Teach Your Children to Practice Airplane Etiquette
No one enjoys a chair-kicking child, screaming toddlers and complaining teenagers. Flying with children is in most cases, very difficult. However, you can avoid unwanted problems. By making them comfortable, keeping them entertained, showing them how to hold luggage and helping and supporting them, you can have a peaceful flight.
Steps
- Consider the time of which you will be traveling. Most kids are too rowdy when it is daytime because of jet lag and time differences in different time zones. Before you leave, consider the time zone in the country you are traveling to and the time when you will be traveling. The most easiest time to travel is during nighttime when the kids are exhausted from waiting in the airport and want a nap for an hour or two, and can prevent jet lag. It's not fun to have jet lag and your kids are more likely to be rowdy and upset.
- Remind them to keep their bags low and in front of them. This is to prevent someone from tripping. Also ensure that they are not carrying their luggage at their sides, as it may hit a fellow passenger.
- While taking off, let your kids immerse themselves in the booklets or safety card. Or let them play with a toy or read a book, or just let them snooze off in their seat. Let them settle in, have them take off their shoes and get comfortable.
- Ensure that their seat belts are on. If they are old enough, teach them how to fasten their seat belts and unfasten them by themselves.
- Help them deal with their ears popping. This will be alarming for kids, especially toddlers and those who are first traveling by air. Pack some sweets or chewing gum for them to suck on, or if they are old enough, teach them to pinch their nose and blow without any air coming out from the mouth or nose, or have them pinch their nose and swallow something like water.
- Teach them not to grab on passengers' chairs. They may hold the chairs when walking to the bathroom, and can be annoying. It is disturbing and rude to the other passengers. Instead, have an older sibling or parent to escort them or have them copy what the flight attendants do. Get them to grab luggage compartments above them, if they are tall enough.
- Encourage them to sleep. Children become irritated and rowdy because of jet lag. Once the plane has taken off, let them sleep. Pack the child's favourite stuffed animal that he/she sleeps with or their favourite blanket to help them sleep. If your child has a history of sleeping problems (insomnia, night terrors etc.) consult your child's doctor for a medication to take before sleeping or if they often wet the bed, ask the doctor if they have any medication the child can take before sleeping to prevent bedwetting.
- Keep them entertained. Children often become rowdy because of boredom. Bring a backpack with a new toy, a couple of games, a couple of books, some coloured pencils and paper, their journal, a personal DVD player and a couple of movies or, even better, a laptop. The more things they have to get occupied with, the least likely he/she is going to act up. Bribe them to be good.
