These days, traveling along with the whole family is the true leisure of vacation. Even if we’re not yet on our final destination, it is still a must to look after our children. Especially the tots.

Airports are beginning to realize that child travelers wander off and their parents don’t know what to do when they lost the child. Fortunately, airports in the United States and those abroad are developing imaginative, interactive children’s play area and some airports are franchising child-centric shops that have educational and entertaining items on offer.

Some of these features are aviation-themed play areas which keeps the children occupied while waiting for a flight while also teaching kids something about aircraft and air travel.

In Baltimore/Washington International Airport, they have a flight-themed play area in the observation gallery which displays airplane parts like the tail, wings, to let kids see aircraft up-close.

In Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has an aviation-themed play area with a miniature traffic control tower, runway, model airplanes and so on. The whole area is padded and places for adults where they can watch the little ones are provided.

In San Francisco International Airport showcases a museum, the Louis A. Turpen Aviation Museum, built on the footprint of SFO’s 1930s passenger terminal with replicas of a huge globe of the earth, vintage Pan American pilots’ and flight attendants’ uniforms and other mementos. On the mezzanine level are sterling wall-mounted photographs of early air travel. The museum is located in the international terminal and mostly attractive to children 11 years old and above.

Also, some U.S airports had opened shops that feature Discovery Channel, National Geographic and other educational toys, books and maps. Airports overseas are going through similar upgrades for a more child-friendly environment.

These will be more convenient to have around but nothing beats attentive parenting and checking on kids constantly.