Feature-length videos—it's about time!

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Summer travel plans? Keep kids entertained the whole way with kid-favorite feature-length video apps.

By Tina O'Shea

Managing Editor at LeapFrog

Tina O’Shea is LeapFrog’s Managing Editor and the voice of @LeapFrog on Twitter, but to her kids, she’s the Freeze Dance DJ.

A few years ago during a family vacation, my husband had to fly home early, so I was left to wrangle our two young children through the airport with all our gear. I dreaded the trip—I imagined hours of whining, tantrums, dropped binkies, lost lovies and potty accidents.

When I learned our flight was delayed, I nearly lost it. What I didn't realize at the time was that this little lag was exactly what we needed.

I’d been so stressed and felt so rushed that I was the one making the day impossible, not my children. Now we had time—time to dawdle through the airport, time to answer a million “What’s that?” questions, and time to fish through our bags for little toys and books (and put them back, and take them out, and put them back, etc., as toddlers do).

I learned an important lesson that day about traveling with kids: give yourself time. Young children don't react well to being rushed, and you'll all be happier if you're prepared for the unavoidable dilly-dallying and delays. I also know to plan ahead by selecting a few new apps and videos to keep the kids entertained during road trips, flights and layovers.

Here are a few of our longest video apps sorted by playing time. Enjoy the trip, and take your time!

Nickelodeon: Pirate Play Dates, Volume 1 (ages 3-6)
Kids can join friends Max & Ruby, Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies and Dora the Explorer on four fun treasure hunts. At a whopping 116 minutes, it’s one of the longest video apps we offer.
Nickelodeon: Summer Play Dates! (ages 3-6)
Get ready for summer fun with Nick favorites Dora, Diego, Blue’s Clues and Yo Gabba Gabba. This four-episode app includes a beach adventure, car trip and summer song for 97 minutes of sane summer travel time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of the Turtles! (ages 7-12)
Big kids like to choose their own videos, and TMNT rises to the top of their list. This video will keep them engaged with 73 minutes of on-the-go entertainment.
Octonauts: Here Come the Octonauts! (ages 4-7)
Octonauts is one of our most-requested characters, so we were thrilled to introduce Here Come the Octonauts this year. Packed with six episodes, this app clocks in at 72 minutes of fun.
Wallykazam: Magic Words (ages 3-6)
Kids love Wally! This app is great for reinforcing letter sounds and new vocabulary. The three episodes in this app are kid-favorites, and at 69 minutes, this app will keep them entertained for the long haul.