Travel with Children - Entertaining children on VERY long haul flights?

We're moving to Auckland, New Zealand from near London, England. We have an 11 hour flight from Heathrow to LAX 6.30am-5.30pm, stop-over in LA 5.30-10.30pm, and then a 13 hour flight LAX to Auckland 10.30pm-11.30am (all times are approx!)

I'm a single mom my kids-
Lucy: age 13, she has been on 12 flights (6 return flights) in her life before but only up to 1 hour long
Jeidie (Jed): age 7, he has been on 8 flights (4 return flights) in his life before but again all under 1 hour
Thomas: 4 months (will be 6 months when we fly) has never flown before

We're travelling 1st class as my company are paying (!!!) there are personal TVs and we'll be taking Lucy and Jed's nintendos, but i know this won't be enough to keep them occupied. Also for Thomas most of his toys are very chunky and unable to take on the plane. Any ideas? Also, any tips on nappy changing in a plane?

Writing, drawing, magnetic puzzles, electronic games on computers or smart phones and plenty of audio and video entertainment along with some books seems to work out for a lot of people traveling in such circumstances. For non-AV entertainment, the more things the two older children can share, swap or use to play with each other, the easier it may be for you.

I'd probably do a stopover for at least a couple of days in LA if only because it may provide the children with some opportunity to burn off some energy without feeling locked up for so long and not end up bouncing off the walls on the segment to New Zealand. It also provides an opportunity to swap entertainment material. Some protein snack food may help too.

The little one may even have the easiest time in the family on such a trip. At 6 months of age, a little video entertainment even captivates many and they sleep plenty and pretty much anywhere. Diaper changing facilities exist on the flights in at least some of the toilets on the plane but you'll need plenty of diapers and wipes (which could be supplemented with toilet paper and water or what not in the bathroom). [The bathroom water is not potable, so don't consider using it for drinking or cleaning things that may go in the mouth.]

Cards-- Uno is great and can last ages.

There's a thread here somewhere about the best non-electronic games for kids-- lots of good suggestions.

You will also have to be entertainment-- realize that if you get to relax and watch a movie yourself that is an extra bonus, not a given.

FWIW, my experience has been that by the second flight everyone is so tired they just sleep most of the time, so a lyover might be less helpful than it seems. Of course, we only had 12 hours + 8 hours...

Just keep repeating-- this time next week it will all be a dream. ;-)

K.

I'm a single mom my kids-
Lucy: age 13, she has been on 12 flights (6 return flights) in her life before but only up to 1 hour long
Jeidie (Jed): age 7, he has been on 8 flights (4 return flights) in his life before but again all under 1 hour
Thomas: 4 months (will be 6 months when we fly) has never flown before


I'm taking mine on a 15 hour journey soon and am doing roughly what I'm stating for the 13 yo.. one we depart at 10 p.m. so I'm estimating 8 hours of sleep starting about midnight (their time) or two hours into the flight. That leaves me with 7 hours of J class entertainment

3 age ranges, 3 types of entertainment

13 - if they are like my kids - Video games 3DS, DSi, PSP, PSGo etc.. bring your own portable DVD player, laptop that they can use and buy new movies that they have not seen yet, and make sure that they need some sleep.

7 - see above but obviously different games and different moview - have more than one game console and more than one portable dvd player - make sure you have power cords that can be used on the plane

6 mo - thats a toughy for me, can't help you there but max out the sleep patterns, and find out what are his/her most entertaining things at home and figure out how to make those work on the plane

I agree that if you could arrange a few days in LA before continuing on, it would really help break up this trip, which even traveling in first class, will be difficult. As an adult, I would be dreading this trip myself.

When my son was a baby, he had this toy which squished down and popped up. Loved it! Kept him occupied. Also, things that stack, come together, pull apart, etc. are good for the airplane. Soft stuff that doesn't make noise.

Take advantage of the older ones to keep the younger one entertained. You have two who are a good age and one who is not yet in the "bad" age (wiggly toddlers are the hardest to fly with).

Find out if you can still get a day room, even if only for a couple of hours, in LAX. Take a shower and relax a bit with the T.V.