Child’s fear of flying

[ACRoI]

Hi all,
we’ve a family holiday booked for later this year and it will be the first time my children are on a plane. One is just excited but the other (age 6) is absolutely terrified. He has a very logical brain so the more he understands how planes work, the less scared he’ll be. Could anyone recommend a you tube video aimed at kids explaining the logistics of flying? Or has anyone any experience of this with their own children that could give some advice please? Thanks!

Following
slightly different scenario my ds used to fine with it but the last few times (well last year and the year before) has been utterly terrified and he’s now worrying about the short flights we are taking this summer as am I. He cried almost the whole way in both directions last time. He is a bit of a drama llama but I need to nail this! He will be 10 this year.

It’s difficult isn’t it? Because it’s a very genuine fear and once you’re up there, there’s nowhere to go. Hard for a little one to get their head around

Is there a particular TV show he likes? Do they have an episode about flying?

could you maybe go to a museum eg Duxford and show him old planes etc and there’s a Concorde he can go inside and you can say his cool it is and how fun a day he’ll have there to prepare him for summer?

If he’s allowed screen time can you do a flying game? There’s one where you pretend to be an air host etc.

I was so scared of flying, I couldn't even go in an airport without having a panic attack. Consequently I can tell you anything you need to know about holidaying in THIS country!

I had hypnotherapy for something else, and it was very successful, so at the age of 61 I signed up for a Fear of Flying course. I didn't think much of them playing 'I believe I can fly' playing as we went in, and people around me vying with each other as to who had experienced the worst turbulence, but I decided to shut that out and focus on me. Only 2 of us out of 130 had never flown - some of the others flew monthly! Wtf?!

Anyway, once I understood how a plane could stay in the air despite its weight, and saw that a cabin wasn't as claustrophobic as I had imagined, I felt better. The next day we did a 40 minute flight, and my husband came with me. I was absolutely fine.

The retired captain who led the course was in the cabin with us and explained every sound, movement etc, referring us to what he had told us the previous day. He reminded people of the calming techniques which had been taught (but I used my own I had learned from the hypnotherapy) and there were plenty of staff available to help, but only one woman needed support.

I know this is too much for a 6 year old, but thought it might be worth it for any other nervous flyer. Maybe contact EasyJet (who ran the course) and see if they can suggest anything?

My husband and I planned a trip, but I ended up flying from the UK to Singapore AT FOUR DAYS NOTICE, ALONE, for a family emergency!