Children who are flying by themselves need to know what to expect and should also be taught how to talk with other passengers and with flight attendants. Use these tips to help your child prepare for his or her next flight:
- Teach your child how to talk to strangers. While that may seem like odd advice, it's crucial for children flying alone. It's unrealistic to expect them to speak to no one at all during their flight, or to speak only to flight attendants. Before your child faces the task of flying solo, teach her how to choose a safe person, initiate a conversation, and ask for help. You can practice this together the next time you're at the mall, by asking your child to pick out a safe person to practice on by asking a question, such as "Do you know where the nearest bathroom is?" The more practice she has developing this skill, the easier it will be for her to speak with an unfamiliar adult in the event that she needs help.
- Give your child a piece of paper with her destination clearly written on it. This sounds simplistic, I know. But how many times have you lost the stub to an airline boarding pass? One minute I'm using it as a bookmark, and the next moment it's gone. So instead of expecting your child to remember to hold onto it, write your own copy, using permanent ink (so that it can't get smudged or smeared). Then, pack it with your child's on-board snacks, coloring books, or video games, so that when she sees it, she'll remember to use it to confirm the information with the person sitting next to her on the flight. (Imagine how different these two experiences might have been for the parents if they'd received a phone call about the mistakes while each girl's flight was still in the air.)
- Teach your child to speak to the person in the next seat. This is something else that you have to practice with your kids, because it completely goes against the "Don't talk to strangers" rule we've ingrained into their minds. So be explicit about teaching your child how to introduce herself, and to share just enough information to verify the flight. "I'm going to see my dad in Chicago. This flight is going to Chicago, right?"
These steps are simple, but they're also empowering. Employing them with your children doesn't mean that mistakes won't be made, but it does mean that if your child ever does experience a traveling mishap, she'll be more likely to handle it calmly and confidently, knowing that her ability to communicate clearly will help her to get back home safely.
