Southwest kicks mom, cranky kid off flight

[agzg]

I think there's a big difference between kids who are scared or cry during take-off and landing because their ears are popping and kids that are just plain misbehaving. I have a lot of ear/inner ear problems, get a lot of ear infections, and whatnot, so when the plane is taking off/landing I feel like screaming, too.

It's when the plane is in flight or somehow stationary that misbehaving kids bug me. There was a huge group of kids from toddlers to teenagers on the flight back from Paris when my dad and I went last and it was AWFUL. Every single one of those kids was a loud, annoying jerk of a kid. They also left trash all over the seats and floor. I might have been able to excuse the younger kids but the teenagers were just as bad, maybe even worse! It was disappointing because our flight to Paris was actually pretty relaxing (gotta love those overnight flights!). The fact that we were trapped with them for almost 8 hours just made things worse.

There's a big difference between that and the toddler that cried twice on a flight, once during take off, and once during landing.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by agzg

I think there's a big difference between kids who are scared or cry during take-off and landing because their ears are popping. I have a lot of ear/inner ear problems, get a lot of ear infections, and whatnot, so when the plane is taking off/landing I feel like screaming, too.

I'll agree with this (and Munchkin's point). Although it's incredibly annoying to spend the whole flight listening to kids screaming, I can understand if the kid's scared or something like that. I would just hope that the parents would try to quiet the child down during the flight. It doesn't need to be a "Hey kid, shut up!" but more of a "It's ok, the plane is safe and everything is going to be ok."

When my parents were taking my sister and I on a plane for the first time (we were visiting family in California), they took us to the airport to watch the planes take off. I was a pretty laid back kid, but I think it helped to see the planes taking off and landing and hearing all the sounds. Flying can be a stressful experience for a kid, from the long waits in line to the plane ride itself.

I often wonder why more parents don't do what my parents did, if it's feasible, at least to increase the comfort level a little. If there's one thing I learned from teaching preschool and toddler-age kids throughout college, it's that you can calm a kid's nerves a lot by giving him or her familiarity with a new place.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I'll agree with this (and Munchkin's point). Although it's incredibly annoying to spend the whole flight listening to kids screaming, I can understand if the kid's scared or something like that. I would just hope that the parents would try to quiet the child down during the flight. It doesn't need to be a "Hey kid, shut up!" but more of a "It's ok, the plane is safe and everything is going to be ok."

Right. I get that kids may be scared or having problems with their ears, but I have seriously seen parents not even attempt to quiet their kids down or see what's going on with them.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Right. I get that kids may be scared or having problems with their ears, but I have seriously seen parents not even attempt to quiet their kids down or see what's going on with them.

Ditto. Scared kids don't scream for 5 hours.