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Air Travel with Children
Air travel
can be especially challenging for a young child. Their
bodies want to squirm and move about, yet they are
confined to a very small space. Too often, they can be
uncomfortable in the company of strangers. There are
unusually loud noises to contend with and the surroundings
can be very confusing. What can a parent do to avoid
behavioral problems while flying?
Before the
Trip
 Perhaps
one of the most overlooked items in preparing for air
travel with children is familiarizing the child with the
airport. Since security has tightened, many airports do
not allow visitors to departure gates. Still, it might
well be worth the time to take the child to the ticket
counter and walk around the airport to familiarize them
with the sites and sounds. A dry run for the parent is
not a bad idea, either.
Another
suggestion is to practice seating arrangements at home
with chairs. Explain to the child how he or she sits and
how belts are important, just as they are in the car.
What kinds of noises will be heard? What kinds of noises
are we allowed to make? Do we use an indoor voice? Is
running allowed? What are the bathrooms like on an
airplane?
Take time
to pack an appropriate snack for the child. Food and
beverages on most planes are not designed children. Will
they need any special utensils or drinking cups?
Prepackaged fruits and juices are often lifesaver and do
not forget the hand wipes!
Of course,
the biggest issue to contend with while in flight is that
of boredom. Choose a special toy or activity that gets
used only during travel time. A reward might be offered
at the end of the trip as an incentive. A special
backpack or carrying case should be included to help make
the travel time special. Do not forget to take something
familiar, as well. This may be a toy, blanket, or other
security device that will help calm the child. We all
enjoy something familiar when stressed or frightened.
Talk with
other parents. Do they have any secrets or suggestions?
What tips or tricks do they have to offer? Visit Internet
sites offering suggestions. Choose keywords such as:
"kids and travel" or "children and trips".
During the Flight
 When
seating the child, preferably do not seat him or her next
to a stranger. It is not a wise thing to do for safety
reason and may cause undue fear. Remember that the trip
itself is challenging enough without adding to the
difficulties.
Like
adults, children may have problems with decompression.
Their ears may hurt. Show them how to open their mouths
to allow pressure equalization. Ask them how they feel?
Younger children may cry, if they are not able to
communicate their displeasure.
Have the
snacks and entertainment handy and ready. A child-size
backpack works great for keeping things together and easy
to find. It may be wise to take a trip to the bathroom on
longer flights, since it is impossible to leave the seats
during landing procedures.
After the
Trip
 After
the trip, ask the child what they enjoyed and what they
did not enjoy. Take notes on anything that worked or did
not work. Remember to set aside the backpack, special
games, or books for the next trip. What did you
enjoy? What helped make your trip more enjoyable?
Like any
adventure, the time spent in preparation is often directly
related to the amount of satisfaction recouped -
especially when traveling with those much younger. Now
that you have had some practice, get ready for the next
leg of the journey. Wherever you go - enjoy!
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