Flying with a 12 and 7 Year Old

Bring a portable DVD player and head phones. The good thing about the DVD player is they run on batteries you can bring extra of those. Bring a favorite video but also a couple they haven't seen. Also books, colored pencils, video games. IPods, kindle etc

you are over thinking this. they are not babies. treat this like they are going on a long car ride or a doctor office. have them each pack a small backpack of things they like; books, iPod or any devices, cards, mad libs, crosswords, favorite teddy bear, snacks, etc.

why wouldn't you be able to fall asleep? i did with my kids 5, 6, 8

Since you are not flying non-stop, you will have two fairly short flights and a short layover. I'm guess each flight will be about 1 1/2 to 2 hours long. Your 12 year old could definitely bring a book or magazine for the flight. Do you have an IPad or DS or something? Those could be very helpful. If you have an IPad or other tablet, maybe you could have a couple of movies loaded. A deck of cards or travel game might help.

An hour layover is very short. You will pretty much get off the plane, find the gate for your connecting flight and then hopefully have time to get a little something to eat. The nice thing about is it gives you an opportunity to stretch your legs. I always enjoyed that when flying.

Try to relax. This is very doable. Have both kids think of a couple of things that they could do quietly in their seat - books, magazines, games, etc. Have them think of things they want. They can even each pack their own backpack to take on the flight.

They might even be excited about flying!

They are old enough to ask what they would like to do, while sitting still for long periods. Read? Watch a movie? Listen to music? Color? Draw? Sleep? Favorite snack? No liquids though until after security check.

The longest flights we have taken were from Phoenix to Seoul, South Korea. Adding in bus, train, cab and car, it was 24 hours door to door. And my kids fared better than me for sure.

ETA: Per your SWH, no one is trying to sound harsh. It is just that a 12 and 7 yr old are pretty self sufficient (or at least should be). Many of us on this site have been flying with our children since they were infants and a 12 and 7 yr old is much easier than an infant! If you allow them to pick up on your insecurities about flying then they will not see it as something fun and an adventure and will in turn get scared and be fearful. Please don't subject your fears on them.... Let them decide on their own how they like flying. It is MUCH safer that driving a car!!
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Kids that age should be a no brainer. It should be interesting and an adventure for them. You're not planning for infant or toddler ages, your children are capable of being self sufficient and have a great adventure!

Get to the airport a little early since you are practically newbies and try not to hold up the TSA lines. Visit the shops in the terminal for reading material, snacks and go have a good flight!!

Give them some empowerment and ask them what they want! Communicate... They are 12 and 7.. Not babies!

If they have allergies, etc, just make sure they have gum or water on take off and landing.

Your kids are great ages for flying.

Books to read
Tablet or handheld game player
Music to listen to
Neck pillow

Some snacks - no liquids--you can buy drinks after you go through the TSA checkpoint

Your kids are older.
It will be fine.
It is not a long flight.
An hour lay over, passes by very fast. And with kids, you can typically board first.

Reading a book in flight, is good. It is quiet and passes the time very well. Your 12 year old can do that certainly.
Your talkative 7 year old, you have to talk to her and tell her BEFORE the trip, that unnecessary noise & talking, is "rude" on a plane. TELL HER about "manners" on a plane, and how to behave. Otherwise, the Flight Attendant will come and ask her to hush. Or others may complain.

And your 12 year old, is old enough to help too.

Bring quiet things, for your 7 year old to do. Not a whole bag full of stuff, but an electronic gadget, iPad, etc. is good.
And snacks.

This should be easy - your kids are at a great age to fly. Talk to them before you go about how they have to be on their best behavior...restaurant behavior. Tell them they each can bring their own backpack with some things to do. A book to read, drawing pad if they like art, video game player or movie player, and a few snacks. We fly a lot and our kids always do just fine. My son sometimes brings Uno or cards. My daughter enjoys art and coloring books. They both really like to watch a movie or play a video game. We bring along headphones they can plug in..we have a little adapter so we can use two headphones at the same time. At the layovers we usually go get something to eat at a restaurant. Make sure they use the restroom before boarding the plane. After security I fill our water bottles or buy them a drink for their backpacks. They both always put in a sweatshirt in case they get cold. It will be fine! Oh I forgot - both my kids also like to do activity books (the ones with word searches, mazes, etc).

Kids this age don't need mom to pack them special things, we aren't talking about a toddler and a preschooler. The 12 year old can pack his or her own entertainment - Ipod, kindle, book, puzzle book, magazines, whatever. The 7 can do the same. The reason that all the posts about this are for younger kids is that 12 and 7 year olds can choose and pack their own small toys, reading materials, eletronics, etc. They should be able to entertain themselves. There's also no reason that you can't nap on the flight when flying with kids this age, your oldest is practically a teenager. There should not be survival tips needed for flying with a tween and a school aged kid. Just tell the 7 year old that you can't talk nonstop on a plane, that you have to be considerate of other people in such a small space, other people want to read, nap, or have brought work to do.

iPod, iPad, books, quiet toys, deck of cards, snacks....
Gum for takeoff & landing!!!

With kids that age, I'd say iPods, and buy an external battery to recharge them when they run out mid-flight. The flights aren't that long, and most kids this age can easily play MineCraft (or whatever their obsession is) for a few hours.

ETA: Oh, yeah, and food too. Your layover is quite short, and you might not have time to eat between flights, so you can take some snacks from home, and you should also get to the airport early enough to buy some substantial food to carry on the plane with you to eat during the flight, like sandwiches.

My boys, 9 and 5, just flew from Spokane to Anaheim (first flight for the youngest and the first one the oldest has been on since he was 4). They did great! They were both so excited to fly they spent most of the time looking out the window, both had a window seat while my husband and I sat in center seats so they didn't seat by strangers.
They each had their ds', a magazine, oldest had his kindle, youngest had a book, some legos, a snack, gum and a drink (drink and snack purchased after security check). They packed their own backpacks and I told them to take stuff wanted to do on the plane.

I would bring favorite snacks for them and for you on the plane so you don't get hungry or have to buy the overpriced snacks offered on board. Otherwise, let them pack a backpack of stuff to bring on the plane to entertain themselves. Make sure they have an ID tag on the inside of the bag in case it gets left on the plane. Sometimes it is chilly on the plane - you might want them to bring a light jacket in their backpacks. Most security lines will let the kids leave their shoes on, but you can check with your locations to see. Have fun!

I am a planner too and like to figure this stuff out in advance! I would let them each have their own backpack or even better a rolling backpack/bag that they can pack themselves. Let them pack some non-liquid snacks and an empty water bottle. Perhaps some of those powders to add to the water like crystal light or whatever they like. Let them pack their entertainment. If they have any iPads, it ouches, portable DVD, DS games etc bring them plus all the chargers. Make sure everything is charged in advance too. If they like coloring, books, games, mazes etc have them bring those too. I also like to pack some napkins, sanitizer, gum, headphones, a sweater or light jacket and I always pack a few back up entertainment and food options. I do this because if they are bored, they are going to bug the heck out of you.

I would not sleep either, I don't like to leave kids unattended even if it is on a plane. If you haven't already, call the airline and make sure that you have three seats in a row versus being all over the plane. Remember in all this to bring some stuff for yourself! The plane is too loud in my opinion to talk, so I would bring a fat book and encourage them to have some quiet time too. Have fun and good luck!

Your kids will be fine. The fact that they have never flown before makes it exciting and new for them, so they probably won't get too bored. All they need on the plane is whatever they like to do in their down time, read? listen to music? draw? games? Really, just whatever they need to pass the time. For sure pack a few snacks because food choices are limited and highly priced.
And of COURSE you can fall asleep! Like someone else said, they will be on a plane, they aren't going anywhere. I assume at seven your daughter knows how to be quiet for a while, and not talk to/bother people around her, and at twelve your son should be VERY well behaved.

I have been traveling with my kids since they were infants. This age is so much easier on them and you.

What would they like to bring? Remember that liquid items are not allow until after the security check. I would bring snacks.

An hour layover isn't that long. You get off your first flight and then go to the next. That can take up to 20 minutes. So I would move it to the next plane.

I would have a conversation with both prior to the trip. Let them know what your expectations are of them. Explain to the 7 year old that she will need to keep her talking to a minimum. There are people on the plane who work, sleep or just veg during the flight. Flight crew doesn't like people to stay out of their seats for very long so your daughter is going to have to stay put. Again, I would explain that to her as well.

Your kids are at a great age to travel. Don't overthink and stress. Let them know what your expectations are and make sure they bring what they want to keep them entertained. Enjoy!!!!

Your kids are old enough to travel pretty easily. They should each carry on a small bag or backpack with snacks, books, pen/paper, maybe a few small travel games, etc. If they have ipads or kindles with headphones they should bring those too. Don't be afraid to tell your seven year old she needs to do something else for a while if you don't feel like chatting the whole time. There's no reason you can't nap, your kids are going to be on a plane, they're not babies and they're not going anywhere!

Ask them what they want to take.

pack games and snacks. if you have a portable dvd player bring it. but youll need to have headphones for it. or tablets will be fun too. bring any medication they need on the plane with you. if they get car sick bring meds for that also a plastic bag with a change of clothes. have them pack a back pack with items they want to use on the plane- books to read, coloring, activity books, small quiet toys they like, ds if they have them.
dont be afraid to nap on the flight. put the kids on the 2 inside seats and you take the isle. if they fight about who gets the window say one gets it this flight and one gets it next flight. i also like to bring a sweater because i get chilly on a plane.
its really not that hard to pack for a flight. they will be excited and maybe even a little scared. sit down and talk to them about what they expect it to be like and what you expect their behavior to be like- as in no yelling, squeeling, pushing, etc.

You can bring food (snacks, sandwiches, etc) through security, but not liquids like bottled water or sodas. However, you CAN bring an empty water bottle and fill it AFTER you go through security. I usually take an empty water bottle and fill it after security, so I don't have to purchase the over priced meals in the airport.

If you can, bring a tablet with videos or games on it and headphones. That will be a great thing to help keep kids occupied. You can even get 2 person games that your kids can play with each other. If you can, find a place to recharge it on your layover. With only an hour layover, you will not be able to fully charge it, but any little bit will help.

Bring gum for the kids to chew on take-off and landing. That helps make them swallow, which helps ease the pressure on the eardrums. Adults usually know how to equalize the pressure in their ears, but most kids don't know how and it can get painful.

Even though your daughter is very talkative, she has to be quiet in school... just remind her that she needs to use her inside voice to keep from bothering other passengers.

just know that most planes no longer offer free meals. You have to pay. So you may want your own meals, especially if on the back of the plane where thy often run out of items. This happened to me when I was banking on feeding my kids on the plane. Not good.

In flight movies are usually enough for my kids, but iPods, iPad, DS and books are good too. We bring suckers or gum for the kids during landing and takeoff for their ears.

Bring plenty of food, especially healthy food. It can be hard to get on the airplane, and you might not have enough time between flights to stop in the airport. (This just happened to my family.)

Have each kiddo bring a backpack. Books and electronic devices should suffice. If your kiddo is into some easily portable craft (e.g., rainbow loom), that would also work well. The electronic device batteries probably won't last the entire time. I just flew last week with my kiddos (4 and 7) and the seats had an electric plug. It saved us when the battery died on the portable dvd.

Make sure they bring a long-sleeve shirt or jacket. Planes can be cold.

Tell them what to expect about the security checks. You can help make that easier by letting them know what they will need to do.

Have fun! They'll have a blast. My kiddos love flying!

Have them each pack a backpack filled with whatever they want. Include snacks and fruit and let them put in a goodie, too. Bring hand held electronics. Load your iPad with movies. Bring comfy earphones. Buy a movie in flight. It will be fine. I fly with my daughter all the time. It's just another way to travel. Easier than the car for sure. Although she is good for a 6 hour ride, too!