Roberta Aguirre
Travelling with children can be a challenging task, especially when facing flight delays. Airports and festivals are increasingly offering a range of activities to keep children entertained. From colouring books and card games to interactive games and play areas, there are plenty of options to keep boredom at bay. Some airports even have aviation exhibits, play centres, and cinemas. For instance, Chicago O'Hare International Airport has a children's aviation exhibit, while San Francisco International Airport has a weather-themed play area and interactive learning centres. If you're looking for child-friendly activities at an airport or festival, there are plenty of options available to ensure a fun and engaging experience for all.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the event | Festival of Flight, Kids Fest TO, Farmers Flea Fest |
| Location | Long Beach Airport, International Centre - Hall 1 - 6900 Airport Rd, Mississauga, ON L4V 1N2, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Portland International Airport |
| Date | 24th of the month, 10th February 2025, 9th September 2023 |
| Time | 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, 8:00 am - 3:00 pm |
| Activities | Static aircraft displays, children's activities, live music, food and beer trucks, helicopter rides, performances, unlimited inflatables, PAW Patrol Meet & Greet, carnival games, face painting, live entertainment, bouncy castles, giant inflatable slides, petting zoo, arcade games, colouring, I Spy, thumb war, arm wrestling, card games, viewing art, etc. |
| Tickets | Vary from free to $35 per child |
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What You'll Learn
Play areas and kid-friendly dining options
Play areas are a great way to keep children entertained while waiting for flights or during layovers. Many airports have recognized the need to keep young travellers engaged and have introduced play areas, nursing rooms, and other amenities to make family travel more enjoyable. Here are some airports that offer play areas and kid-friendly dining options:
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Portland International Airport offers multiple play areas, both pre and post-security. Pre-security, you can find play areas with small climbing structures and a toy telescope in front of Concourses D and E. Post-security, Terminals C and D have play areas with LEGO tables and sculpted foam play elements. The Hollywood Theatre in Concourse C showcases short, family-friendly films by local filmmakers. Additionally, the airport offers a variety of dining options suitable for families.
Boston Logan Airport (BOS)
Boston Logan Airport features three play areas located near gates A18, B30, and C25. These play areas include interactive exhibits, allowing children to learn while they play. The airport also provides stroller-friendly paths and a range of family-friendly dining choices.
Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI)
Baltimore Washington International Airport offers a unique observation gallery that includes play equipment for children. Located outside security in the D/E Connector, it provides an engaging experience for kids. The airport also has nursing stations and family-friendly dining options.
Dallas Fort Worth Airport (DFW)
Dallas Fort Worth Airport provides a McDonald's Play Area at Gate D8, complete with charging ports for parents. The airport also boasts numerous family-friendly amenities, including children's art displays and a dedicated children's library. A variety of dining options suitable for families are available as well.
LaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport has a play area in Terminal B, featuring kid-friendly toys, various decorations, a soft floor area, and small slides. Benches are conveniently located nearby for parents to relax while their children play. Terminal B also boasts a unique water feature with coloured lights and beautiful designs. The airport offers a selection of dining options suitable for families.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
Chicago O'Hare International Airport has a play area in Terminal 2, Gate F1, designed by the Children's Museum of Chicago. It includes a plane fuelling station, a cockpit in a fantasy helicopter, a luggage station, and an air-control tower. The play area also has LEGO, ensuring accessibility for all children. The airport provides Mother's Rooms in all terminals and a variety of kid-friendly dining choices.
Salt Lake City International Airport
Salt Lake City International Airport offers three different play areas spread across its terminals, including sections in Concourses A, B, and E. These play zones feature attractive, kid-friendly floor designs with cartoon graphics that engage young minds. The airport also provides a range of dining options suitable for families.
St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL)
St. Louis Lambert International Airport has the Magic House St. Louis Children's Museum, which created the Play Port. This play area includes a kid-sized plane, an air traffic control tower, and a children's version of the MetroLink rail train. It's located near Gate C3. The airport also offers Companion Care restrooms suitable for families and a variety of dining options.
Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
While Honolulu International Airport does not have dedicated play areas, it offers an outdoor garden where families can relax and enjoy the sun. The airport provides free Wi-Fi, and several cafés and restaurants offer airfield views, creating a pleasant dining experience for both children and parents.
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Games and activities
Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of items commonly found at airports, such as a green suitcase, a sleeping passenger, a moving walkway, a plane landing, an international flight, or a service dog. Then, have fun searching for these items and checking them off the list.
Colour Hunt: Ask your child to pick a favourite colour and go on a hunt to find objects of that colour around the airport. This activity reinforces colour vocabulary and keeps everyone active.
I Spy: A classic game that never gets old! Play "I Spy" with your child, where they can ask questions to guess the object you are spying. Give clues for younger children, and let older kids narrow down the options with specific questions.
Window Clings: Bring along alphabet window clings or themed ones (nature, cars, animals, etc.) and set up a creative space by a big airport window. Let your kids' imagination run wild as they create words, sentences, or poems with the clings.
Art Appreciation: Many airports display various forms of art, including paintings, sculptures, and fountains. Turn your time at the airport into a fun art appreciation lesson. Discuss the different art pieces you find and their unique features.
Card Games: Pack a deck of cards and play games like Sevens, Mystery Whist, Clock Patience, UNO, or Monopoly Deal. Card games are a great way to pass the time and keep kids entertained.
Airport Map-Reading: If the airport has a rail system for connecting terminals, take a ride and combine it with a map-reading activity. It's a fun way to help kids develop their navigation skills.
Children's Play Areas: Some airports offer dedicated play areas for kids, such as the Children's Play Area near gates A1 and D25 at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. These areas provide a safe and engaging environment for children to play and interact with other kids.
Aviation Exhibits: Certain airports feature aviation exhibits designed specifically for children. For example, Chicago O'Hare International Airport has a children's aviation exhibit with kid-size cargo planes, cockpits, and a luggage station.
Airport Festivals: Keep an eye out for special events or festivals at airports that include children's activities. For example, the Long Beach Airport in California hosts the Festival of Flight, which includes static aircraft displays, children's activities, live music, and more.
Farmers Flea Fest: If you're travelling through the Citrus County, Florida area, you might stumble upon the Farmers Flea Fest at the Brooksville airport. This event includes a bounce house, pet adoptions, pet-related vendors, and more.
Kids Fest: For some serious fun, look out for kids' festivals like Kids Fest TO, which offers unlimited inflatables, jumping castles, interactive games, slides, carnival games, face painting, and even a petting zoo!
Remember, it's always a good idea to be prepared with activities and games when travelling with children to make the airport experience enjoyable for everyone.
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Airport-specific vocabulary
Airports can be exciting, especially for children. Learning airport-specific vocabulary can help children navigate their way through the airport and make the experience more enjoyable. Here is some airport-specific vocabulary to help children feel like travel experts:
Check-in Counter:
This is where you go to show your ticket and identification. You will usually be given your boarding pass here. It's important to arrive at the airport on time and head to the check-in counter to start your journey.
Boarding Pass:
The boarding pass is a very important document. It allows you onto the plane and tells you where to go (the gate) and what time to board. It also has your seat number, so you know exactly where to sit on the plane.
Security Check:
At the security check, your bags will be screened by X-ray machines, and you will walk through a metal detector. This is to ensure everyone's safety by checking for any prohibited items. You may be asked to take off your hat, shoes, and empty your pockets.
Gate:
The gate is the area where you wait for your flight. Each flight has a specific gate number, which will be on your boarding pass. When your flight is ready for boarding, you will go through the gate and onto the plane.
Terminal:
The terminal is the large building at the airport. It is where you will find the gates, shops, and other services. It's like a small city within the airport, with everything you need while waiting for your flight.
Cabin Crew and Pilots:
The cabin crew are the staff on the airplane who will assist you with anything you need during the flight. They are there to make sure you have a comfortable journey. The pilots are the ones flying the plane, and they work with the cabin crew to ensure a safe and smooth flight.
Learning these airport-specific terms can make travelling through an airport a fun and educational experience for children, giving them a sense of confidence and independence.
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Art installations
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's art program, ATL Airport Art, integrates art into the daily experience of passengers and employees. With over 1,000 artworks, it is one of the largest public art sites in the Southeastern US. The program commissions site-specific artwork, produces and curates rotating exhibits, and manages performances and artist programming.
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in Texas has a similar program called the City of Austin Art in Public Places (AIPP). Since its opening in 1999, AUS has installed over 30 artworks, many of which are on public display. The AIPP program focuses on collaborations with local artists and generates opportunities for them to work with airport planners, architects, and designers to create integrated and functional artworks.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport features an art installation called "Walk Together Children", which depicts children of all ethnicities in a lush rural setting by a stream. Shotgun-style houses are depicted in the foreground, with the Charlotte cityscape in the distance, contrasting the city's past and present. The artwork symbolizes the life journey that children embark upon, with mountains and bridges as additional symbolic elements.
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Nursing rooms
Some airports have gone above and beyond to cater to nursing parents. Orlando International Airport (MCO), for instance, has 18 lactation spaces, including 14 nursing rooms and four Mamava pods. MCO also offers interactive spaces and art exhibits for the whole family. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has 17 lactation spaces, with 11 nurseries and six Mamava pods. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) provides six Mother's Rooms and 10 Mamava pods, all open 24/7.
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has 11 nursing rooms, one in each terminal. LAX also has a mini beach-themed playground, located post-security in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has eight lactation spaces, including four Mamava pods and four Mother's Rooms. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is also proud to offer a variety of places for breastfeeding mothers.
For travelling parents, a little research goes a long way. Using apps like Mamava can help parents find and access lactation spaces in airports and thousands of other pump-and-nursing-friendly places.
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Frequently asked questions
Some activities to keep children entertained at the airport include playing I Spy, colouring, thumb wars, and card games.
Yes, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) has a children's aviation exhibit with kid-size cargo planes, cockpits, and a luggage station. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has a weather-themed play area and interactive learning centres. Portland International Airport (PDX) has a cinema that features short, family-friendly films.
Yes, the Festival of Flight at Long Beach Airport includes children's activities, such as static aircraft displays. The Farmers Flea Fest - Airport Farmers Market in Citrus County, Florida, also includes a bounce house and petting animals.
It is important to keep kids physically active, especially before a long flight. You can also research your layover airport beforehand to find out if there is any kid-friendly fun.
Kids can play games such as I Spy and Who Am I, or colouring. They can also admire the art and sculptures around the airport or play card games.
