Fear of flying?

[shm_helene]

My 4yo has suddenly developed a fear of flying. She has flown before and loved watching the planes take off,etc and was totally unglazed by it (she is also now afraid of driving up and down big hills). She has even decided she doesn't want to go to WDW! She said she would stay with her Grammy and we can bring her back a toy. I don't believe there is an inciting event, she has never been quite a daredevil...I had her convinced by telling her we could read books, play games, watch a movie, and even have special snacks. She was fine for several days, but has reverted. I am hoping to go in the spring,and was thinking of just tells her the ride was practice flight in the hopes it is a bit easier. Anybody have a similar situation? Tips? suggestions? Commiserate? TIA

 

[Betty Rohrer]

because you have time before your trip, I would just not bring up until a lot closer to your trip. if you have to talk about trip plan what you are going to do there not now getting there

 

[Michblue]

I agree, drop it all together. Then in the spring if it is still a problem you should be able to find something she wants bad enough to trade for. Most likely if given time to forget about it she will. My oldest had to have a bunch of blood work done years ago. He became terrified of the blood draw. Each time we worked out a trade (bribe) he would get after it was done. For my boys money is a big motivator. If they want something (toy, video game) they need to save up the money themselves.

Air travel is tricky though, it's not a 10 minute blood draw. My youngest screamed on a plane for 2.5 hours on the way home from a family visit, he was 3.5yo. It was three years before I would get on a plane again.

Maybe delay buying tickets as long as you can. Maybe buy from an airline with a good change/cancelation policy. Ask your doctor about ideas?

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I wouldn't be too worried; by next spring she will likely have forgotten all about this. However, it's obvious that she is anxious about something. You should investigate this.

 

[msmama]

My son often says he's afraid of flying (and has since about 4ish), but he has never actually had any problems once we're on the airplane.

He even deals with bumps way better than I do.

Hopefully it's just a phase and she'll get over it. BUT, I do have to say that when my son was in the think of his "I'm afraid of everything" phase, we rode very few rides. Even ones that he'd been on before and loved he was afraid of. So you might want to prepare yourself for that.

 

[finny1981]

I agree just drop it for now and have her help with the planning for when you are there. Get her excited about being at Disney then when you are closer just tell her in two weeks we're going to fly down to Disney and emphasize all the great things she is excited about. Chances are she will be over it by then and won't even notice, but if she does you have built up the trip to where she is super excited and that will hopefully outweigh the fear. My youngest DD is afraid of everything it seems, even some of the stuff she has rode a million times and loved she is afraid of now, but we just keep picking away at it.

I remember years ago when she was 4 or 5 she was deathly afraid of flying all of the sudden like 3 weeks before the trip so DH and I and the other kids would line up the kitchen chairs like plane seats and we would have "flight practice" every night and by the end of week two she had "graduated" and received a certificate and candy bar and was ready. She actually cried the first night after that because she wanted to do flight training lol.

 

[MSSANDRA]

She has reached a new level of thinking and it has produced a new fear where before, she did not have enough understanding to be afraid. DS mentioned the other day that flying makes him nervous. I realized it had been awhile since we fly and made a mental note to be sure we plan a trip that involves a flight soon.

I agree,,,,,way too early to worry about the flight now. Drop it all together, but don't avoid her questions if she asks them. If the transportation mode comes up, just say, of course we will be flying, its no big deal. A week or so before the trip, remind her you will be taking a flight to WDW. You do want to have plenty of things to keep her busy on the flight, but be careful not to make it into a big issue or bribe her. NEVER let her think that not going is a choice. Things like; "we will all be together on the plane", "while we are in flight, we can share a nice snack" "After we land, we will get lunch in Orlando." Not bribes, just facts. If it seems that heights are the issue, try to expose her to some, without relating it to the flight. Take a elevator in a tall building to the top floor. Take a day trip to a mountain area locally. Just be very mater of fact, but firm that you will all go on the trip and it will all be just fine.

 

[happymommy]

She has reached a new level of thinking and it has produced a new fear where before, she did not have enough understanding to be afraid. DS mentioned the other day that flying makes him nervous. I realized it had been awhile since we fly and made a mental note to be sure we plan a trip that involves a flight soon.

I agree,,,,,way too early to worry about the flight now. Drop it all together, but don't avoid her questions if she asks them. If the transportation mode comes up, just say, of course we will be flying, its no big deal. A week or so before the trip, remind her you will be taking a flight to WDW. You do want to have plenty of things to keep her busy on the flight, but be careful not to make it into a big issue or bribe her. NEVER let her think that not going is a choice. Things like; "we will all be together on the plane", "while we are in flight, we can share a nice snack" "After we land, we will get lunch in Orlando." Not bribes, just facts. If it seems that heights are the issue, try to expose her to some, without relating it to the flight. Take a elevator in a tall building to the top floor. Take a day trip to a mountain area locally. Just be very mater of fact, but firm that you will all go on the trip and it will all be just fine.

I agree - don't make anything of it for now - just drop it. But when it gets sooner, be very matter of fact. I hope it all works out, but I do agree also that it's your decision to fly and don't give her an option.

I wish you well! I never had any fears of flying with my kids; I've flown with them without my husband half the time since they were very young infants (and they've always loved the treat of travel - but me while I love it, it was more work when they were little!).

I used to always have some fun stuff to keep them busy on the flights - little dollar store treats or Color Wonder when they were little (nice because it doesn't make a mess!).

 

[shm_helene]

My son often says he's afraid of flying (and has since about 4ish), but he has never actually had any problems once we're on the airplane. He even deals with bumps way better than I do. Hopefully it's just a phase and she'll get over it. BUT, I do have to say that when my son was in the think of his "I'm afraid of everything" phase, we rode very few rides. Even ones that he'd been on before and loved he was afraid of. So you might want to prepare yourself for that.

Thx She isn't much of a ride girl, anything that goes up and down is though for her. We went last summer and found plenty to do she wouldn't even do Dumbo....

 

[shm_helene]

I agree just drop it for now and have her help with the planning for when you are there. Get her excited about being at Disney then when you are closer just tell her in two weeks we're going to fly down to Disney and emphasize all the great things she is excited about. Chances are she will be over it by then and won't even notice, but if she does you have built up the trip to where she is super excited and that will hopefully outweigh the fear. My youngest DD is afraid of everything it seems, even some of the stuff she has rode a million times and loved she is afraid of now, but we just keep picking away at it. I remember years ago when she was 4 or 5 she was deathly afraid of flying all of the sudden like 3 weeks before the trip so DH and I and the other kids would line up the kitchen chairs like plane seats and we would have "flight practice" every night and by the end of week two she had "graduated" and received a certificate and candy bar and was ready. She actually cried the first night after that because she wanted to do flight training lol.

Cute idea! We a ill have to try it!

 

[shm_helene]

She has reached a new level of thinking and it has produced a new fear where before, she did not have enough understanding to be afraid. DS mentioned the other day that flying makes him nervous. I realized it had been awhile since we fly and made a mental note to be sure we plan a trip that involves a flight soon. I agree,,,,,way too early to worry about the flight now. Drop it all together, but don't avoid her questions if she asks them. If the transportation mode comes up, just say, of course we will be flying, its no big deal. A week or so before the trip, remind her you will be taking a flight to WDW. You do want to have plenty of things to keep her busy on the flight, but be careful not to make it into a big issue or bribe her. NEVER let her think that not going is a choice. Things like; "we will all be together on the plane", "while we are in flight, we can share a nice snack" "After we land, we will get lunch in Orlando." Not bribes, just facts. If it seems that heights are the issue, try to expose her to some, without relating it to the flight. Take a elevator in a tall building to the top floor. Take a day trip to a mountain area locally. Just be very mater of fact, but firm that you will all go on the trip and it will all be just fine.

Like!

 

[shm_helene]

Thx to all for all your thoughts! I will drop it for now and employ some of these strategies when eye get closer....now if I could get my house to sell, don't people know I have a Disney trip to book