With two small boys of my own, I rarely go anywhere without toys – my handbag is never without a few toy cars, small dinosaurs are kept in the back of our pram for emergencies, and we have an entire drawer of plane toys that we save for flights. Both my boys, despite being only two and five, are very familiar with flying – amazingly, my five-year-old has done the long-haul slog to Australia five times. The key to surviving such long journeys? Lots of snacks, accepting it's okay to lean into screen-time and strategically chosen toys.

But what are the best toys to bring on a plane? The key is to avoid buying them one big shiny new toy for the flight. Instead, the aim is to amass a bunch of small toys that don't take up much room in your carry-on and punch well above their weight for entertainment. Within this category, anything noisy is to be avoided at all costs, as is anything with too many pieces that are bound to get lost. And if you have the time, you don't necessarily need to buy anything new – filling a washbag or packing cube with toys they haven't played with in a while can do the job.

For recommendations though, the parents in our team have tried and tested a whole range of plane toys over the years. The below are the ones we think go well above and beyond your average fidget toy or colouring book, with options that will keep kids of all ages busy for hours.

Best for babies: Spinners, Mori soft activity cube
Best for toddlers: Busy board, Sort & match kit
Best for 3-6 year olds: Janod Magneti’Book, Where Are You? books
Best for 6-10 year olds: LEGO® Books: ReBuild Activity Cards, UNO

It’s a universal truth that kids love sticker books. They’re great for in-flight entertainment since they’re lightweight, easy to pack and can be used on little laps even when tray tables have to be stowed away. For younger children, we love reusable sticker books like the Make-a-Face series from Melissa & Doug. Available in pet, farmyard and safari versions, they provide hours of educational fun as your little ones add facial features to their favourite animals. And for parents and airline staff, the fact that there’s no sticky residue to contend with is a major bonus. Travelling with older children and don’t necessarily want them to pass their flight time with four back-to-back movies? Creative pre-teens will love the challenge of Imagimetrics, a sticker-by-numbers concept that results in some truly beautiful multi-dimensional works of art.

Why we recommend: I've travelled a few times with the Melissa & Dough reusable sticker book. It is quite a large size, but there are a lot of stickers and they are quite good quality and never ripped. When my son was too young to pick up stickers, the Janod MagnetiBook was a great alternative and its something he still enjoys playing. Lauren Burvill

From as young as two or three, children can be kept entertained for hours by a good activity book. Wipe-clean versions like the Zoo Activities book from Usborne are the best, since they can be used over and over again on your outward and return journeys. Activities range from spot-the-difference and maze games to join-the-dots and line tracing. All of them encourage focus and help to develop pen control. If giving your child a marker pen in an enclosed space sounds like a recipe for disaster, there are mess-free options as well. Like the iconic Where’s Wally books but better, the personalised Where Are You? books from Wonderbly enthral children with the novelty of finding themselves on each page. For older kids, the LEGO® Books Activity Cards are the perfect alternative to bringing a massive box of bricks away with you. Although the book set only comes with 25 Lego pieces, the deck of 30 activity cards will stir up your child’s imagination and make the most of them. Each card gives a new task: can you build an animal with more than five legs? Or your own cauldron for making spells in? There are opportunities here for creative storytelling too, and games to play with friends or family members, as well as solo.

Why we recommend: My daughter’s Where Are You? book is one of my tried-and-tested go-tos for long journeys. Even though she’s had it for several years and knows where to find herself, there are hundreds of other interesting things to look for on each brightly coloured page. Jessica Macdonald

For little ones who need a stimulus but are still too small for fiddly activities, pack a box of sensory toys to keep hands and eyes interested. You can, of course, create your own – a wash bag filled with ribbons and socks, for example. For a step above, there are plenty of compact and clever sensory kits on the market, designed for varying ages. Look for boxes with larger items that you won't easily lose.

Why we recommend: We took one of the Lovevery kits on a recent holiday, and my son absolutely loved each and every feature. Granted, they are not cheap, but the quality of the Montessori kits is the best I've seen, and because they are specifically designed and curated to suit a certain age group, I did notice my son was much more engaged compared to his usual collection of plastic toys. Not every part of these kits will be suitable for a flight – some of them are designed for water play etc – but a lot of them will be, with each element packaged in a box or bag. The kits come with handy books, too, that advise parents on how to use the elements for play and development. Lauren Burvill

Drawing is a great way to pass the time on a flight, though the standard pencil case and paper setup isn't ideal for the tight confines of a plane seat. Travel-friendly alternatives include digital drawing boards like this one from TEKFUN, which lets little hands draw precise, multi-coloured lines with an LCD screen and stylus. For toddlers, we also love the travel-sized Aquadoodle with its easy-to-grasp water pen and scribble-friendly pad.

Why we recommend: The drawing tablet that we slotted into our hand luggage last minute fast became our most trusted companion, and now we don't travel – plane, train or car – without it. Sarah Leigh Bannerman

If the goal is to get maximum entertainment from just one toy, then busy boards are a miraculous invention for children from a few months to a few years old. There are plenty of soft busy boards available on Amazon that feature a range of different activities in a book-style carrying case that’s just a tiny bit larger than an A4 sheet of paper. The other options are wooden boards which feature various activities that encourage fine motor skills, from moving beads to opening locks and moving magnets.

Why we recommend: I've packed our busy board on a couple of flights with my two-year-old, including the long journey to Australia. It's a great one to store right next to a tablet and any books in your luggage. To make it even more engaging, I've hidden little snacks and toys in the board too. Lauren Burvill

The clue is in the name: fidget toys are a win for restless children who just can’t sit still for extended periods of time. Deploy them at the right moment, and you might be able to save yourself a few late-night circuits of the darkened cabin. Push-pop toys are an obvious contender in this category. While toddlers will love the colourful versions, for older kids there are the electronic push-pop games that light up. Competitive kids will be kept captivated by their attempt to achieve a new high score.

Why we recommend: My son loved these, especially when he was around 18 months old. I usually find that the flight is never as bad as you think it's going to be, but the journey from the airport is often an unexpected, tricky part. When everyone is tired, and it's just that last little bit of time until you get to your destination. For those moments, I recommend saving a fidget spinner in your bag and pulling it out, just to give your little one something fresh and relaxing to play with. Lauren Burvill

Teething babies can be challenging at the best of times, let alone in an enclosed space several thousand feet above the ground. A good teething toy can give them (and you) some much-needed relief. In addition, encouraging your infant to chew or suck on a teether during takeoff and landing can help their little ears cope better with the change in cabin pressure. You could keep it simple with Nuby’s IcyBite Keys, which are colourful, easy for tiny hands to hold and filled with a gel that can be cooled in the fridge when you reach your destination. Or you could opt for a plush toy like this crocodile clip-on from MEERO LONDON, which serves as a teether, a fidget toy and a snuggly comforter for when your little one is feeling sleepy.

Why we recommend: The first time we flew with my daughter, I wasn’t allowed to breastfeed on takeoff. When she started to cry, her IcyBite Keys helped distract her and also probably assisted with clearing the pressure in her ears.

Sometimes the old methods are the best. If your children are big enough for board games, consider investing in a few travel-sized versions to keep them occupied through your next flight. For younger kids aged roughly 3 to 6, we love Little Bug Bingo from Orchard Toys. It’s ideally sized for playing on a tray table and features colourful, sturdy cards adorned with adorable garden beasties. Bingo is also a more compact option than Pairs or any other game that requires space to spread out. Our top tip? Bring along a Ziploc bag for keeping errant picture cards and counters contained.

For older children, teenagers and even adults, chess offers hours of in-flight fun. This compact travel set from Peradix is beautifully made, with a foldable board and magnetic pieces that won’t slide off if you hit a patch of turbulence.

Let’s be honest: There are times when we win at keeping our kids entertained without resorting to a screen, and there are definitely times we don’t. And trust me, the middle of a long-haul flight is not the place to be stuck without access to your last resort. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet Kids Pro Edition comes with a robust kid-proof case, extended battery life and the ability to pre-load all of their favourite games, books, series and movies. For bookworm school-age kids and older, you could also keep things simple with a Kindle Kids e-reader. Just be sure to download enough content for the flight ahead of time.