Long layover at JFK, with kids

[wizardressofoz]

What are your best tips for a long layover with kids, at JFK airport, specifically? I have a 3 and 5 year olds, and will be traveling with grandparents and aunties and uncles, so there’s also some level of “they’ll be entertained by them.”  Help me not bail on the vacation before we even leave the country. 😂

We have a 6 hour layover at JFK this spring, enroute to Switzerland. We are meeting some family about 3 hours into the layover (hence the awful layover)  so don’t really have time to leave to go into the city. I have a 3 year old and 5.5 year old. I am aware of a play area in the Jet Blue terminal, so we can probably do an adventure there. I see there’s a hotel (the TWA hotel) that looks fun - pool bar. - but some level of going into/out of security that we may or may not want to deal with.

I feel like, we get there about 2pm, have a snack, walk around /wear kids out, xxxxx?, meet family around 530, everyone has dinner, more walking, get on flight around 8pm.

I feel like I’m only going to be able to scavenger hunt so much, only have so many toys, and while I am full on cool with iPad, I sort of want to reserve that for the flights themselves if at all possible. 

[rupertpenny]

At JFK you might have to leave security to get to another terminal, but if you land at the terminal with the play area I’d definitely hang out there for a little while.

Honestly the answer is snacks for them, drinks for you. It probably won’t be fun, but you will all survive. I would go out of my way to plan games or activities.

Also, check as much as you can. Chasing kids around the airport is much more difficult if you have to lug carry-on bags everywhere.

[pittpurple]

Definitely check everything you can - maybe plan to bring very few toys and then spend quite a bit of that time picking out something new in one of the shops? Even a kids' magazine or something might buy some time. And since you're heading onto a long flight I'd keep moving as much as possible - find a quiet gate and have them run races for while, go round in circles counting airplanes. My kids can spend a surprising amount of time just looking out windows at airplanes taking off and landing. 6 hours really isn't terrible since you are already breaking it up halfway, it's really just 3 hours which is a normal layover time and then a whole different 3 hours with all the new people.

[neonpink]

A friend of mine just stayed at the TWA hotel over the weekend. It looked amazing. The pool is heated and watching the planes and swimming sounds so cool. I'm not sure if a pool day would be worth it but it would tire out your kids.

[lolo]

Just in case it's relevant--there are actually two play areas and an outdoor area in the jet blue terminal. My kids (3 and 6) definitely enjoyed time at both play areas.

I would spend as long as they are entertained in the tumbleleaf themed one, then walk down to the airplane one (which is very near the outdoor area). By the time you add in snacks and maybe checking out a store or two, that's at least half of your time. And then your family will arrive and hopefully that will be exciting and help to kill the rest of the time.

[divanerd]

Check everything! With only 3 hours unless you leave to go to Corona Park to burn energy I would have a snack and visit both play areas..so you get an hour break to yourself and then DH does by spending an hour in each play area...
Happy travels!