kids nervous about flying

[jmamom]

Hi everyone, I could use some suggestions. My two youngest kids are nervous about flying for our trip in Sept 09. Any ideas that would help them? Thanks!

 

[AwaitingMagic]

I don't know that it will help a lot - but you can tell them my two little ones were worried a lot too and that ended up being their favorite part of the whole vacation )!

 

[goofyandmickey]

I just went through the same when we traveled to Disney Sept. 08. I have 2boys 14 and 6. Since I have traveled by air before I tried to share with them what would happen from the time we got to the airport to arriving at Disney. When we had gone to Disney in 07 we drove down which for us is at least a 12 hour trip so I made sure to let them know how much time we would be saving and then let them decide how we would spend our "extra time"; so it was up to them completely what we did first. I was also lucky however that my boys both love rollercoasters because during take off my oldest said "thats it?" I told him yes, becasue I had told him he had ridden rollercoasters more intense than the take off or landing would be. I understood completely however that they needed to be allowed to talk openly about being nervous or even down right scared. I was so proud of themfor at least giving it a shot. Now they say they will never drive to Disney again when the plane took us 2 hours to get there!!! They can't wait to do it again and even fought over the window seat becasue they couldn't belive all you can see. I hope this helps. Have a great trip!

 

[SmallWorld71]

What part exactly are they nervous about? Take-off, landing, in the air, the whole thing?

My kids have been flying since infancy, so they don't get nervous. However, I'll try to offer some suggestions.
1) Make sure they understand (without scaring them of course) how security works. EVERYTHING they are carrying will have to go on to the belt. DD5 has a little security bunny/ blanket that she carries and when she was little I used to go over the procedure with her so she wouldn't freak out when it was time to put the blanket down for a minute. They will also have to take off their shoes and walk through the detector. Usually, the security person also asks the kids thier names.

2) If you are close enough, you could always pay a visit to the airport before your trip to become familiar with it. (Although you can't go through security)

3) Let them bring their own backpack on the plane. (With little ones I have them use one on wheels so they can pull it on themselves.) Have them help you pack special things (some old, some new) that they can have for on the plane. Sometimes a special stuffed animal can go a long way towards making someone feel better and they can tell the stuffed animal all about what they are going to do.

I'm sure others will have some good ideas. I'll let you know if I think of anything else.

 

[GoofyFairie]

My kids were nervous to. I just told them that the plane ride was the same as riding something at Disney and that it was an adventure. It turned out to be one of their favorite things! I carried a back pack with a couple new things from the dollar store to keep them occupied. We also had free xm radio to listen to which helped to pass time. If you don't focus on it being a big deal then they won't either. You can't completely ignore their fear, but if you give it too much attention then they could really focus on it and you will really have a problem. Ask your pediatrician for suggestions or recommendations.

 

[all4fun]

Smallworld71 made a good point about preparing them for the security process. TSA site here spells out the screening process as well. Check out the little videos at the top of the page. My ds has been flying fairly frequently since he turned 1 so we haven't deal with a fear issue there. I did some online searching, and I found this page about addressing fear of flying with children on this page that I thought you might find helpful. You might also go to a bookstore or library and see if you can find some kids books about flying that may help them understand it a little better and therefore be less fearful. Actually, flying is still one of the safest forms of travel. Not saying their fears are unfounded, just that they have lots of reasons to not be fearful. hth

Best of luck.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

It seems like (from your siggie) that your kids are young. Once of our kids had a time when he was a little nervous flying. Mainly take off. We made it into an adventure. We told him that we were flying like Superman. Then we went into great discussions about the movie. He seemed to relax once we started talking (all during takeoff). Maybe you can find a movie or something like that that your kids can relate to. We always try to make it like a big adventure. We talk it up and get excited over it. This way they hopefully pick up on that and get excited too. Good luck!

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Just explain everything that is going to happen before it happens. The first time I took my girls on an airplane it was a pretty rough takeoff because of the clouds. Since they didn't know any different they thought it was FUN and said they felt like they were on Dumbo. They still don't like turbulence during the flight but I remind them that it isn't dangerous to the plane and just like going over big ripples in the water when you are on a boat.

Get to the airport early and ask to meet the pilot of your flight. If they have time then the pilots will chat with your kids and even let them take a quick photo in the cockpit.

 

[Minnie_me]

I'm a pre-K teacher, and I would advise writing a little "social story" for your little ones. It would tell them, page by page, exactly what's going to happen. It should say things like, "When the plane is going fast down the runway, it is really loud!" and "Sometimes it gets bumpy up in the sky!" So that they know that there are new/scary experiences -- loud, bumpy, fast -- and they're ready for them.

We packed a little backpack full of fun things for my 6-year old dd, but she was sooooo nervous, she didn't do any of them until the second flight.

Edited to add: check out some children's books on flying. There's one that I'm aware of called "We're Going on an Airplane!"

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Well my DD9 flew for the first time since she was 2 in November (she doesn't remember flying when she was 2) I just told her that I was there with her and to think of it as a big adventure. I also explained what would happen when so she wouldn't be surprised.

We brought her Nintendo DS and her favorite doll on the plane with her and she did great. Now she wants to fly again.

 

[richmond282]

I don't know how old your children are, but when we flew w/ our DD4 this past summer, we actually role played what would happen. We acted out waiting at airport, getting on the plane, take-off and landing, and getting off the plane. Of course, you can't simulate everything, but we bounced up and down to act out turbulence. We leaned back for take-off and and leaned forward for landing.

 

[jmamom]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I thought of a field trip to the airport this summer, but wasn't sure if that was going over the top. I'm mostly worried about my 8 year old - he has a hard time with the unknown, and when he gets scared he just freezes up. I figure he'll do that right when its time to walk through security or when he has to walk through the tunnel to the plane. Once he's on the plane he'll be fine, it'll just be getting him there. I'll look for a good book about flying, and try to walk him through security in his head. Trouble is I haven't flown in years, and I'm not sure what they do now! I'm sure it'll work out, he never freaks out when I expect him to - only when I'm unprepared.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I thought of a field trip to the airport this summer, but wasn't sure if that was going over the top. I'm mostly worried about my 8 year old - he has a hard time with the unknown, and when he gets scared he just freezes up. I figure he'll do that right when its time to walk through security or when he has to walk through the tunnel to the plane. Once he's on the plane he'll be fine, it'll just be getting him there. I'll look for a good book about flying, and try to walk him through security in his head. Trouble is I haven't flown in years, and I'm not sure what they do now! I'm sure it'll work out, he never freaks out when I expect him to - only when I'm unprepared.

Since he is old enough to understand, I would explain the process but in a safe, non-threatening way.

In a nutshell, after you check your bags you will proceed to security where if you are lucky there will be a short line, unlucky a really long one. When you get close to the front backpacks get put on the belt and there are buckets for other things such as purses, jackets, shoes (make sure it is a pair that he can get off and on easily to avoid stress!) ball caps etc... Then one at a time you go through the metal detector. I would have 1 adult go 1st and one last to make sure he can't flip out alone on one side or the other. The most they have ever done is ask my kids their names.

If you think the metal detector might freak him out, you could visit your local courthouse. I was in one recently for jury duty and it was the same basic process except that I kept my shoes on and there were no crowds.

 

[quasar4legs]

If you and your children enjoy make-believe games you could set up your own 'plane' with some chairs and a cockpit with boxes and kitechen utensils etc. and all going flying together.

Trish

 

[jmamom]

If you think the metal detector might freak him out, you could visit your local courthouse. I was in one recently for jury duty and it was the same basic process except that I kept my shoes on and there were no crowds.

That's a great idea, we have a courthouse right down the street. The officers might think we're a little nuts but better that than a freak out at the airport. Thanks!!!!

 

[SmallWorld71]

That's a great idea, we have a courthouse right down the street. The officers might think we're a little nuts but better that than a freak out at the airport. Thanks!!!!

Whatever helps, right.

 

[Brer Shay]

My DS was VERY nervous on his first flight. Had said that he would not be getting on the plane with us. I went to the library and found two books about "My first plane trip" and another about how planes work. They were very, very helpful in making him see the safety and just getting more accustomed to the idea. We live near a relatively small airport and I took him there early afternoon one day to walk around. He was able to talk to a TSA agent who actually let him go through the screening, so he wasn't scared of that part either. The first flight worked out pretty well. He did hold on to my arm pretty hard during the first takeoff, but was fine other than that.