Vacations bring some of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever have. Planning and organizing your family’s travel can make the difference between having a trying, tiring flight or a calm, restful one. I have flown with my ADHD kid on 3 different occasions, from the year he was born. And we used many of these suggestions to make his experience the best.
Try these suggestions to ensure your flight is peaceful and enjoyable for all:
1. Get the kids emotionally ready for the trip.
Obtain information in advance about your travel destination and share this information with your children to prepare them for the trip.
- Plan an activity each day that the children will like.
- Discuss these activities with your children in advance so they’ll have something to look forward to.
2. Read a book about flying.
If your children are seven years old or younger, look for books about flying that are written for their age ranges. Preparing children through stories and pictures can go a long way in quelling any fears they might have about riding an airplane.
- Make the storytime fun and add in some of your own flying experiences for discussions with your youngsters.
- For children who’ve flown before, talk about the prior trip to help refresh their memories.
3. Take something familiar.
Take a familiar item along for the ride to serve as a calming influence for your child. This is especially important if your kid is younger, toddler age, as a pacifier and/or stuffed animal is all-important.
- Help the kids select a favorite small toy or belonging to provide a sense of security during the flight.
- Instead of a new toy, choose a well-loved item. This might be a stuffed animal your child sleeps with or carries with him throughout the day. This is especially important if your kid is younger, toddler age, as a pacifier and/or stuffed animal is all-important.
4. Include simple, inexpensive toys and games your children enjoy.
Purchase some of these items to pack in your carry-on bag. Then, pull out surprises every hour or so during the plane ride. Remember to only take quiet toys with you. You are not the only ones trying to have a calm flight.
- Plan to have enough surprise items for the trip home as well. If you forget, you can buy these at the destination or at the airport.
- For example, if your son enjoys crossword puzzles, buy a new crossword puzzle magazine and pack it with a pencil.
- Maybe your daughter enjoys reading and has a favorite author. You might surprise her with a new book by her favorite author to read on the plane.
5. Fun gadgets keep their attention.
Let’s not forget the incredible benefit of technological gadgets to keep the kids occupied during the flight. If your kids are old enough to have their own gadgets, whether to play games, listen to music or watch movies, ensure they’re packed in the carry-on.
- If it’s feasible, give your kids a new game or new music for the trip. This could keep them quiet, calm, and occupied for the duration of the plane ride.
6. Consider the flight as quality time.
Engage the kids in discussions of subjects you want to talk about with them. Read more here on how to create small pockets of quality time.
- Listen to each of your kids talk about school, their favorite subjects, and their current interests.
- When the kids wind down from this discussion, shift gears and bring out some of those little surprises mentioned earlier.
7. Be aware of the seating arrangement.
It matters where you sit on the flight. It often determines whether the flight is calm or calamitous. If your two children bicker frequently, it may be wise to have them sit on either side of you to keep a little distance between them during the flight.
- Another option is to seat the children side by side to see if being together helps keep them occupied with positive interactions.
- If need be, you can switch the children’s seats later to separate them.
In conclusion
Planning ahead for your family’s flight increases your chances of having a peaceful travel experience. Follow the above suggestions to ensure that your family will arrive at your vacation destination relaxed, calm, and ready to enjoy a memorable family vacation.
And for the love of [insert name of deity-of-choice here], do not, I repeat do not forget the stuffed animal or thing your kid finds comfort in.