Going on a holiday is an exciting experience for parents and their children. The problem is, it can be stressful for parents – especially if it’s the first long-haul flight for their children. Luckily for you, this handy guide has everything you need to know to survive the flight experience. Follow the steps below:
1. Have a sit-down talk
First things first, you need to have a conversation with your children about flying. Expecting your children to know how to behave in a new setting simply is unreasonable. This is why you need to explain to them what to expect and how to behave. For example, they must sit in one place and eat food from a limited menu. They will also need to be mindful of others and quiet for extended periods. Explaining this to your little ones ahead of time can make your life much easier.
2. Charge everything
Electronics can make or break your flight experience. The last thing you want is to be stuck on a flight for 6 hours without any of your devices. So, make sure you charge everything – including wireless headphones – before you leave the house. It can help to bring portable chargers too.
3. Download content
Most long-haul flights will offer some form of inflight entertainment. However, this won’t count for much if your kids aren’t interested in it. We strongly recommend downloading some of your children’s favourite free kids cartoons to a device before you leave and bringing a few of their favourite items like a book or toy.
4. Check the plane food
If you can, try to see what food the airline offers before you leave. This can help you prepare for allergies, snack breaks, and any other dietary requirements that your children have.
5. Take shifts
Travelling with children is tiring, especially if they aren’t sleeping. If you’re travelling with your partner or another member of your family, we recommend taking shifts in monitoring the children. This can help you to get some rest and enjoy your flight as well.
6. Divide and conquer
It can also help to book seats separately. For example, if you’re a family of 4, you could book 3 seats together and one alone. Doing so can allow you to split the flight between you, allowing you time with your little ones and some time to yourself.
7. Give your children a task
Our final tip can help you to survive the airport. Airports are chaotic at the best of times, with people running everywhere, loud noises, and bright lights. In these environments, children get stimulated and tend to run wild. Giving your child a task can help to keep them grounded and better behaved. One idea is to give them a boarding pass to carry and hand it to an attendant at a desk. This gives them a sense of responsibility, which will help them to feel included. Another idea is to give them their own bag to carry that they cannot part from. It’s hard to run around when you have a bag to carry!
Final Call
With the help of the tips in this guide, everyone in your family will be able to enjoy the long-haul flight experience!
