Flying With Kids
Shut-Up Biscuits and Other Tips
“Mum,” whispered a little voice in my ear.
“Mmmmm, I’m sort of trying to have a nap,” I replied sleepily.
“MUM!” the voice repeated louder. I remembered where I was and jerked awake quickly. Sleeping on planes is not an option with my kids….unless your dad.
“Ok, I’m awake. What do you need buddy?”
“Can I please have a shut up biscuit?”
I gave hubby a guilty look. I thought I had done a pretty good job at keeping that particular biscuit a secret. Apparently I hadn’t. At the age of four, his listening skills were usually fairly lacking. Clearly, when it came to yummy biscuits, he was all ears.
Damn it, now I look like a bad parent. I hope nobody heard that! It’s the one time that his speech disorder could have been a positive; I hoped that no-one else could understand him.
Hubby read my face like a book.
“He even got the sshhhhhhh sound properly,” he said proudly. We had been working on that sound for weeks.
He then gave me the same look that I gave him two weeks earlier when our 18-month-old daughter repeated a swear word she heard from dad’s failed efforts to start his motorbike. It turned out our youngest child had no such speech problem, as there was no mistaking the word that she repeated.
Shut up biscuits are basically any type of biscuit, usually an Arnotts Cream or a Scotch Finger, that we don’t usually have in the cupboard at home. I carry a packet in my airplane carry-on bag when travelling, and bring them out one at a time when I need to distract the kids and make a mood adjustment.
Come to think of it, mood adjustment biscuit would have been a much nicer nickname.
Anxiety for Parents …
The thought of occupying the kids when travelling from A to B is usually a huge source of anxiety for parents. I actually love hearing other children have a tantrum on the plane. It makes me feel like I have a ‘free pass’ for mine to do the same thing 30 minutes later.
It was easy when they were babies because breastfeeding basically solves any squawking. Now they are older, I have had to come up with some other alternatives to occupy them on the plane.
So here goes!
Here are 11 Tried and Tested Tips for Flying With Kids
- Mood adjustment biscuits (formerly known as shut up biscuits).
- Buy stickers, novelty items and little craft sets from a discount store.
- Carry little cars in your handbag….all the time!
- Give in to screen time and technology. What else is there to do?
- Take advantage of the little kid packs that most airlines hand out.
- Ask the air hostess for a cup of ice and a straw. I don’t know why, but this seems to occupy young kids. Even really little ones seem happy stabbing the ice with the straw.
- Don’t forget their cuddle teddy or comfort item. However in no circumstances, whatsoever, let your child be in charge of making sure the cuddle teddy comes off the plane with you.
- Are you crafty? Have you seen those fabric quiet books for toddlers? If you haven’t, you need to do a quick Google or Pinterest search now! These books are amazing.
- Walk them up and down the aisles if you need to. Most people can’t help smiling at the cute baby or toddler trotting past them.
- This tip is by far the most effective, but also the most mentally frustrating to do. Give up on the idea that you will be able to watch a movie and relax. You are probably going to be occupying the kids. Your holiday doesn’t start until you get there basically. My kids are so much easier to manage when I am 100% attentive to every little, “mummy watch my car.”
- Remind yourself that the journey is all part of the adventure, especially for kids
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