Do you have a 10 – 12 year old? Those tween years can be tough. No longer a little kid, but not quite a teenager. Their likes and dislikes change rapidly leaving parents clueless. So, when vacation time rolls around what goes into their carry on? Our Military SheBuysTravel solves the problem with these tweens carry on packing tips.
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Tweens Carry On Packing Tips
1. Tablet/Cell Phone
2. Handheld Video Games
3. Portable Battery Charger
4. Headphones
5. EarPlanes
6. Snacks
7. Coloring Pencils and Paper
8. Books
9. Travel Games/Playing Cards
10. Comfort Items
11. Hand Wipes and Tissues
12. Just for Girls
I have two tweens and I feel like I’m floundering more often than not. I swear one day my daughter was playing with Littlest Pet Shop and the next it was makeup tutorials on YouTube. With their interests changing as fast as they change their underwear, knowing what to pack to keep them entertained can be stressful. But I’ve found some tried and true items that will make short or long flights bearable with hormonal tweens.
1. Tablet/Cell Phone
They may not be able to watch YouTube, but downloading shows or movies from Netflix or iTunes to their tablet is my go to. I also try to find shows or movies that they haven’t seen before. I’ve found this keeps them entertained longer… if I picked the right one. I’m not afraid to admit I’ve struck out more often than not.
2. Handheld Video Games
Want to win the battle? Give them a new game once on the plane for their Nintendo 3DS. I try to hit up GameStop for the used games because I’m not forking over $40+ for a new one. Amazon is also great for cheaper games.
3. Portable Battery Charger
This is a MUST! Charging may or not be available at the airport and I never like racing others to be the lucky winner of the outlet. I always try to pack at least one battery per person.
Keep in mind that you want to buy a portable battery that has enough juice to power your phone and/or tablet. Our favorite one is made by Anker and not only does it charge our phones multiple times it also does two at a time.
4. Headphones
Headphones are a MUST! No one wants to listen to what others are watching, playing or listening to. Make sure you pack the right pair for each kid. My youngest prefers over the ear headphones because earbuds hurt his ears. But my oldest two insist earbuds are the only way to listen to their shows or music.
5. EarPlanes
My son has very sensitive ears and plane rides were an absolute horror show before we discovered EarPlanes. They look like a corkscrew with a hole in the center that you fit snugly in your ear.
6. Snacks
My kids are like every other kid and are “hungry” when they’re bored. Usually, I try to divert their attention to something else, but when it comes to the confines of a plane, I don’t even try. For my sanity and for those around us, I’d rather have their mouths full than having to listen to “I’m bored, how much longer, or I’m hungry” every 5 minutes.
7. Coloring Pencils and Paper
Color pencils are the crayons for tweens in my house. They’ll color and draw for a good hour while wasting all my printer paper, but it keeps them quiet. So for the plane, I grab some new color pencils at the Dollar Tree and a drawing pad for each kid.
8. Books
My tweens like to read, but it’s not their first choice unless they have a new book. Some of their favorite series include the Diary of the Wimpy Kid, Middle School Years, and The Warriors.
9. Travel Games/Playing Cards
Playing cards on the plane can keep kids entertained for quite some time, especially if they win. I bring Uno and Phase 10 and a pack of regular playing cards.
10. Comfort Items
A favorite “plush” and a blanket are always a must when traveling. They may be older, but when it comes to relieving the stress of a long travel day and being away from home nothing works better than a favorite plushy.
11. Hand Wipes and Tissues
Planes are full of germs and kids are messy no matter the age. I always carry wipes in my purse but like to pack a travel pack in the tweens bags. This saves me from having to dig mine out every time they need one.
The Dollar Tree is my best friend when getting ready for a trip. I love the travel size packages of hand wipes and tissues, especially the ones with the Disney and Marvel characters on them.
12. Just For Girls
Tween years is such a tough one for girls. And unfortunately, they aren’t always the best at keeping track of that time of the month. It never fails that “Aunt Flo” shows up at the worst times, so I am all about being prepared!
- Feminine products
- A pair of extra panties and pants
- Ziploc baggy (just in case an oops happens)
Plane rides are exciting and lead to grand adventures, but sometimes the journey can be taxing. Using these tweens carry on packing tips will help you and your tweens have a pleasant flight!
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