So you’ve booked the vacation.
You pack the bags and get ready to relax and have some well-deserved fun.
But despite the excitement, you dread the flight.
How do you keep a child busy and calm on an airplane?
According to trend data from Google, the search term “traveling with toddlers” is up 204.67% in the past month alone.
Such an improvement reflects the nervousness of those who travel with children to popular holiday destinations.
Thankfully, the Wizz Air flight attendant team has presented five ways to fly with young children.
From managing expectations to a reward system, this is to have the smoothest journey of your life.
Enter the flight with the right expectations
Those who fly with toddlers are often apprehensive. As a result, any behavior that leads to high noise levels can make caregivers nervous. It is important to fully expect that the child is likely to cry or throw a tantrum.
It is inevitable that children will make noise, so try not to be oversensitive to it. Laying the groundwork with children for flight, as well as assuming reasonable expectations of them, is crucial.
Before the flight, often talk to the child about the plane, what will happen and what to expect. Talk about the seat belts, the lighting up signs and sounds, along with takeoff and landing. This will work to build excitement and reduce any fear the child may feel regarding the experience.
Choose your seats and get on the plane strategically
The front and back of the plane will always be high traffic areas because this is where the bathrooms are. Therefore, it is likely that this is where most of the distraction will be.
It is worth choosing your seats accordingly, taking into account what is likely to entertain and upset the child.
Also consider when you have to board the plane yourself. If you and your party are the first to board, it can take up to half an hour before the other passengers are seated. Ultimately, that’s an extra half hour to entertain any children present.
So it is wise to reserve the seats in advance and towards the end of the row.
Pack and go
Rewarding children during the flight can not only keep them entertained but also keep morale high. New toys can create even more joy and spend ample time.
Wrapping new toys is a great way to let the child know that good behavior is rewarded and that flying is a fun experience.
Save the best until last
When you first get on the plane, it’s tempting to immediately entertain the kid by giving them every toy and iPad you’ve packed. However, it is vital that you entertain strategically.
If each toy is given at the beginning and if the child is bored, there is nothing new to entertain them with. Present each product of entertainment one by one and save the best, or their favorite toy for last.
This allows the entertainment level to evolve during the flight.
Keeping secrets
Every aspect of the flight can be positioned as a new experience for the child. Don’t let them know that you can generally walk down the aisles of the plane.
Instead, let the child know that they can walk down the aisles to go to the bathroom, or only during certain times.
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