How will the children feel being patted down?

[imgoingtodisney]

I just saw a lady get patted down on tv at the airport. Are they doing this to children also? I assume they would. How do we deal with the childrens feelings while they do this? Is it scaring the crap out of them?

 

[Chuck S]

If you know in advance that this is going to happen, explain it to them prior to arriving at the airport. Tell them it is part of a safety check.

Also, the way the parent reacts will have an impact on the child. If the parent is calm and takes things in stride, the child will probably follow suite.

 

[VickiVM]

That's so true, ChuckS. When we visit our local Six Flags amusement park, we always have to have our backpacks checked and the children are used to this. I don't think they would feel upset if they were given a cursory check. But of course they need us, the parents, to let them know that this is o.k., indeed even necessary for safety. I have also been very careful to not let them see my private moments when I felt so overwhelmed with sadness. It's inevitable, but to them I'm sure it would be confusing and alarming. All of our lives have been permanently changed, but they will take our cue how to manage through it all.

 

[skeezixspud]

Though he's only 4 now, so I don't know about an older child. We often travel abroad, and more specifically, we tend to fly through Belfast fairly often. Pat-downs are SOP in Belfast, so he's experienced it several times. Usually I go first, then DS, then DH; DS sees that it doesn't faze me, so he accepts it, though he has giggled and said, "that tickles" once or twice.

 

[SueM in MN]

My DD uses a wheelchair and can't walk, so she can't go thru the metal detector. She has gotten patted down on airplane trips for as long as she can remember. I agree with those that said if the parents don't make a big deal of it, the kids won't either. We've always just told her she needs to do what the lady (they always get a woman to pat her down) tells her to do in order for us to get on the plane. We have nevere gone into long explanations of WHY it's being done, just that it's part of what we need to do.