How to help children prepare for their first flight?

[Alwaysaskingforadvice]

We are taking the children on a plane for the first time this summer (age 4&6), they have been very excited but have just started to get nervous about the plane, has anyone found any good books or TV shows that go through the process of getting through an airport and onto the plane as a way for them to visualise what's going to happen? Or any other tips for taking children on a plane for the first time!

We just took them airport and just did it all as it happened

Tell them not to kick the seats in front.

Topsy and Tim had a good book. But just do it. Don’t make it into a thing. Explain why you are doing everything as you do it.

Yes and no kicking and no running around!

Look up “travel day vlogs” on YouTube. Absolutely tons of them.

This, it seems a bit odd to me that such young children would be nervous about flying, are you or their father nervous flyers? DS had his first flight at 3.5 (Covid stopped an earlier one) he was just excited to see a plane in real life and go on one. What are they frightened of?

We just went to the airport

This. No need to be talking about it now. They don’t need to be excited or any sort of emotion. It’s just like getting a bus or train.

Don’t make it a thing! Just turn up and get on the plane - so much anxiety caused nowadays by just over thinking everything and talking about it too much. Focus on the destination!

Yes.

They’re picking up nerves from somewhere, presumably from you. Children that age aren’t going to be nervous about a flight any more than they would about a train journey unless someone has taught them to be.

Maybe don’t make such a big deal of it. They’re old enough to watch the films and enjoy the food. It won’t be much different to a long car or bus journey.

Christ, this

Agreed on ‘where are the nerves coming from?’

Mine are obsessed with planes and find the whole thing absolutely exhilarating…! Makes travelling actually quite straightforward as they’re just so fascinated by everything.

Agree about not over-egging it. Usborne have a great series of First Experiences books, including one on flights.

I dont think you need to do too much. The only challenge I had was getting my 4 year old to comply with security. I don't think anything more than the airport routine and how much fun flying is really x

Another one here asking why they're nervous, because at that age it's unusual.

However...when my DS was about 4 we flew to South Africa shortly after he'd watched Madagascar (where the plane crashes into the sea), and he kept on wanting reassurance before the flight that we wouldn't crash into the sea. Both DH and I solemnly promised him this absolutely would not happen mainly because we were flying the length of Africa over land 😁

I find it weird that others are saying to just turn up and go with no prep. Small children really benefit from understanding what is going to happen in new situations. I use YouTube a lot for this, you can find loads of family travel videos there. I always show mine videos of the place we are going too.

We just went the holiday should be the main focus, do you prepare them for going in the car or on a train, why are they nervous are you nervous?

There's a Maddie's Do you know episode on airport luggage, which is quite sweet and explains where the cases go etc. I think it is only available on YouTube at the moment.

Small children have no context for this being any different to hopping on a train or a bus, though. It would be normal to explain what’s happening on the day eg ‘And now we drop off our bags and they get put on the plane, and we have to go through security to the place we get on the plane’ etc.

If they’re nervous, something is prompting that.

I was thinking of this book .
where are you going OP? As long haul would need a bit more planning than the 2-3 hours for Europe. Make sure you’ve got plenty of activities for them so they don’t get too wriggly and bored. For us this was colouring / sticker books and comics - but maybe just as easy to download a couple of favourite films to a tablet and bring headphones. Plenty of snacks, check out the liquids rule at the airport you are flying from. I think children are more susceptible to pain in their ears at take off and having a drink/sweet etc can combat this. We used to take a lightweight buggy with a 4 year old, made the holiday easier but I’m not sure on current regulations re airports etc with one. Fast track for security can be helpful if you are going at a busy time. Navigating the airport is easier if you check your luggage in, and allow plenty of time.

We didn't have you tube or anything like that, I honestly think sometimes you can be too prepared and kids have overload of information. You can tell them as you go along.

This sort of thing is the CAUSE of anxiety! If children of that age have any other thought than excitement of doing something new, then something has gone wrong somewhere. Why would they think to be nervous?

I told my guys the story of going through the airport and the routine for the day. So we get up, have breakfast here, get a taxi, get into a queue and give the airline our bags, get into a queue and do security and then get into a queue and have a coffee- I was preparing them for a lot of queues 🤣🤣🤣 then queue to get on the plane.

then they packed their own bags for the plane (under supervision) and we bought magazines together that they could use once we got to the coffee place/Burger King/restaurant in the airport. To be honest they were so excited about the magazines that they never worried about the plane but.

Even now I'll ask what's next so that they don't get frustrated at the hanging around bits.

No need for anything like this. Just go to the airport. Talk to them goi g through security etc, get on the plane and fly. Be firm, no seat kicking and sit down. May be take a tablet or a book. it’s the same as being in the car. You’re just up in the air.