Updated May 2026
Ever see the joy kids get from making things with their hands?
Check out this Aeroplane Craft For Kids, using your recycling!
A super project for kids who like a challenge!
Kids, planes and Aeroplane craft
for kids!
Crafting Aeroplanes is a huge hit with the children I work with, and I am sure Aeroplane crafts for kids will be with yours too!
Whether it’s a toy or something kids put together that resembles an aeroplane, kids will mimic the take-off and landing of a streamlined jet!
WHAT THIS ACTIVITY PROMOTES!
This activity will help build fine motor skills, promote creativity, and teach a bit of patience, plus it’s a fun activity too!
GREAT EXPERIENCE!
Kids are fascinated by aeroplanes. This can be one of the most exciting adventures for them!
From the buzz of going to the airport to being up in the clouds, as well as the experience, will be both thrilling and educational.
MY INTENTION!
Let’s explore the airport excitement. I will give tips to keep your kids entertained during a flight.
WHAT PROJECT!
In addition, I will demo a fun project using your throw-out material to craft an Aeroplane craft for kids, that will be your very own aeroplane, where I will be using cardboard tubes and other cardboard shapes, resembling parts of a plane.
AIRPORT BUZZ!
Arriving at the airport can feel like stepping into a bustling city of its own! Kids can stroll through the terminals, watch planes take off and land, and marvel at the size and noise of the jets.
KEEPING KIDS INTERESTED!
The best way to harness their excitement is to engage them with open questions, giving your kids a chance to think and reply after making those observations!
For example:-
WHERE TO?
‘What destination do you think this plane is heading to?
GUESSING GAME.
What do you think is inside all those bags loaded onto the plane?
COUNT NUMBERS!
‘How many passengers do you think board the plane, and how will they sit, in two, three or four rows?
Do you get the drift?
BECOMES MORE EVIDENT!
So when it’s finally time to board the plane, the whimsical experience of walking through the jet bridge can make kids dizzy with anticipation.
Each seat becomes a personal little space in the sky, and then they will see if they were right in answering your question on how passengers sit, then the penny would have dropped, in their thinking….oh yeah, I was right, or whoops bit wrong!
QUICK TIP!
Depending on your child’s age, you could give them some responsibility, like being in charge of the boarding passes or spotting planes outside the airport to make them feel more involved.
ENTERTAINING KIDS WHILE FLYING!
IN-FLIGHT GAMES:
- Bring cards or travel games like tic-tac-toe that can easily be placed on a fold-down tray.
BOOKS AND COLOURING:
Pack a small collection of books to read, or colouring material or books. Activity books with puzzles can keep kids engaged for hours.
STORYTIME:
Create a story together. You can take turns, each adding a sentence and building up a wonderful story!
WHAT TO EAT?
Aeroplane food varies, but packing some favourite snacks can help make any flight better.
Here are some kid-friendly snacks that travel well and are easy to pack:
GUMMY-SNACKS:
Yummy treats are always a hit and easily shareable.
GRANOLA BARS:
These bars are filling and nutritious options.
FRUIT:
Apples and bananas are a great fresh snack.
FRUIT MIX:
Alternatively, a fun mix of nuts* chocolate chips, and dried fruit.
(*Although there may be passengers with nut allergies, so nuts may not be allowed.
Remember to check the airline’s rules about food and drinks too!
CABIN VIEWS AND ADVENTURES!
Looking out of the aeroplane window is a magical experience. Kids can see the clouds, tiny cars rushing on roads, and even other planes flying below them!
Encourage them to spot different landmarks, parks or cities from the sky.
FUN AEROPLANE FACTS.
Did you know that aeroplanes can fly at an altitude of around 35,000 feet? That’s higher than Mount Everest!
Here are a few more facts to share with your kids:
SPEED
- The fastest commercial aircraft can travel at speeds of over 700 miles per hour!
FUEL
- Aeroplanes can carry thousands of gallons of fuel – enough for long-haul flights that last over 12 hours!
A VISION
- Pilots can see the horizon curve from their cockpit, making the Earth look round!
Here are a few more facts about how an aeroplane flys!
ANOTHER TIP!
Bring binoculars, if allowed, to enhance the view and a WOW factor!
HANDLING EAR PAIN AND CABIN AIR!
Flying can sometimes lead to earaches due to rapid altitude changes. Here’s how to help your little one:
CHEW GUM EAT SNACKS:
Chewing helps equalise pressure in the ears.
YAWN AND SWALLOW:
Encourage them to swallow or yawn frequently during ascent and descent. If it’s a younger child, having them suck from a bottle can also help with the sucking and swallowing motion.
Staying hydrated is also crucial because the cabin air can be dry. Make sure they drink plenty of water during the flight.
ARE YOU READY TO CRAFT AN AEROPLANE CRAFT FOR KIDS?
RESOURCES:
1-2 Long cardboard inner tubes, 1-3 smaller tubes.
Collapsible packaging. 17 x 23.5 cm
Ruler/Pencil/Rubber.
Felt-tip pens, Blue & White/Blue Pencil.
Acrylic paints/Blue & White.
Paint-brushes/ Fine & Broad.
PVA glue,/Glue stick/Double-sided tape/Masking tape.
Glue gun/wax strips.
Scissors/Large/Small.
Paint plate/Disposable gloves/Newspaper.
A Template for the nose of the plane. (your choice)
Before we start, below is a picture of a Boeing 777, that I shall be copying and for you to refer to.
Different parts of the aeroplane are labelled so you can identify what they are, where they are positioned, and what they look like.
LET’S GET GOING!
SOME CRAFTING TIPS!
LOOK FOR PACKAGING.
- When gathering your recycling, if you don’t have a fold-in box, find any brown packaging card and use this instead.
PREPARE BEFORE YOU START.
- You can cut out all parts, make them ready and glue them in place with hot wax.
WORK TO SIZE.
- As you are using the longer cardboard inner tube for the main body of the plane, try to make all parts in proportion to the main body, keeping in check with the model of the plane, or check online for references to follow. Ultimately, it could be your very own aeroplane design.
SHAPING THE NOSE.
- To make the front of the plane, the nose, you can follow a similar template or cut out about 5 sections into points out of a smaller inner tube, which can fold inwards.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
- You may need to practice forming the nose of the plane until you get a similar shape to the model plane.
PVA GLUE/WET GLUE.
- When using PVA glue, it will soften up the card, and it could cave in here and there, but you can always mould it back into shape.
ADDING THE LOGO.
- Lightly draw all parts, eg. doors, windows and symbols, then when happy, fill in the drawing with felt tips and paint.
When you click links in this post and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the craft projects shared on this website.😀
(Affiliate disclosure)
Here’s some ideas that might help with keeping kids entertained!
Pound Fun offer a great selection of children’s toys that are big brands and at small prices.
They have put together these super Ultimate Mystery Toy boxes which contain 30 lovely goodies, that cater for all kids from 3 – 9 years of age!
Worth £100, now selling at a crazy price of £25!
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Inside the Mystery box…there’s a range of toys, dolls, art supplies, games, books and more! All you need to keep your kids interested!
Or…. they have Mega Surprise toy boxes at less than half price!!! Where they have taken out the trouble for you, looking to find what your kids want.
In this case, you choose the theme they like, and Pound Fun does the rest!
There would be something of interest for all kids from 3 to 13 years old, and definitely something to occupy them during the long flight!
So why not grab yourselves a deal, whatever you choose, your kids will be spoilt for choice!
ALTERNATIVELY………
✈ ✈
Planning a family trip? Etsy has a wonderful selection of travel games and activity packs.
Perfect for keeping little ones entertained during aeroplane flights, car journeys, and train travel, helping the miles pass more quickly for the whole family.
Here’s one example, of a travel pack keepng your child engrossed and won’t even notice time fly by!✈
🧳 🧳
From colouring activities and puzzles to reusable busy books and travel scavenger hunts, these portable entertainment packs can help keep children engaged and happy during long journeys.
✈ ✈🧳
Browse Etsy’s collection of kids’ travel games and activity packs to help keep little travellers entertained on your next adventure. ✈️🚗📚
ONE USEFUL TIP!
If your selection has many pieces to it, it may be best to remove all smaller pieces from their packaging and put them into a plastic zipped bag.
This would help to reduce the size of the package, and then you can fold it down into a smaller size, and then pop it in your flight bag.
PLAN AHEAD!
Holidays come and go so quickly; now you can think ahead and plan how to entertain your kids.
PREPARE FOR THE NEXT HOLIDAY!
If your holiday is done and dusted, there’s always the next holiday to prepare for!
CURIOUS, JUMP IN AND TAKE A LOOK!
There is something for everyone at Pound Fun or Etsy
All items are at affordable prices and great travel games to keep your kids busy!
TO CONCLUDE!
UP-CYCLE INTO A PLANE!
In this post, I show how you can whip up an Aeroplane craft for kids, using your recycling, especially cardboard inner tubes, and some of the parts of packaging!
WHAT I NOTICED!
Having had a short holiday myself, flying to Cyprus, I noticed what it’s like with kids on board.
So I have offered a few ideas to help with issues that may come up!
KIDS LOVE CRAFTING!
I know kids enjoy crafting and making something out of junk, and creating a plane is a super way for kids to talk about their experienced they will demonstrate how their plane took off and landed!
So hold on to your tubes as this is a great project to dive into!
MORE TRAVEL PROJECTS!
If you are looking for more travel projects for your kids to have a go with, then check out the next two projects that might be of interest to you!
Hey Julia,
This is another powerful article that will benefit so many young kids.
I will share this with my friends who have two young boys, and of course my sister-in-law and brother to share with my niece and nephew.
The aeroplane is part of the holiday and talking about it, crafting a plane out of materials and showing their friends will definitely be a big help.
Thank you for sharing and keep up the amazing work.
All the best,
Tom
Hi Tom, thanks for your comment, as I experience this journey myself, and saw what it’s like for the children flying for long hours, stuck in the same seat, I realised the anxiety parents have when kids are restless, so introducing travel puzzles might keep kids entertained for a bit. Also this gave me the idea, to craft something that was real to us all ‘an Aeroplane!’ So I used my grandsons gift as the example to copy a ‘Boeing 777’, as the next craft project!
I am glad you are going to share this article with friends and family, as it could benefit most, with some solutions, if not now to plan ahead, for the next holiday!
Julia.😊