Flying With Kids: Preparation Tips

Flying With Kids: Preparation Tips

Source of Image: PixaBay / CC0 Licence

There are many times in life you may find yourself embarking on a plane journey with children. You might be traveling with your own kids, keen to show them the world; accompanying your nieces and nephews on a family vacation; or even taking a class of children on a field trip. Whatever the reason, flying with children can be complicated – but with the right ideas behind you, you should be able to ensure the experience is as simple as it can possibly be.

In an effort to help you reach this goal, below, we’ve put together three essential tips that anyone flying in the company of children needs to know.

Prepare for delays

Airport delays are a constant nuisance, and if you fly with children frequently, then it is almost certain you will experience a substantial delay at some point. As a result, it’s helpful to have prepared a few ideas for entertainment. Arguably the best choice for entertainment during a delay is games; there is a variety of options you could consider, from simple card games to downloading a mobile strategy game for people of all ages, so it’s worth taking a few options to ensure there’s always something new and interesting to try if the delay lasts for longer than you initially expect.

Ear popping problems

Children are particularly sensitive to their ears popping, so you may want to prevent against this with a double approach:

 

• Warn the kids that their ears may pop. Children are often distressed by ear-popping simply due to how unexpected it is; knowing that it might happen can help to prevent this.

• Take hard candies or chewing gum onto the plane, and encourage the kids to use these for both take-off and landing.

 

For children too young to use gum or candies, there is relatively little you can do to prevent discomfort they experience, so opt for reassurance – and it may also help you to know that crying actually helps the ears to equalize, so offer comfort, and know the situation should calm relatively quickly.

Encourage kids to stay hydrated

Dehydration is a real problem when flying, and is the primary cause of why people often feel tired after a long flight. It’s therefore helpful if you can encourage the kids you are flying with to keep drinking water during your time on board; this will ensure they are comfortable, and should help to ease the after-flight negotiation of your destination airport.

Don’t worry about other passengers

There has long been an unpleasant trend among some people to complain about taking a flight with kids, which can make anyone flying with children feel self-conscious and nervous. If you experience these feelings, be kind to yourself, and remember: you’re doing your best, and the children you’re with have as much right to be on the plane as every other passenger does.

In conclusion

If you are flying with children in the future, then keeping the tips above in mind should help to ensure the experience is as seamless as it can possibly be. Not only will the kids be sure of a positive experience, but you’ll also be able to relax and look forward to the fun to be had when you reach your eventual destination.

DISCLAIMER: This post is a collaborative post and may contain affiliate links.