As much exciting as traveling can be, there will always be boring or unsettling moments. Airports are particularly draining due to long queues and cumbersome procedures. If it can be exasperating for adults sometimes, it is definitely a difficult part of the journey for children. The trick is to keep them cooperating. But how do you do that?

I try to be at the airport early enough to go through luggage drop-off and security without stress; yet not too early that it becomes challenging to keep the kids entertained and free from naughtiness. This usually means 1,5h in advance for a short flight, and 2h for a long flight. If it’s a busy season or a heavy traffic airport, I add another 30 minutes.

I’ve had situations where I had to run like crazy through the airport, skip all queues, pass ahead of all passengers while dragging the kids along with me to avoid missing a flight. This is beyond stressful and should be avoided! However, unexpected and uncontrolled events can put you in such situation and you just cope with it the best way you can. Accept that not everything can be planned and envisaged, thus it is pointless to blame yourself or others, as it will not improve anything.

Very often I let the kids sit or stand on airport trolleys even though most airport securities advise against this. It is fun for the kids, you move around easier and, if you are careful enough, the likelihood that they get injured is quite low. Personally, I prefer dealing with the risk that one of my kids falls off the trolley than the risk of one of them getting lost at the airport.

The target is to go through luggage drop-off, passport control and security check the fastest, smoothest way possible. Normally, I give the kids some tasks to do to keep them occupied and focused. For example, to give the tickets or the passports for control, to put some things on the conveyor belt for x-ray, to check which one is our gate. When that is not possible, I tell them stories or talk about what we are going to do at the destination.

There are two annoying phases at the airport: the controls and waiting at the gate. So, when I’m through the first one, I check how much time I have until boarding starts to avoid getting to the gate too early or too tight. When everything goes as planned, I take the opportunity to eat something before boarding. It helps keeping the kids happy and engaged, and the food is better than the one you get on the plane. If there is not much time, I buy the food and let them eat at the gate while waiting for boarding.

Whether you prefer to be the first one to board or the last, you should consider two aspects: if you are amongst the first, your kids will be confined for a longer period; if you board amongst the last, you may not have enough space in the overhead compartment for personal belongings.

I rarely use the overhead compartment; I prefer to store things under the seat in front of me. It allows easier access (and I always need to take something out of the backpack during the flight) and ensures that nothing disappears or gets damaged. If you are traveling with bulky items though, such as coats and carry on luggage, it is best to guarantee there is still enough space left to store your belongings close to your seat and without too much squeezing.

Don’t forget to bring water with you. If your bottle is confiscated during security check, buy one before boarding. Most airlines will provide water for free, but you should not rely too much on it. I also like to have small cookies with me at all times, just in case the kids feel hungry.

Take your kids to the washroom or change diapers before heading to the gate. This is crucial to ensure a relaxed flight. You may not be able to take them to the toilet while on board at the time they need because, for instance, food is being served or there is significant turbulence. Therefore, the least you need to use the toilet during the flight, the better.

On the plane, entertainment is key. If there is in-flight entertainment, I let my kids choose a movie to watch. Of course, it depends on their age. It might be difficult to have a toddler watch a movie longer than 15 or 30 minutes.

In any case, I always take some pencils and small colouring books with me, along with a tablet with games and two or three movies previously downloaded. A small toy or a plush animal that they love goes a long way in comforting them, particularly if they sleep. Don’t bring too many or bulky things though. Everything you need, from food and drink to toilet gear to entertainment, should fit in your (not too big) backpack.

Another trick that helps immensely during flights is bringing some candy with you. Specially if you have toddlers, when they become unease candy helps soothing them. If you are still breastfeeding a baby, you can plan to do it during take-off and landing to relief the pain in their hears. For toddlers and older children, you can give them candy or something to chew for relief.

My aim during flights and airport excursions is to keep the children fed and entertained to help them and myself going through the journey effortlessly. I’m not too picky with my options and I like to keep it as simple as possible.