If your portable computer, DVD player, or iDevice can store media, load it up and don’t leave home without it. Though you may feel like a bad parent for plugging your child in, your fellow passengers will thank you. To avoid feeling too guilty, sneak in some education by downloading varied types of music, audiobooks, and nature documentaries, instead of hours of mindless animation.

Using blankets, build your child a tent by draping the blanket over the back of her seat. This airplane tent is a great place to read and play (bring along a mini flashlight), and may even help your child shut the world out enough to fall asleep.

With a few magic markers and the airsickness bags, create your own in-flight puppet show.