If traveling by aircraft, with ever increasing airport security, restrictions and delays, it is important for families to arrive early to ensure they have seats together and to get everyone to the gate on time. However, it can be painful during those couple of hours waiting for boarding time.
We have found that having plenty of snacks and beverages (yes, security has allowed us to have juice boxes go through, but be prepared to buy on the other side as every airport is different), and activity-based activities such as books, coloring books, crayons, flash cards, small games, portable DVD player and others. These items are also useful aboard the aircraft. We have used the magnetic books too for additional easy-to-pack entertainment.
As part of the excitement to traveling, we have our child pack her own backpack with a couple of her chosen items. We also include a new surprise…this can be small such as a car, new crayons, paper book or other items.
If traveling with infants, here is a helpful hint for nursing moms before you board an aircraft if you have pumped: Ask one of the local eateries for a cup of hot water. If you pumped ahead of time (which you are allowed to take breast milk through security), you can place the milk into the hot water to warm it up before feeding the baby. We found this to be useful as many aircraft do not have hot water available until after take off and today with all of the cut backs, who knows if they would charge you for this item. Having warm milk immediately available helps babies adjust to the altitude change.
Idea: What would be very useful would be airport kid playgrounds…new quick spa treatment businesses are popping up all over, but here’s an area that we have not seen addressed yet.
What other techniques have you used while waiting for take off or at 30,000 feet to keep your children from having a meltdown?
--Bill & Jenn Thomas
4 comments:
My husband and I have traveled by air with our three young boys on several five or more hour flights. A few things that has helped with us to to request bulk head seats so the kids have some extra leg room to stand up and move around a bit without disturbing other passengers. Secondly, we always like to get a connection at a big airport so the kids can work off some energy walking to the next terminal. Special snacks not normally eaten is always a big plus and can be used as an incentive for good behavior.
What a great idea! If they had a playground in the airport that would be the most amazing thing ever!!! It would make the time go by faster, put them in a good mood, and hopefully wear them out to where they get on the plane ready to relax or take a nap. Atleast part of the time on the flight would hopefully be pleasant!
Things that help me with Travel and my 2 young ones : Fruit snacks as rewards for being good, extra head phones for the movie/music so you don't have to pay, and a new activity/idea every 1/2 hr (attention span)- including switching who gets to sit by the window to look out side for take-offs and landings ;-)
With a large group of 4 kids, I have found that it is possible to take too many things on the plane and overwhelm them and you - as you are the one who makes sure everything is there and not rolling to the seats in front of you! We let each child pick 2 plane toys for activities on the plane - they share and trade. The highlight of the whole travel experience is the "picking of the special snack." We wait until after we get through security and then we go immediately to the candy/snacks. Each child gets to pick 1 special snack to have when the plane takes off. They love this and anticipate and discuss what they will choose even before we get to the airport. We do try and steer them away from chocolate candy bars as we want to show up at our destination clean but M&Ms are OK as you can hand them out as necessary - just have wipes readily available. Lastly, we do not get on the plane early as available but near the end. As we check our bags, we only have carry-ons and then they are not on the plane so long. They love looking at the people and guessing who they will be sitting next to and near!
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