I need your tips and tricks please?

We are going on a holiday next week for 10days and Im after some tip's on what you all do to keep your kids happy and entertained while flying and how much stuff do you usually pack? and how do your kids go with the change in routine well any advice really would be great thanks!!

I'm a little nervous as we have done some day trips or 1 nighters with the three boys but not done a big holiday or gone on plane with them all yet!!!

definately pack lots of snacks and drinks for the plane, dont sit the kids on the isle side keep them on the window side so they cant escape and run up and down the plane smile if its a really long flight its worth getting/ borrowing a portable DVD player for them to watch, just put the sound on low, it wont bother other passengers if the other option is screaming children lol

get the kids a folder each to to put things in during the holiday, give them the task of collecting brochures etc gives them something 'special' to do and great for older kids who can use it for show and tell at school.

my kids tend to deal with routine change fairly well but we did try to keep some things as close to normal as possible, like bed time routines. we also took the kids own blankets for the beds so they felt more 'at home'..seemed to work.

Also take a change of clothes in your hand luggage for each child and one for yourself. My cousin took her little one overseas, only to discover her DD got airsick - she threw up all over my cousin, who had no clothes to change into! Spent a good portion of the flight wrapped in a blanket and had to walk through the airport in it later, lol!

Yes I agree with lots of snacks! But my big tip is don't pack activities with lots of 'pieces' as you'll be spending all your time trying to retrieve said pieces from under the seats, etc.

And make sure they have something to suck on when the plane takes off and lands, it will help their ears.

The activities you pack if you wrap them up like a pressie -just cheap stuff from a $ type store- then they can open them and play for a while until they get bored.
I always try and keep my children in their seats for as long as I possibly can. I divide up the different events and make them last as long as I can eg the take off is very exciting so the buzz of taking off and then talking about where we are going and what we will be doing usually lasts for 3/4 hr. Then I will feed them, do a toilet run and a walk around the aisle, followed by a toy.... I can stretch that out to take up ages.
I tell my children that if they are in their seats the belt must be on and I allow them to go for a walk every now and again to stretch legs etc.
I think that the main thing is to be alert and ahead of their needs.
Also flush the toilet after they leave the room... it can be scarey.

Thanks everyone for the great advice:

They got some great little nick nacks activity books ect for christmas that I have put away to take with us and I'll pack LOTS of snacks and maybe lolly pop's to suck on!

The change of clothes for all of us is a good Idea too I hope they don't get airsick sad

The activities you pack if you wrap them up like a pressie -just cheap stuff from a $ type store- then they can open them and play for a while until they get bored.
I always try and keep my children in their seats for as long as I possibly can. I divide up the different events and make them last as long as I can eg the take off is very exciting so the buzz of taking off and then talking about where we are going and what we will be doing usually lasts for 3/4 hr. Then I will feed them, do a toilet run and a walk around the aisle, followed by a toy.... I can stretch that out to take up ages.
I tell my children that if they are in their seats the belt must be on and I allow them to go for a walk every now and again to stretch legs etc.
I think that the main thing is to be alert and ahead of their needs.
Also flush the toilet after they leave the room... it can be scarey.

ahh def flush after they leave the toilet i made this mistake blink and i wholeheartedly agree with the not too many pieces toys/games smile

Wise words about the toilets.... I will never forget my neice running through business class screaming 'scary toilet!' at the top of her lungs. My brother decided it would be eductaional to show her how they work. She had a phobia of airplane toilets for years.