Entertaining a one-year-old is challenging. Entertaining them on a plane? That’s a whole new level! ✈️ If you’re planning a trip with your little one, don’t stress — with a few simple hacks and toddler-approved activities, you can keep your baby busy, happy, and calm in the air.
Scroll down and get 15+ Plane Activities for a 1-Year-Old
👉 One of my favorite travel must-haves is our Learning Binder (Level 1). It’s an open-and-play activity pack that fits in a carry-on and keeps toddlers engaged without screens or messy supplies. I’ll link it below, along with other easy activities.
Tips for Flying with a Lap Toddler
Before we dive into the activities, here are a few quick tips I’ve learned (and tested with my son and with families in our community):
- Pick the right flight and time – whenever possible, fly during nap time or after a meal.
- Bring snacks — lots of them! Toddlers are happiest when munching.
- Walk the aisle. Movement helps when they’re restless.
- Baby carrier = lifesaver. Especially for boarding and deplaning.
- Don’t stress the nap. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t.
- Bring screen-free entertainment. The list below has plenty of ideas that won’t disturb fellow passengers.
15 Easy & Screen-Free Plane Activities for a 1-Year-Old
1. Stickers
Circle garage-sale stickers or raised foam stickers are perfect for little fingers. Toddlers love peeling and sticking — on paper, cups, or even you.
2. Window Clings
Let your toddler decorate their airplane window with removable clings. They peel on and off easily, keeping kids entertained longer than you’d think.
3. Tissue Box Hack
My son loved pulling tissues out one by one. Re-stuff them back in, and you’ve got an endless loop of fun.
4. Empty Container
Toddlers love putting things in and taking them out. A small container and some pom poms or bottle caps make a simple fine-motor activity.
5. Post-Its
Peeling sticky notes off a surface is oddly satisfying for toddlers. Stick them on the tray table and let your child pull them off one by one.
6. Magic Color Books
These mess-free coloring books only need water to “paint.” Bring a Q-tip instead of a brush to minimize spills.
7. Magic Doodle Pad
If you have space, a small doodle pad is gold. If not, just bring paper and markers — toddlers don’t care, they love to scribble.
8. Travel-Friendly Quiet Book & Binder 1
Quiet books are popular travel toys, but they can get pricey. Instead, pack our Learning Binder (Level 1) — it’s mess-free, reusable, and designed for open-and-play learning anywhere (yes, even 30,000 feet in the air).
9. Playdough (for older toddlers, 18M+)
A small container of playdough with utensils or tiny toys can keep them focused. Save this one for toddlers closer to 18 months.
10. Finger Puppets
Perfect for nursery rhymes mid-flight. Younger toddlers love watching, older ones love wearing the puppets themselves.
Keep scrolling there are 5 more Plane Activities for a 1-Year-Old you will love!
11. Water Cup + Napkin
Pour a small amount of water into a plastic cup, tear a napkin into strips, and let your toddler drop them in. A no-prep sensory game right from the drink cart.
12. Snack Containers
Once snacks are gone, refill the container with pom-poms, cotton balls, or small toys for in-and-out play.
13. Stacking Games
Plastic shot glasses or craft cubes work perfectly. Stack, knock down, repeat.
14. Easter Eggs with Surprises
Fill plastic eggs with mini erasers, squishies, or tiny toys. My son once stayed entertained an entire flight to Chicago with this hack.
15. Spice Container with Q-Tips
An empty spice jar + Q-tips = toddler concentration like you’ve never seen. Just wash and reuse when you run out of spices at home.
Final Thoughts
Traveling with a one-year-old doesn’t have to feel impossible. Between dollar-store hacks, everyday items, and toddler-tested travel toys, you’ll have plenty of ways to keep your little one busy on a plane.
And if you want a ready-to-go, screen-free activity pack you can slip into your carry-on, don’t forget to grab our Learning Binder (Level 1). It’s an instant win for parents who want zero-prep, mess-free fun while traveling.
👉 Grab Binder 1 here for your next trip
Safe travels, mama — you’ve got this! 💛
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