Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been intentionally low screen in our house and we did a similar thing on planes. The result is that my kid has developed the skills to chat with people and entertain himself without a screen. My rule was that we had to be considerate of others and I never talked and narrated the whole time. I think that is just as annoying as the parents who let their kids on tablets without headphones.

We’ve been doing this since he was a toddler. Things that kept him occupied were window clings, lots of snacks, cheerio necklaces, and quiet toys like Wix sticks. As he got older we did more quiet card games, puzzles, and now in 2nd grade he mostly reads, listens to audio books, writes, and looks through the seat back stuff. Now that he is older he gets to watch TV if the plane has a screen, but most of his time is no screen. He’s done 16+ hour flights this way and fellow passengers have been commenting on how pleasant he is, so it can be done!

But again, my most important rule was not annoying anyone else on the plane. We are in very close quarters for hours.

Hm, we are also a low screen family (my kids are allowed to watch a little tv, they don't use other devices), but one of them has massive social anxiety and won't even look adults in the eye. Also, if you bring window clings, stickers, cheerio necklaces, etc. on an airplane, the flight attendants HAAAAATE you.

Anonymous wrote:We have been intentionally low screen in our house and we did a similar thing on planes. The result is that my kid has developed the skills to chat with people and entertain himself without a screen. My rule was that we had to be considerate of others and I never talked and narrated the whole time. I think that is just as annoying as the parents who let their kids on tablets without headphones.

We’ve been doing this since he was a toddler. Things that kept him occupied were window clings, lots of snacks, cheerio necklaces, and quiet toys like Wix sticks. As he got older we did more quiet card games, puzzles, and now in 2nd grade he mostly reads, listens to audio books, writes, and looks through the seat back stuff. Now that he is older he gets to watch TV if the plane has a screen, but most of his time is no screen. He’s done 16+ hour flights this way and fellow passengers have been commenting on how pleasant he is, so it can be done!

But again, my most important rule was not annoying anyone else on the plane. We are in very close quarters for hours.

Anonymous wrote:I Benadryl my kid. Much easier for everyone.

And I would really appreciate it if you could keep it down so my kid and I can sleep.

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

Well, no, not when I fly commercial, who is what I thought we were talking about here. I had to do that once when my plane was being painted with inspirational quotes and I remember it very well- fascinating experience. Of course when I’m in my private plane I cook while I lecture, gluten free and vegan food only naturally.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

Well, no, not when I fly commercial, who is what I thought we were talking about here. I had to do that once when my plane was being painted with inspirational quotes and I remember it very well- fascinating experience. Of course when I’m in my private plane I cook while I lecture, gluten free and vegan food only naturally.

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

You aren't cooking a 5 course meal at the same time - you are a dud.

Anonymous wrote:My child just flies the plane while I deliver a lecture on aerodynamics and kindness. When we get off we are immediately awarded both the Nobel peace prize and the Nobel prize for physics. It’s ok, OP, you are trying your best. Hugs!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And I don’t know what time of time she spends with her kids but anyone who spends a lot of time with one another doesn’t need to talk on the plane. It is more people who don’t see one another much would be the ones who want to spend all this quality time together on the plane.

My neighbor is a SAhM to 4 kids. She spends all day everyday with the kids. She is just trying to survive the flight.

I talk to my spouse and kids at home but uh we also talk on planes. Not like nonstop or anything but we'll have a conversation.

I don't get the whole "I'm just trying to survive the flight" thing either. Flying is not that difficult. Sure there are times when it's a huge hassle -- if you are on a flight that got delayed or you wind up with some huge annoyance like getting stuck on the tarmac for an hour before take off or horrible turbulence. But most flights are just... fine. I'm not in crisis and reaching for iPads to shut up kids because otherwise I just won't make it. And that includes on international flights. Kids will watch devices some (on an international flight usually at least one movie and if a very long flight of 10+ at least two). But also we will talk and play games and read.

Travel is not some horrible hardship. And if traveling with kids is so difficult that you simply must placate them with devices the whole time then maybe don't travel so much. It's optional.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have been intentionally low screen in our house and we did a similar thing on planes. The result is that my kid has developed the skills to chat with people and entertain himself without a screen. My rule was that we had to be considerate of others and I never talked and narrated the whole time. I think that is just as annoying as the parents who let their kids on tablets without headphones.

We’ve been doing this since he was a toddler. Things that kept him occupied were window clings, lots of snacks, cheerio necklaces, and quiet toys like Wix sticks. As he got older we did more quiet card games, puzzles, and now in 2nd grade he mostly reads, listens to audio books, writes, and looks through the seat back stuff. Now that he is older he gets to watch TV if the plane has a screen, but most of his time is no screen. He’s done 16+ hour flights this way and fellow passengers have been commenting on how pleasant he is, so it can be done!

But again, my most important rule was not annoying anyone else on the plane. We are in very close quarters for hours.

OP here. These are the exact skills I want to develop in my children. And to add to that, I want them to observe and understand their fellow humans and the world around them with all its warts. Not just some sanitized, curated version. I don’t think that is compatible with constantly being on a device when in a public space.

I love the activities you mentioned for the toddler set - I’ll try them sometime. I also bring blank greeting cards or even just blank paper and ask my elementary schooler to write and illustrate thank-you notes on our flights home from visiting family. Good way to kill an hour

Op, you’re an insufferable ass. Nobody cares. And get out more and get over yourself. I do school admissions and every single parent at every competitive to get in school in the area is doing all of this and more every single day. And many of them don’t work, so they don’t do it on flights and vacations only. I’m sure they are in other communities too but these are the ones I see regularly. You’re not special, you’re relatively wealthy and educated, and doing the things such people do. You are also a raging self congratulatory bore.