I have to agree with everyone else. While it can be disturbing to children to go through security, it is up to parents to prepare them for the experience. I have watched young children go through security. Some have been pulled out for addtl screening...not sure why, but they were. The parents were calm about it, and stood there, with the child, and watched the entire process without getting all upset about it. I have stood and watched my own child be patted down and wanded...several times. I never felt that she was being touched inappropriately. I told her what might happen, it happened, she dealt with it, we got on the plane...period.
Now, there was the one flight, about 2 months after 9/11, that we had an 'incident'. My dd was just 8. She was a nervous flier. We had flown PanAm into/out of Sanford. I had talked to PanAm, on the phone, about 4 times to be sure that my dd's Corduroy bear would be able to remain with her...it had always been allowed on all other flights she had taken, and it gave her a lot of comfort. So, I figured with security the way it was, at that time, I would be very sure.
I was told, on each occasion, that yes, dd would be able to keep her stuffed bear with her, as long as it went through the scanner with all other personal items. Ok, fine. So, our flight down was no issue...the bear got his x-ray and off we went. Well, our return flight, out of Sanford, was a nightmare. It was un-nerving enough to see armed men/women in the airport, but when we got to the counter to check in, the agent told my dd she would have to hand her bear over. 'No,' I said. 'PanAm had told me that the bear was fine as long as it went through the scanner'. 'Sorry mam, but the bear can not go on as her personal item. It must be checked.' 'No, I talked to PanAm directly, three times, and was told that wasn't the case.' Now, my dd now has to fly, for the first time, without the dang bear, she is scared silly by all the guns she sees, and this person at the counter is making her feel like a little child. She is now crying, the agent is getting nastier, and I'm getting really upset. I mean, seriously....the bear isn't an issue. There are people getting through security with handbags much larger than that bear..send it through the scanner!!! Nope, wasn't happening. That woman was just plain nasty..her attitude was one of extreme 'power'. So, off we went, to go through security, where my dd was pulled aside, patted down and wanded, while standing next to an armed guard!!! Dear God!!! Yes, dh and I also got this treatment as well.
But, here's the thing...I had prepared dd for what was going to happen...she was ready for it. But not for her bear to be taken away when it had been fine on the flight to Sanford.
So, yes, parents need to educate their children. I have a hard time believing that there is any huge deal about a child going through security and having to be patted down. As long as the parent is standing there, with the child, have at it. This constant need to have everything on tape is getting ridiculous. The mother in this video is over the top. I mean, really? 'I don't let anyone touch my child without being taped.'? Seriously??? She could have told her child, prior to going through security, that the iPad and Lamby were going to be taken away for a little bit, and go through the 'picture machine'. The little girl would have been prepared, there wouldn't have been all the crying. And maybe mom should have just quietly stood next to her child and allowed the TSA to do what they needed to do, then gone quietly about her business.
Did she not know this was going to be the case before she got to the airport??
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Nobody should be excluded from random searches.
