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Last July, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration announced a new initiative to make the journey through the airport less stressful for families.
As part of the “Families on the Fly” campaign, the TSA created dedicated security checkpoint lanes for families at more than a dozen airports and announced plans to roll out this amenity at additional airports nationwide.
Many families have used the TSA’s new family lanes already — but the idea is not a new one.
History of family-friendly airport offerings
Some travelers may remember that back in 2008, the TSA offered a ski slope-inspired checkpoint system at many airports where travelers could self-select their path.
In addition to the black diamond (or expert) traveler lane and the blue square (frequent traveler) lane, there was a green circle (beginner) lane for families and people who might need special assistance.
The program was phased out around the time TSA PreCheck rolled in.
Related: Your guide to flying with kids of every age
There are plenty of other family-friendly services and amenities already in place at airports across the nation that can make the travel day a lot easier for families. For example, while not just for kids, an increasing number of airports now have calming sensory rooms to help with anxiety and overstimulation on travel days.
And while not often well advertised, many airports have crayons and coloring books, scavenger hunt maps, airport trading cards, and plastic pilot wings free for kids who ask for them at the information booths. You can usually find out more about these resources (and others) online before your trip or at the airport.
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US airports with kid-friendly spaces
Under its “Traveling with Children” website tab, for example, Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) lists the locations of the Family Lounge and the Mother’s Rooms, and it also provides a list of restaurants with great views of the airfield. There’s also a coloring book activity and an art scavenger hunt highlighting the airport’s art collection.
Thanks to the Friendly Airports for Mothers Act (and its update, the Friendly Airports for Mothers Improvement Act), small, medium and large hub airports must now have dedicated lactation spaces for traveling breastfeeding mothers.
In restrooms at more than 100 airports in U.S. cities, families traveling with kids will also find Step ‘n Wash folding step stools at the sinks.
Related: Real-world family travel tips that actually work
“There’s no need for adults to struggle to lift their little ones to reach the soap and water, causing spills and wet clothing,” Api Appulingam, chief development officer at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), said. PHL just installed the family-friendly amenity in newly remodeled restrooms.
Nursing rooms, family TSA lanes and playgrounds are just some of the amenities that help support families at airports, according to Julie Melnick, founder and CEO of SkySquad, a service that helps travelers navigate airports.
Melnick knows kids love the Cloudscape playground in Terminal 1 at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and the entertaining Disney store at Orlando International Airport (MCO). They also enjoy the kids play space at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), which she said offers views of the planes.
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) has three play zones for kids in Terminal A, located at gates A6, A20 and A29. There’s also a student-created book swap, or Children’s Lending Library, in Terminal A by Gate A32, and in Terminal C by Gate C104.
At Terminal 5 of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), kids can go outside (and pet some dogs) at the Rooftop & Wooftop Lounge. They can also hang out in the aviation-themed play area.
Related: TPG’s top family vacation destinations
In Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport (LGA), there are airport-inspired children’s play areas in both concourses, as well as two sky bridges that offer great spots to watch airplanes, and a water feature that thrills with choreographed lighting, video projections, music and shows that change with the season.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) has a large aviation-themed area by Gate A1 — but in May 2025 added a smaller, second spot for kids on Concourse D, near Gate 25, themed on the Palouse region in eastern Washington.
Denver International Airport (DEN) not only has three outdoor decks offering great views for kids (and adults), but also two themed play areas for young kids. The one on Concourse C (near Gate C4) has an outer space theme, while the new play area that opened this past December on Concourse A (by Gate A25) is aviation-themed.
And San Francisco International Airport (SFO) has both pre- and post-security observation decks, as well as multiple Kids’ Spots throughout the terminals. Look for the handmade mural by Walter Kitundu featuring Bay Area birds (Terminal 2, near Gate D7); Eric Staller’s Spirogyrate, which features 6-foot rotating spiral discs on the floor and the wall (Terminal 3, Gate E7); and Tree Town (Harvey Milk Terminal, near Gate B18).
Many of the changing exhibitions in the SFO Museum’s robust exhibition schedule are sure to interest kids as well.
