Hi,
I live in Ireland with 4 and 6 year old boys and still scratch my head as to how to keep them amused (and parents sane)! We've hauled the boys to the US many times, and around Europe with us, and many of the previous posters have excellent advice on surviving the plane trip:
- Bring many interactive toys (LEGO, Playdoh and Knex are favourites for us)
- Ration the games/activities over flight; don't use up everything in the first hour
- Consider buying a video iPod/video player with headphones so he can watch his favorite shows on the flight over. We recently flew to JFK and our boys spent the entire flight watching Lazytown, Thomas the Tank Engine and various other movies. Bliss!
- Make your own sandwiches/food and over pack on fruit. We bring tons of grapes/mango/apples/cheese and rolls on with us; children do not eat on airplane flight schedules (as you well know)
I completely agree with previous posters - do NOT take him on a guided tour.
I recommend a large rental apartment in Dublin, a self-catering holiday home or B&B with large family room to spread out and let him have his play space. We do that all the time with our boys and it works out very well. Home life routines can be preserved and everyone's stress level is more manageable.
To keep him amused and you sane I recommend (Dublin area):
- Dublin Zoo (always a winner with kids!)
- Newgrange Farm (http://www.newgrangefarm.com/) has a great petting zoo and Farmer Bill gives you a personal guided tour.
- Malahide Castle (http://www.malahidecastle.com/malahidecastle/default.asp) next to where I live has 250 acres of land. Your son can run for 15 minutes and still be in your line of sight on green grass. Plus there is a fabulous wooden playground that our boys love, and the Fry model railway.
- Newbridge House and Demense (http://www.fingalcoco.ie/CommunityRecreationandAmenitiesDepartment/Parks/ParksHeritageProperties/NewbridgeHouse/) again has vast green lawns, a petting zoo and another great playground (see a theme emerging here?)
- Viking Splash tours (http://www.vikingsplash.ie/) are every little boy's dream - you drive around in a boast and roar at the top of your voice. Our boys loved every second of it!
- Hurly Burly (http://www.hurlyburly.ie/) - for the inevitable rainy days. There are many of this type of location scattered around Ireland. Your son jumps around inside a padded play area and you restore your sanity over a cup of coffee with other Mums and Dads. You'll get to chat to some locals and realize that kids drive their parents nuts the whole world over.
- Dublin Airport (http:www.dublinairport.com) - watch the planes land and take off from the road beside the runway. Our boys absolutely love to stand at the fence (about 50 yards from the main runway) and watch the planes come in. Buy some snacks and coffee and join all the other plane spotters parked along the viewing areas here.
- Feeding the ducks in Stephen's Green - still great fun for kids and parents alike. Bring your sliced pan with you (you'll understand what that means when you get here).
Hope that helps,
Mark