11 Parent-Tested Tips for Taking Toddlers to Airshows

My three-year-old melted down 45 minutes into our first airshow. My four-year-old now asks to go to every show within 200 miles. Here’s everything I learned the hard way about bringing tiny humans to aviation events.

1. Hearing Protection is Non-Negotiable

This is the hill to die on. A military jet at 200 feet generates 130+ decibels – well above instant hearing damage threshold. Adult earplugs don’t fit toddler ear canals properly.

Invest in proper children’s ear defenders: Baby Banz or Peltor Kid models are designed for small heads. Practice wearing them at home before the show. A child who rips off their hearing protection during a Thunderbirds pass is a child getting permanent hearing damage.

2. Time Your Arrival Strategically

Arriving when gates open guarantees exhausted kids before the headliner demos. Most military jet teams perform mid-afternoon. Arrive 90 minutes before the performance you most want to see. Yes, you’ll miss morning acts, but you’ll have functioning children for the main event.

3. The Wagon Changes Everything

Forget the umbrella stroller. Airshow terrain is rough – gravel, grass, concrete expansion joints. A collapsible wagon (Radio Flyer, Gorilla Carts) carries the child plus all your gear, rolls over rough ground, and provides a contained space when they need downtime.

4. Pack Like You’re Summiting Everest

Assume you’ll have access to nothing reasonable. Bring:

• Three times more water than you think necessary
• Snacks that won’t melt (abandon chocolate)
• Sunscreen AND a sun shade or umbrella
• Change of clothes (spills happen, portable toilets are disasters)
• Portable phone charger (you’ll be taking videos)
• A small towel (wet it for cooling, use for sitting)

5. Location Near the Exit

Position yourself within easy escape range of the exit. When the meltdown happens – and it will – you need the ability to extract quickly. Being trapped in show center with a screaming toddler and 50,000 people between you and the parking lot is parenting nightmare fuel.

6. Manage Expectations

Toddlers don’t understand scheduling. “The Blue Angels come on at 3pm” means nothing to a three-year-old. Prepare them that there will be “lots of different airplanes” and celebrate each act equally. The disappointment of a missed favorite is avoidable if every airplane is “the good one.”

7. Static Display Strategy

Visit static aircraft during aerial demos when crowds thin out. A toddler touching a real airplane wing is often more memorable than watching jets they can barely track across the sky. Ask military personnel if kids can sit in cockpits – many are happy to accommodate during slower periods.

8. The Shade Plan

Airshow venues are exposed asphalt and concrete reflecting summer heat. Scout your venue’s shade options immediately upon arrival. Some shows have hangars with AC. Others have covered grandstands. Know where they are before you need them.

9. Naptime Reality

Some kids will sleep through F-16 afterburner passes in the wagon. Others become overtired demons. Know your child. If they’re the latter, plan to leave before naptime implosion rather than pushing through.

10. The Buddy System

Go with another family. When one kid needs a bathroom run or meltdown intervention, the other parent can hold position. Swapping off supervision also lets adults actually enjoy some of the show.

11. Embrace the Unexpected

Your toddler might be bored by the Blue Angels but fascinated by the portable toilet truck. They might ignore the F-22 demo but spend 30 minutes watching a baggage cart. That’s okay. The goal is positive aviation exposure, not perfect programming adherence. Let them lead sometimes.