Your 18-month-old is on a plane, and you’re about to start your flight. You know that she’s going to be bored and restless, but how do you keep her occupied?
Luckily, there are plenty of apps that will keep your little one entertained while you travel. These fun and educational games can help keep your child occupied while they explore the world around them.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorites here so you can find the best apps for 18-month olds on planes!
Best Apps For 18 Month Old On Plane
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Best Kids’ Apps to Download Before a Flight
Settling in for hours of air travel? Help mix things up for your kids by offering as many types of activities as cramped seating allows. When books and I Spy run dry, these apps cover a wide variety of interests and ages to keep everyone happy and occupied. Together, play virtual board games, create books, or solve word puzzles. In the mood to play alone? Have kids try sandbox-style games or puzzle apps to keep them interested — and thinking. Whether you’re playing as a family or your kid’s playing solo, you’re bound to find something for everyone from one airport to the next.
Filter by:
Busy Shapes 2 Poster Image
APP
Busy Shapes 2
age 2+
Simply brilliant puzzler develops critical thinking.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2017)
The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends – First Words Poster Image
APP
The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Friends – First Words
age 2+
Eric Carle faves teach vocab in English and other languages.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2015)
Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem Poster Image
APP
Peg + Cat: The Tree Problem
age 3+
Help Cat out of trees with spatial skills; expect smiles.
Devices: iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2015)
Kiko’s Thinking Time – Cognitive Training for Children’s Brains Poster Image
APP
Kiko’s Thinking Time – Cognitive Training for Children’s Brains
age 4+
Charming games help little ones build core cognitive skills.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Skybrary – Kids Books & Videos Poster Image
APP
Skybrary – Kids Books & Videos
age 4+
Classic reborn as fee-based e-library with great selection.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2012)
Sprinkle Junior Poster Image
APP
Sprinkle Junior
age 4+
Water puzzles for youngsters; super fun, stays shallow.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2013)
Tales Untold Poster Image
APP
Tales Untold
age 4+
Fun, well-crafted audio stories entertain parents and kids.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Crazy Gears Poster Image
APP
Crazy Gears
age 5+
Fun STEM-themed free play with easy offscreen connections.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Gro Garden Poster Image
APP
Gro Garden
age 5+
Free play in virtual sustainable garden requires patience.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2014)
Pango Build Park Poster Image
APP
Pango Build Park
age 5+
Imagine, create, and play at custom theme parks.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2017)
Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens Poster Image
APP
Thinkrolls: Kings & Queens
age 5+
Fairy tales inspire fun, challenging puzzler.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2016)
Toca Hair Salon 3 Poster Image
APP
Toca Hair Salon 3
age 5+
Creative free-styling continues with more options, features.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2016)
Barefoot World Atlas Poster Image
APP
Barefoot World Atlas
age 6+
Delightful way to learn about animals, people, and more.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2012)
Kahoot! Big Numbers: DragonBox Poster Image
APP
Kahoot! Big Numbers: DragonBox
age 6+
Clever math resource-management game requires some patience.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2021)
Odd Squad: Blob Chase Poster Image
APP
Odd Squad: Blob Chase
age 6+
Capture blobs and problem-solve in fun, leveled games.
Devices: iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2015)
The Robot Factory by Tinybop Poster Image
APP
The Robot Factory by Tinybop
age 6+
Stellar sandbox tool drives kids to improve designs.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad (2015)
Toontastic 3D Poster Image
APP
Toontastic 3D
age 6+
Same great easy animated story creator, new 3D graphics.
Devices: Android, Chromebook (2017)
Where’s My Water? Poster Image
APP
Where’s My Water?
age 6+
Puzzler’s plot, unique gameplay will captivate young or old.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android (2011)
Hovercraft – Build Fly Retry Poster Image
APP
Hovercraft – Build Fly Retry
age 7+
Cool 3-D modeling, racing, and revision; lots of ads.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2015)
Minecraft Poster Image
APP
Minecraft
age 8+
Worthy spin-off of popular PC game encourages creativity.
Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle Fire (2011)
Other great lists from our editors
Best Road Trip Apps
Articles
Trapped on a Plane with an In-Flight Movie
Must-Have Apps for Family Travel
best apps for 18 month old
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The Best Apps for Baby, Toddler & Preschooler (for plane travel and every day)
I’m excited for my upcoming trip with my husband and 2.5 year old. My son has had very little screen time to date, but I wanted to have some good apps for him for our 11 hour flight. I asked the moms in my Facebook group for their recommendations and got so many responses and positive comments (one mom said “this list is gold”) that I thought I’d compile the recommendations here!
I looked at the description for each app and listed the recommended ages. If I noticed that the app offers in-app purchases, I specified.
A few of the apps seemed good but best suited for babies and young toddlers. I included those at the end of the post.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission at no cost to you if you click on my link and make a purchase. Please see the disclosure page for additional information. The links that I included are for the IOS apps. You may be able to find some of these apps on Amazon too.
Toddler and Preschooler Apps
Cookie Monster’s Challenge By PBS KIDS
Made for ages 3-5. This is an educational app.
Elmo Loves ABCs / Elmo Loves 123s
These apps are for ages 5 and under. They teach the letter/numbers identification, letter tracking, letter sounds, etc., and can be personalized. The ABCs app does offer in-app purchases.
Interactive Alphabet ABC’s
This app includes many activities, some are appropriate for age 1+ and some for ages 2-5. One of my friends is a mom of three kids and all of them use it. She says it is fantastic!
Tozzle – Toddler’s favorite puzzle
This is an educational app, built for built for children from age 2 – 99. A couple of moms recommended it.
Injini: Child Development Game Suite
Recommended for ages 1-7. The Injini app was inspired by children with special needs but made for all kids. “Injini’s game developers worked for two years with parents, early childhood educators, and occupational, speech, and cognitive experts to create superior play-based learning experiences that help young children reach developmental milestones. The games were designed for and tested with children with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and various developmental delays, as well as typically developing preschoolers.”
Dave and Ava
Made for ages five and under.
This app is perfect for a plane ride because you can download videos within the app and watch them offline.
Here is a much less expensive app from the same developers.
Daniel Tiger’s Grr-ific Feelings
Targeting kids ages 2-5, the app is designed to extend the series’ social-emotional curriculum, helping kids identify and express their feelings.
I also came across the Daniel Tiger Potty app, which may be worth exploring.
Dr. Seuss’s ABC – Read & Learn
This app is designed “for early readers.” My husband downloaded this just after my son turned two and they have been enjoying it together. The animation is really cute.
Endless Alphabet
Multiple moms recommended this as their kids’ favorite app.
Sago Mini Apps
Multiple moms recommended these apps.
Toca Boca Apps
A bunch of moms recommended these apps. I looked at the details for a few of the apps and most were made for ages 6-8, though moms introduce them at much younger ages.
I listed only a few above, but type “Toca Boca” into this search box and more will pop up:
PBS KIDS Games
Free games for kids age 2-8.
One mom mentioned that after you download the app, you can download games by character.
Monkey Preschool Lunchbox
For ages 2-5.
AlphaTots Alphabet
For ages five and under.
AlphaTots won many awards and “is the gold standard of ABC flash card apps” according to USA Today.
Starfall ABCs
For ages five and under.
The Three Little Pigs – Interactive bedtime story book
I couldn’t easily find an age recommendation on the app store description, but would assume that this app is good for ages 1.5-3.
My Little Town: Toddler’s Seek & Find Activity Book
“Particularly suitable for children aged 18 months to 4 years.”
Talking Carl
This app is designed for all ages. It seems kind of silly, but entertaining (and perhaps teaches cause and effect).
Tunes Teaching Toddlers
Designed for ages 0-5. Multiple moms have recommended this to me. This app does offer in-app purchases.
Tiny Hands Apps
For ages 1 and up (see each app for recommended ages). These apps seem to be free but include in app purchases.
Counting Caterpillar
For preschoolers and kindergarteners. One mom says that her kids go crazy for this. It wouldn’t be my top choice from this list.
Baby-Young Toddler Apps
Note that a bunch of the apps recommended above are recommended from age one, so please also read the descriptions for the apps listed above. I wouldn’t purchase the ones listed below past age two as your child may get bored of them quickly.
Peekaboo Barn
This is one of the first apps that I purchased for my son. It is cute and simple. Perfect for a one year old. You can choose from the built-in narrators: child’s voice in young English; adult’s voice in American English or Spanish. World languages also included: Mandarin, Cantonese, Hindi, Japanese, Swedish, Dutch, Italian, German, French, and UK English. You also have the option of recording your own voice.
Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood: Play at Home with Daniel
“Made for kids ages 2-5, the app is designed to extend the series’ social-emotional curriculum.”
This is another app that I purchased for my son at age one. He enjoyed it for a while. He is now 2.5 and will still play with it on occasion, but I think he has outgrown it. Scroll up for another Daniel Tiger app that is appropriate for older toddlers and preschoolers.
Laugh & Learn™ Apps by Fisher Price
For six months and up. One mom recommended making a playlist and setting it to loop to keep your child entertained for longer stints. She said that her kids developed an interest in the apps after age two. I included it in the baby list as it seems simplistic to me.
Conclusion
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