Travel With Children

Situated in your less than comfortable seat, you close the overpriced book you purchased just minutes before at the airport gift shop. The engines of the massive DC-10 begin to roar as you glance out the small, scratched up window to watch the last luggage truck zooming away with an empty cart trailing behind.

Excitement stirs inside you, as it always does, when the trip you've anxiously been awaiting is finally becoming a reality. It may be a long journey to get to your final destination, but you're on your way. It is all so exhilarating.

The plane slowly taxi's down the runway, getting in line behind a few others, for take off. A voice full of static takes over the cabin, as the captain spits out a few words that no one is listening to. All of a sudden, like a rocket at full speed, your voyage is underway. Above you the overhead compartments begin to shake. The whistling air shooting down from the air vents is no longer as disturbing. The wheels leave the ground, as you go soaring into the sky. And then ... almost like a magic wand had been waved, there is nothing but silence. You feel a floating sensation as you watch everything that is normally so big become miniature sized, as you ascend high into the clouds.

A smile forms across your lips as you snuggle in, open your book, and look forward to a peaceful flight. You decide to request a glass of wine when the flight attendant makes her way to you, to make everything absolutely perfect.

"Dad? I have to go to the bathroom!" A voice erupts from behind.

You hear the parent answer with a small sigh. "No ... not until the seat belt sign goes off."

"But I have to go!" the small boy pleads.

Your heart drops, begging silently that the father breaks the rules of the seat belt sign and just takes the boy. "No!" the father replies, in a voice that confirms his word is final.

That's okay, you think. From the tone the adult used, you don't predict the boy having the nerve to ask again. Back to your book.

"Mummy ... are we almost there?" a small child seated next to you squeals, and this time your heart falls through the floor. You look over to find a sweet little girl, flawlessly dressed in her pretty navy dress, poke her mother, who seems not to hear her. "Mummy??" she asked again, wiggling in her seat. "Mummy??" and again.

Unable to control it, a loud sigh escapes your mouth, as you try to lose yourself in the murder-mystery laying in your lap, opened to page 10. This can't be happening!!

Silence again. You say a speechless prayer, as you set your book down and close your eyes. Resting peacefully you have high hopes that the flight will go well. Until you feel something thumping in your back. It doesn't take long to figure out that it is the same little boy kicking the back of your seat restlessly. "Calgon ... take me away!"

It's happened to all of us at one time or another, whether it be your child or someone else's, there is nothing more upsetting than an whiny, restless child .... especially on an airplane.

The behavior your child displays on the airplane can easily be rendered by the things you do at home long before you leave for vacation:

• Get out a map and show your child where you are starting from and where you are traveling to. It will help them to be able to visualize an actual destination.
• Plan your trip out before you leave home. Give them some ideas of the things to do and see where you are going. Get their opinion on the things they'd like to do. This will make them feel more involved in the trip and they will look forward to it more.
• Hang a calendar on the refrigerator or their bedroom door, marking off the days until the day you leave for vacation.
• Always discuss and have a plan on what to do if one family member gets separated from the rest in a public place.
• Clarify the expectation for their behavior before you leave home.
• Bring along some snacks and bottled water. This will decrease the chance of an upset stomach while traveling abroad.
• When packing for your child, bring along clothes that can be layered. This allows you to add or remove clothing due to unexpected weather conditions.
• Always bring along the child safety seat. Sometimes there is an empty seat on the airplane that you can utilize even though you didn't pay for it. Children are always safer in a safety seat, so put them in one if possible.

Once you reach the airport, there are several things you can do to make the anticipation of the flight easier for both you and children. One thing we all know is that kids do not like to be kept in a confined area for very long, which makes flying a tremendous task for young people. The best thing you can do for them is to work off a lot of energy before boarding the plane:

• Check your luggage in first, and then park the car. It is much easier than trying to manage your bags and children as you trek to the terminal.
• Let your children walk with you from the parking lot back to the terminal.
• While waiting to board, explore all the different areas of the airport. Go from window to window watching the different airplanes take off and land. Some airports have an observation deck, this would be a fun time to check it out.
• Take your child to the restroom just before the boarding call. Explain that the captain will light up the seat belt sign on the airplane and no one, not even adults, can get out of their seat for any reason while it's on. Not even to use the facilities.
• Clue them in on the procedure for boarding. Also, letting them know what to expect from the take off and landing will make them less alarmed when the actual events take place. If your child has been on an airplane before, it still may be a good idea to refresh their memory. Children are sometimes inclined to forget.
• Make sure they understand that the loud engine noises and the bumpy turbulence are normal and does not constitute a reason to panic or anticipate a crash.

Now that all that is out of the way, your kids are put to the test. Will they behave like perfect angels once on the plane, just as they promised? There are a few things you can do to help refrain them from bad conduct, even when you're 30,000 feet above the ground:

• Once seated and all settled, give your child a roll of pennies. Every time they whine or act up, they have to pay you a penny. When the trip is over, if he/she still has the entire roll of pennies, you promise to double their money.
• Be sure to bring a bag full of toys such as books, drawing materials, travel games, etc. This will sometimes keep them more occupied than what you'd expect.
• Let the children take turns in the window seat. As you know, this is the best seat on the plane. Flying through the clouds is very enchanting to a youngster.
• Have the children take turns sitting next to each parent. This is a great opportunity to spend some quality time with your children.
• Some airlines have special meals they can serve to children. If your child is not up for the cold sandwich that is often passed out, ask the flight attendant if they offer something different for children. A lot of times they do.
• Praise your child throughout the flight. "I know we've been on the plane for a long time. You've been very good and well behaved. Thank You." Children love praise, and will do just about everything to get it ... even behave.