Traveling with a child requires understanding of a child’s perspective.
A child may be fascinated with things we look right past, such as:
Conveyor belts through dark tunnels and special doorways we take our shoes off to go through. (AKA Airport Security)
Moving stairs that go up or down (AKA Escalators) and boxes we stand in with buttons to push that light up and open the door to something new. (AKA Elevators)
Tiny airplanes from the sky suddenly appear HUGE parked outside the big glass window. (AKA Jets parked at Gates)
On the other hand, kids are also very sensitive to a parent’s stress.
They rely on us to know everything is all right.
This can go both ways…
Children may respond to things we are annoyed with as something to fear or dislike. They hear the muttered comments and see the stress and may act out in response to it- usually when we are most tense!
Take a moment to observe all the sights, sounds, smells, etc. of an airport and airplane. Amazing sensory stimulation! Add to this tense parents, lack of routine, disrupted sleep patterns, cramped, stinky planes, and lack of control. We then begin to understand why a toddler or young child may have a meltdown. Some kids (even infants!) when over-stimulated will become loud to “block out” the surroundings they can’t control. They also are very sensitive to the tension and stress felt in these settings. It can be upsetting to see a parent get flustered by airport security or always rushed and “running late”. This is where extra time really does make a difference when traveling with kids.
The journey is just as much a part of the trip as the destination when traveling. It is a great time to educate a child about new things and to enjoy their enthusiasm. This is one of the reasons I suggest pre-boarding when possible. Not only is there time to get the child safely buckled in for the ride, but there is time for the child to become familiar with the new environment of an airplane cabin. Some kids may not even realize they are on an airplane, since the jet way looks like a hallway and the airplane cabin another room connected to the hallway.
Kids count on parents to keep them comfortable in changing situations. Taking time to really listen to a child and talk with them about new and changing environments can cut down on overstimulation and fear. Squatting down while talking with them can help to see things at their level as well.
Flying IS fascinating. We are often just too busy to recognize it!
Recommended Products to Help Kids Prepare for this Fascinating Flight Process:
DVD Toolkit FOR Toddlers (and all kids!):
http://www.jetwithkids.com/blog/travel-website-worth-visiting-good-little-traveler
Books about Airplanes and Airports:
http://www.jetwithkids.com/blog/traveling-with-kids-airplane-airport-books
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