Many parents feel stressed when their young children cry at the airport or even during the flight. Experts have shared several simple yet effective strategies to help manage this situation.

Traveling with small children can be challenging for many families. Quite a few children experience flight anxiety, and some may cry or become upset, affecting the passengers around them.

Dr. Katie Hurley, a clinical and educational psychologist and a mental health expert specializing in children and adolescents, explains that travel anxiety and fear of flying are very common among children. According to her, children may feel excited about reaching a destination they have been looking forward to, but the travel process itself can be exhausting and overwhelming.

Why Are Children Afraid of Flying?

Travel disrupts children's usual routines, which can make them feel insecure. Airports and airplanes also expose them to many unfamiliar and intense experiences.

Long waiting times, crowded terminals, and the loud roar of jet engines can significantly increase a child's stress levels, making them irritable and prone to emotional outbursts. Extended security checks give anxiety more time to build up, which may eventually lead to intense crying or tantrums.

Sara Chana Silverstein, a holistic pediatric health expert, explains that when a child is afraid of flying, cortisol levels rise, causing increased anxiety, mood swings, and exaggerated emotional reactions. She jokingly notes that no one should judge, because most of us have experienced some level of fear while flying at 10,000 meters above the ground.

This is not bad behavior. Instead, parents can provide better support and create a more comforting and manageable travel experience.

Young children, especially those under five, often do not have enough vocabulary to express that they are frightened. Instead, their fear may appear as irritability, excessive crying, or unusual silence. They may also show physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or stomachaches.

What may seem like misbehavior or a temper tantrum is often simply fear or anxiety. Silverstein emphasizes that tantrums are completely normal in children under five. Their brains are still developing, and they are not intentionally trying to defy their parents.

How to Help Children Feel Less Afraid of Flying

Parents can help children feel safer by offering reassurance, explanations, and patience. One effective approach is to explain in advance what will happen using age-appropriate language.

Parents can describe each step of the journey, from leaving home to boarding the plane. Since children love imaginative play, setting up a "pretend airport" at home where dolls or stuffed animals go on a trip can be especially helpful.

For younger children, reading picture books about travel and discussing the illustrations can boost confidence. For older children, parents can talk through the travel plan and provide practical information, such as safety procedures and what to do if they get separated at the airport.

Practicing breathing techniques before the trip, such as taking slow deep breaths, can teach children how to calm themselves during stressful moments.

In addition, parents can prepare an "anxiety-relief kit" that engages all five senses:

• Squishy toys (touch)
• Picture books or kaleidoscopes (sight)
• Essential oils or familiar scents (smell)
• Music or audiobooks (hearing)
• Crunchy snacks or mint candies (taste)

Silverstein also suggests a secret weapon: small handwritten notes with loving messages for your child, which can serve as positive distractions.

At the airport, point out other children who are also flying to help normalize the experience. During turbulence, acknowledge your child's feelings and explain that turbulence is a normal part of air travel.

Finally, make sure your child eats well and stays hydrated. Even mild dehydration can contribute to emotional instability.

Most importantly, parents need to remain calm. Children are highly sensitive emotional observers. They look to adults' body language and tone of voice to determine whether they are safe. Sometimes, it is the parents' own anxiety that triggers their children's fear.