On the go
Plane ride activities for kids, sized for a tray table
Small drawing challenges that fit a tray table, a slim kit that fits a seat pocket and a plan for the boring part in the middle of the flight.
- Time
- 30 to 90 minutes
- Ages
- 4 to 10
- You need
- Pencils, 1 sheet, a book
How to run it
Pack light
Two pencils, a short pack of colored pencils and one slim book go in a seat pocket. Crayons roll off tray tables; pencils with flat sides don’t.
Save the art for cruising altitude
Takeoff is for looking out the window. Bring out the drawing once the tray tables come down.
Do one challenge at a time
The tray-table sheet has six small boxes. Fold the sheet so only one box shows; it feels like a new game each time.
Switch to a book for the long middle
A step-by-step drawing book lasts much longer than a coloring page. Each new character is a fresh start.
Draw the destination on the way down
Before landing, draw what you think the place will look like. Compare it with the real thing later.
Tip: Pack pencils pre-sharpened. Pencil shavings on a plane go everywhere.
Keep it going: books for this plan
Each book page on FirstArtBooks shows what’s inside. The Amazon button shows the current price.
Step-by-step drawing · ages 5+How to Draw: Silly Aliens
Space characters for a trip through the sky.
See it on Amazon
Trace then color · ages 3+Trace Then Color: Baby Animals
Calm tracing for younger flyers. Ages 3+.
See it on Amazon
Shape challenge · all agesShape Drawing Challenge
Slim, and one shape can fill a whole flight.
See it on Amazon
Questions parents ask
Can kids bring pencils and crayons on a plane?
Yes. Pencils, colored pencils and crayons are allowed in carry-on bags in the US.
How do I stop pencils rolling away?
Choose triangular or flat-sided pencils, and keep them in a zip bag clipped to the seat pocket.