to put in a carry-on. For solo players, Brainbolt: Fast Light-Up Memory Game is fun, entertaining, and challenging. The Shashibo – Shape Shifting Magic Puzzle also offers endless fun by transforming into over 70 funky shapes and structures. If a partner game is what you are looking for, Hangman – Wooden Flip to Win! is a more modern take on an old classic that is portable and durable. If you want something goofy and a little unexpected, Fart! The Explosive Card Game is the perfect option.

Joke Books Aren’t Just for Dads

Do you have a budding comedian in your life? Or a kid who loves to laugh and play pranks? Joke books for tweens are a great way to keep them entertained and teach them a thing or two. The Super, Epic Mega Joke Book for Kids offers over 1,500 jokes you’ve never heard before guaranteed to keep your creative tween laughing. What’s So Funny? A Diary With 100 Jokes offers kids the chance to keep track of the jokes they create on their own and discover a few they may want to add to their arsenal as well. If you’re feeling super adventurous, Wicked Pranks and Jokes guides kids on how to set up pranks and seriously funny stunts. Vacation just got funnier!

Fun Facts and Activities for the Win

Finding the right activity or thing to read can keep a kid engrossed in a book for hours, making the time on the plane fly by (get it? Ha!). Often, reading short, interesting facts can entertain, increase knowledge, and give kids something to converse about later. Factopia! 400 Crazily Connected Facts is the perfect book for curious kids with active imaginations – who knew facts could be more interesting than make believe? Know a kiddo who loves animals? The World’s Most Pointless Animals – Or Are They? is both engaging and silly, offering a chance for learning and fun. Lookout for the Pink Fairy Armadillo – yes, it’s real! The Big Book of Funtivity says it all, kids will have fun and stay busy with 230 pages of mindbenders, puzzles activities and more.

Airplane Art is the Coolest Art

It is no secret that most kids love to draw and as they get older, some thrive on creativity and art. However, bringing more than a pencil and notepad on a plane can be a hassle, until now. Black Glo Art – Neon Effect Drawing Board is compact enough to travel and allows the budding artist to create their own neon colored art or trace their favorite pictures for inspiration. It is one of the best airplane toys available. Animals are often an artist’s favorite subject but can create frustration early on, How to Draw Animals – Made Easy is ideal for creating on the go and will have them drawing the perfect rhinoceros in no time! Sometimes an exciting prompt is needed to inspire a masterpiece! The Boys’ Doodle Book – 100+ Illustrations has everything to get those creative tween juices flowing.

Science in the Skies

Science is fun! Especially with all of the at-home science kits that are available now – the good news is that there are plenty of creative toys for the airplane and compact options as well. Help the kids get science in the skies started with The Science & Inventions Creativity Book which is packed with fun activities that explore the wonderful world of science. If your kiddo is looking for something more hands-on, IQ Circuit – 120 Challenges is an entertaining brain teaser with 5 different levels that teaches circuits and logic with fun puzzles that make it a great airplane activity for tweens. Little Pack of Optical Illusions is a crazy collection that will melt their mind and bend their brain. They’ll be entertained and amazed.

Yes! Kids Can Have Fun, Even if They’re Staying Home

Looking for ways to entertain your grandkids or nieces and nephews at home instead of on the go? Have no fear! Wicked Uncle has you covered there too from the 100 Kids Activities Scratch Off Bucket List to KidzLabs – Kitchen Science Experiments and an old school Slip N Slide to Root Beer – Brew Your Own Science Kit or Building Crazy Forts to 50 Amazing Magic Tricks, there is a creative gift idea here available as unique as the kid themselves.  

Regardless of travel, if you want to be the cool Grandparents, Aunt, Uncle, Friend, Godparents, Wicked Uncle has the best creative gifts for tweens. Whether it is your favorite kids’ birthday, the perfect Christmas present or a gift “just because” you’ll find the foolproof item at Wicked Uncle. We’ve already added some of the best airplane toys to our list for Baby G as well as our own godchildren. The cool part is, they break down the gifts for you by age, gender and interest making shopping a “no brainer.” Buy presents here to be the hero in their toy story.

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Disclosure: The Bucket List Project partnered with Wicked Uncle. With that said, all opinions in “Best Toys for Airplane Travel” are our own. Using the links doesn’t cost you any extra, and our partnership helps keep the site free, fun, and community supported! Eric & Darcee will never recommend a product that we don’t genuinely believe in, actually use ourselves, have researched, and trust. Please see the disclosure policy for more information.