Best Shows to Download on iPad for Long Flights with Elementary-Age Boys
TL;DR: Download Bluey, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Wild Kratts, and The Magic School Bus Rides Again before you leave the house. Your 6-year-old and 9-year-old will both stay engaged, you won't burn through your data plan at 30,000 feet, and nobody will have a meltdown when the Wi-Fi cuts out mid-episode.
The key to surviving a long flight with elementary-age boys isn't hoping the plane has decent Wi-Fi—it's downloading everything before you board. Common Sense Media maintains an up-to-date "Best Kids' TV Shows on Apple TV" list that highlights series that are both age-appropriate and easy to download for offline viewing on an iPad. Browse that list, pick what your kids already love, and use the Apple TV app's download button to store several episodes on the device.
For an all-in-one option, the Hopster app (featured in Apple's "5 kids' apps for offline fun") lets you download popular preschool and early-elementary series like Peppa Pig, Pingu, and Fireman Sam for offline playback. Because Hopster stores videos locally, the iPad plays them in full airplane mode without surprise data charges.
You need shows that hit a few specific criteria:
Wide age appeal. Your 6-year-old and 9-year-old are at very different developmental stages, but you don't want to pack two separate devices or referee constant fights over whose turn it is. The best airplane shows work for both ages—engaging enough for the older kid, accessible enough for the younger one.
Episodes that stand alone. If turbulence hits mid-episode or someone needs a bathroom break, you want shows where pausing or skipping won't ruin the experience. Serialized dramas are great at home, terrible at 30,000 feet.
Actual entertainment value. About 40% of families in the Screenwise community use Netflix with kids' profiles, and another 40% let kids browse the regular catalog. That means most parents know the difference between shows that genuinely hold attention and shows that just... exist. On a plane, you need the former.
Downloadable without hassle. Some streaming services make offline downloads weirdly complicated or limit how long you can keep them. Stick with platforms that let you download easily and don't expire content mid-flight.
Bluey (Disney+)
This Australian series about a Blue Heeler puppy and her family is shockingly good. The 6-year-old will love the imaginative play and silly games, while the 9-year-old (and you) will appreciate the genuinely clever writing and emotional depth. Episodes are only 7 minutes, which makes them perfect for short attention spans or filling gaps between activities. About 50% of families in the Screenwise community use Disney+ together as a family activity, and Bluey is consistently the show parents mention when asked what's actually worth watching.
Download tip: Disney+ lets you download entire seasons at once. Grab seasons 1-3 before you leave.
Avatar: The Last Airbender (Netflix/Paramount+)
This is the sweet spot for a 9-year-old—epic adventure, martial arts, humor, and genuinely compelling storytelling. Your 6-year-old might not follow every plot thread, but the action sequences and elemental bending are visually engaging enough to hold attention. Fair warning: episodes are 23 minutes and the show is serialized, so your kids might get really into it. That's actually ideal for a long flight—you want them absorbed.
Download tip: Start with Book One (Water) and download at least 10 episodes. If your flight is truly long, grab Book Two as well.
Wild Kratts (PBS Kids app or Amazon Prime)
The Kratt Brothers use "creature power suits" to explore animal abilities, and it's educational without feeling like homework. The 6-year-old will love the transformation sequences and animal facts, while the 9-year-old stays engaged with the adventure plots and science concepts. Each episode is self-contained, which makes it perfect for interrupted viewing.
Download tip: The PBS Kids app lets you download episodes for free if you have a PBS station login. Otherwise, Amazon Prime has multiple seasons available for download.
The Magic School Bus Rides Again (Netflix)
The reboot of the classic series maintains the "take chances, make mistakes, get messy" spirit while updating the animation and science content. Both ages will stay engaged—it's funny, fast-paced, and genuinely educational. Episodes are 26 minutes and totally self-contained.
Download tip: Netflix makes downloading dead simple. Grab a full season and you're set.
Nailed It! (Netflix)
This baking competition show where amateur bakers hilariously fail at recreating professional cakes is surprisingly kid-friendly (there's a Nailed It! kids version too). The 9-year-old will appreciate the humor and competition, while the 6-year-old will love watching the cake disasters. It's also a show you can genuinely watch together without wanting to claw your eyes out.
Download tip: Episodes are about 35 minutes. Download 3-4 and you've got nearly two hours of content.
For Your 6-Year-Old
If you need something specifically calibrated for the younger kid during a moment when the 9-year-old is reading or doing something else:
- Octonauts (Netflix): Underwater animal rescue adventures, 11-minute episodes
- StoryBots (Netflix): Educational and genuinely funny, with celebrity guest stars
- Puffin Rock (Netflix): Gentle, nature-focused, narrated by Chris O'Dowd
For Your 9-Year-Old
If the older kid needs something more sophisticated:
- Hilda (Netflix): Beautiful animation, adventure-focused, based on a graphic novel series
- The Last Kids on Earth (Netflix): Post-apocalyptic adventure with humor and heart
- Carmen Sandiego (Netflix): Geography-focused heist adventures with a strong female lead
About 42% of kids in the Screenwise community watch YouTube solo (unsupervised), while 38% watch with supervision. On a plane, YouTube is risky—even with YouTube Kids, the algorithm can serve up weird content, and you can't download most videos for offline viewing without a YouTube Premium subscription.
If your kids are used to YouTube and will revolt without it, get YouTube Premium for a month and download specific videos or playlists before you travel. Focus on channels like Mark Rober, Dude Perfect, or SciShow Kids—stuff with actual production value and educational content, not unboxing videos or Minecraft gameplay with someone screaming.
Two days before your flight:
- Check your iPad storage. Delete old photos, unused apps, whatever it takes to free up 10-15GB.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and start downloading. Don't wait until the morning of—downloads take longer than you think.
- Download more than you think you need. A 5-hour flight means you need at least 6-7 hours of content, because kids will rewatch favorites and you'll need buffer for delays.
The morning of your flight:
- Put the iPad in airplane mode and test that everything plays offline.
- Charge it fully. Bring a portable battery pack.
- Pack headphones—ideally two pairs with a splitter if they're sharing the iPad, or separate headphones if they're taking turns.
About screen time guilt: If you're feeling weird about letting your kids watch screens for an entire flight, take a breath. About 50% of families in the Screenwise community report "unsupervised" tablet usage at home, and 40% use Netflix regularly. A long flight is not the time to enforce your usual screen limits. You're not a bad parent for using screens to survive travel—you're a pragmatic one.
About sharing: If your kids are sharing one iPad, set clear expectations before boarding about taking turns choosing shows. Consider a timer system (30 minutes each) or alternating episodes. Having this conversation on the ground prevents mid-flight meltdowns.
About backup plans: Even with downloads, bring one non-screen activity per kid—a new book, a small toy, a deck of cards. Screens are your primary strategy, but having a backup prevents total disaster if the iPad dies or gets dropped.
Download Bluey, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Wild Kratts, and The Magic School Bus Rides Again. Test everything in airplane mode before you leave the house. Bring headphones and a charger. You'll land with your sanity intact and your kids entertained.
Common Sense Media's "Best Kids' Apps to Download Before a Flight" guide also recommends apps beyond video streaming—puzzles, interactive storybooks, and games that work offline. Worth browsing if you want to mix in some non-video content.
The goal isn't perfect parenting at 30,000 feet. The goal is everyone arriving at your destination without having lost their minds. Downloaded shows are how you get there.