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#1
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Flying with kids- how young is too young?
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they
are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise). Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc. I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't a great idea or not. TIA. |
#2
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Most kids will take their lead from their parents - if Mum and Dad are
freaking out the kids assume there is something to be afraid of - but if Mum/Dad are having a great time you can usually 'con' them into enjoying it at that age too. Consider putting young child / parent in back - and 5 y/o in front right (with seat right back of course (show them the wooden dip stick that you're going to break over his knuckles if he touches the controls (with a smile))) - you can guage reactions during taxi / runups etc - if in doubt, do a single circuit with just parent / child in the back (then swap child etc). My experiances have been that despite all of our cautions and concerns ... .... they simply just go to sleep! Hope this helps! CC "Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message nk.net... I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise). Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc. I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't a great idea or not. TIA. |
#3
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Cockpit Colin wrote: Most kids will take their lead from their parents - if Mum and Dad are freaking out the kids assume there is something to be afraid of - Or if Mom and Dad are working too hard to keep the kids from freaking out. George Patterson Great discoveries are not announced with "Eureka!". What's usually said is "Hummmmm... That's interesting...." |
#4
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Paul Folbrecht wrote:
I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't a great idea or not. TIA. Paul, I have taken my niece and nephew up. We took each one seperately. Both are just under 2 years old. To get them familiar with the plane, on my prior visits to their maiden flight, we let them walk around the plane, and we identified major parts (wing, rudder, wheels, gas tanks and so on) to make a game of it. When they were comfortable with it, we then introduced them to getting in the plane. This was a little harder as I have a low wing, and the slope of the wing made them unnerved getting in. We insisted they walk in on their own, only assistance given was I would be in the plane for them to walk to me, and my brother inlaw was behind them so they didn't fall back. Once they were in the plane, they were absolutely great. My brother in law is a pilot, so he flew the plane. I held them in my lap with just the lapbelt on. We had ear protection for them as I didn't have child size headsets. First flight, we never left the pattern, just made a little longer downwind to extend the flight. We only went to 1,500 feet to see if they would be ok with ears, and no effects. Second flight, was 15 minutes. Other then taking it easy on altitude, we did standard rate turns so that they would know that 30 degree banks are normal. We flew just before sunset, so turbulence was not an issue. Both were better then my sister who remained on the ground *smile*. My nephew absolutely loved it and my niece well could take it or leave it. Getting him out of the plane was extremely difficult! I don't know if they understood the "significance" of what they did, but it didn't matter, they enjoyed it. Really, kids do not know any better, and I believe it's the adults that will instill the fear of flying. Needless to say, I did set a "dangerous precedent" as now everytime I fly down to see them, they want to take a ride my sister said. And my answer to that, was whats the problem with that? *smile*. Allen |
#5
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"Paul Folbrecht" wrote in message nk.net... I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise). Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc. I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't a great idea or not. TIA. I've talked to half a dozen people lately about flying with the kids. Cherish F. has a four month old that she put in the back seat at three weeks. Mike M. took his pregnant wife up and the baby right after it was born. Richard M. had no problem with his boys when they were toddlers --sometimes they were sound asleep before he could get the engine started. Dr. Marcia M. (pediatrician) says to take it easy gaining or giving up altitude so the kids can clear their ears. That is less than 500 FPM. She said the kids are better at doing that than adults. She also recommended something to suck on -- includng pacifiers and candy. Breast feeding would be even better. One crusty old geezer around here said it is important to tell the newbie kids what to expect BEFORE you do it, including the takeoff noise, pitch-up and so forth. He also suggested to NOT stick kids in the back seat by themselves for the first couple of trips. With that in mind it sounds like maybe a good idea to put one in the front and then you get in the back with the other for a couple of trips, evn short ones around the patch. In short, it is a great idea. Paul F. got his PPASEL certificate in 1976 following in the propwash of his dad. Paul never hesitated taking his kids flying with him. Now, five of his eight children has private pilots certificates and they take their kids along. Well, three of them... the other two aren't married yet. On the other hand, I have a ten-year-old granddaughter that won't even drive to the airport with me. But then, she won't ride a roller-coaster either. |
#6
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In article , Casey Wilson
wrote: She also recommended something to suck on -- includng pacifiers and candy. Breast feeding would be even better. Yes, but then I wouldn't be able to see where I was going! :-)) |
#7
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The best advice I was given when my children were young, was to wait until they were old enough to understand and follow directions. Okay... we all know how difficult it is to get kids to do both at the same time, but one or the other will suffice. Both my kids had their first rides when they were between 2 and 3 years of age. My son got his ride in a booster seat of a Champ. He wore a DC10-13Y headset (and actually kept it on!) plugged into the portable intercom. My daughter got her ride in the backseat of a Beech Sundowner while transporting my wife to be with her mother following my father in law's death. The kids then rode home in the back seat while I flew. Each was given a grease pencil and happily drew on the rear windows, which occupied them during the hour and a half flight home. After that trip, each time we drove past the airport, my daughter would ask, "Daddy, are we going flying now?" Now, when we go on trips, all they want to do is play their GameBoy's. The one item that got their faces pressed up against the windows was the flight along the Chicago lakeshore to and from Oshkosh last summer. |
#8
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"Paul Folbrecht" wrote: I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the little one. The little one is the one you *don't* have to worry about freaking out - he will probably go to sleep. What's worrisome is protecting his hearing: little kids hate headsets. My 2 1/2-year old grandson thinks no more of going for a flight than he does of going for a drive, but keeping a headset on him is tough. And forget earplugs; he absolutely will not stand for them. Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc. The only child I've ever seen frightened was a 10-year old Angel Flight patient I took to Atlanta last week. Normal, low altitude bumps really scared him. I bet your 3- and 5-year olds will be fine unless they get airsick from a bumpy ride. Keep it ultra smooth. -- Dan C172RG at BFM (remove pants to reply by email) |
#9
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On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 03:13:10 GMT Paul Folbrecht wrote:
I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise). Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc. I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't a great idea or not. TIA. As always it depends on the kids. Plan a short trip the first time to get an idea if they like it or not. When I hear "Weeeeeee!!!" on steep short final I take that as a sign they like it a lot! I also give out a dollar or lollipop or candy bar to every plane spotted while we're flying. Kids have great eyes! Especially with a sweet incentive. I treat it like going for a ride in a car. The trickiest part is walking the ramp with them. R. Hubbell |
#10
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if you did that ware i fly out of your kids teeth would be rotten to many
airplanes (ohh mabye sugar free would work) "R.Hubbell" wrote in message ... On Wed, 28 Jan 2004 03:13:10 GMT Paul Folbrecht wrote: I have a friend who really wants me to take he & his two boys up- they are 3 & 5. I am worried about them "freaking out"- especially the little one. They have never flown before (commercially or otherwise). Of course they need to be in back of the 172, which would make it difficult for my friend to reassure them, etc. I'm especially concerned about the younger one for the obvious reason that 3 is pretty young. To the folks that have a lot of experience taking up little kids- what are the rough odds that he'll be just fine vs. having a cow? I need to decide if I should suggest that this isn't a great idea or not. TIA. As always it depends on the kids. Plan a short trip the first time to get an idea if they like it or not. When I hear "Weeeeeee!!!" on steep short final I take that as a sign they like it a lot! I also give out a dollar or lollipop or candy bar to every plane spotted while we're flying. Kids have great eyes! Especially with a sweet incentive. I treat it like going for a ride in a car. The trickiest part is walking the ramp with them. R. Hubbell |
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