Once we've got off the plane, no doubt I'll personally want to sleep for a week! After all, New Zealand from London is over 26 hours on a plane! A mammoth journey by anyone's standards, but not the longest journey I've ever undertaken. Around ten years ago I lived in the United States of America. On one occasion, I had to travel from Miami, to Newark. Now that journey kind of put this flight we're taking into shame as I traveled by Amtrak! We're talking 31 hours, sat on a train. Going from a tremendously hot climate, to a temperate climate, on a train, did take some getting used to!
However it's this current journey on the plane that concerns me. As any parent of a 2 year old will tell you. Traveling for anything more than a couple of hours can be a real nightmare if there is nothing to occupy their little minds. Clearly we are going have to take some of her favourite toys, thankfully these are pretty small and will fit into her own personal hand luggage allowance. But, I fear even these will soon loose favour during the long, arduous flight.
So, here's how we plan to get over the hiccups that will inevitably occur, so Madison doesn't get too ratty and embarrass the family with a rage of temper.
We plan to interact with her, talk to her like a grown up, inform her of what's happening and why she needs to be on her absolute best behaviour. Thankfully as most children do, Madison has a passion, and that passion is chocolate! Although we don't give it to her too much, we do use it as a reward mechanism and it never ceases to amaze me how she can go from a screaming, crazed, tantrum infused mess of a child. To angelic, mushy, wanton and warm, friendly and calm. All in the space of a micro-second! So chocolate will defiantly be in our arsenal during the flight.
We also plan on requesting a western menu for her. We're flying with Korean Air (review to follow), and I've heard you can request a western menu, if you so wish. Madison loves her breakfast and lunch, but she's murder when it comes to eating an evening meal. So we'll properly keep some of her favourite savoury type snacks in our hand luggage too, just incase she doesn't like the main meal that will be served.
Another idea, apart from her regular favourite toys, will be to ask her Grandma to make a little 'pass the parcel' package. So we can pass that between the three of us, to some music, and make a little game of it. That'll kill an hour or so as she unwraps a colouring book and some crayons, alphabet and number cards, and alike.
We'll also take frequent walks, and plenty of fluids. Madison does have a habit of wanting to use public conveniences an awful lot! We thought there might actually be something wrong with her bladder, but our family practice Doctor informed us everything is fine with her waterworks. Therefore it's just one of those little games she likes, and no matter how much we've tried to ween her from going to the bathroom while she's out, she asks, we take! Madison has been potty trained, but like most children her age, sometimes little accidents do happen. She does get a tad embarrassed, bless her. But she's a very grown up little girl, has a fantastic vocabulary and is as cheeky as cheese!
We love to read books together, so we'll take a couple of those on the plane. Thankfully, we'll be able to more or less read the same book over and over. As she's not quite at the age when the same old thing gets too boring!
I decided not to get any sedatives for the flight, as I don't believe in medicating, unless it's a medical emergency or ailment that needs a minor pain killer. I think most parents do think the same and I want the whole adventure to be as fun for not only Madison, but for myself and Hannah too. Also, I want Madison to start to understand that family and friends in England, aren't able to just pop over, on a whim. I realise that trying to explain too much, too soon will most likely upset her. So, we'll explain it to her bit by bit.
I think we've got the flight pretty much covered though in terms of keeping a youngster occupied. I know most of our fellow travellers will be sympathetic to the situation if we're doing all we can to alleviate any potential flash point. There might well be others on board in the exact same predicament. However, it's every parents responsibility to do everything they can to make any journey, be it flight, train or car, as pleasing as possible. I will of course let you know how we get on!
As ever, thanks for reading and I hope some of the tips come in helpful for you and your family.
God Bless
However it's this current journey on the plane that concerns me. As any parent of a 2 year old will tell you. Traveling for anything more than a couple of hours can be a real nightmare if there is nothing to occupy their little minds. Clearly we are going have to take some of her favourite toys, thankfully these are pretty small and will fit into her own personal hand luggage allowance. But, I fear even these will soon loose favour during the long, arduous flight.
So, here's how we plan to get over the hiccups that will inevitably occur, so Madison doesn't get too ratty and embarrass the family with a rage of temper.
We plan to interact with her, talk to her like a grown up, inform her of what's happening and why she needs to be on her absolute best behaviour. Thankfully as most children do, Madison has a passion, and that passion is chocolate! Although we don't give it to her too much, we do use it as a reward mechanism and it never ceases to amaze me how she can go from a screaming, crazed, tantrum infused mess of a child. To angelic, mushy, wanton and warm, friendly and calm. All in the space of a micro-second! So chocolate will defiantly be in our arsenal during the flight.
We also plan on requesting a western menu for her. We're flying with Korean Air (review to follow), and I've heard you can request a western menu, if you so wish. Madison loves her breakfast and lunch, but she's murder when it comes to eating an evening meal. So we'll properly keep some of her favourite savoury type snacks in our hand luggage too, just incase she doesn't like the main meal that will be served.
Another idea, apart from her regular favourite toys, will be to ask her Grandma to make a little 'pass the parcel' package. So we can pass that between the three of us, to some music, and make a little game of it. That'll kill an hour or so as she unwraps a colouring book and some crayons, alphabet and number cards, and alike.
We'll also take frequent walks, and plenty of fluids. Madison does have a habit of wanting to use public conveniences an awful lot! We thought there might actually be something wrong with her bladder, but our family practice Doctor informed us everything is fine with her waterworks. Therefore it's just one of those little games she likes, and no matter how much we've tried to ween her from going to the bathroom while she's out, she asks, we take! Madison has been potty trained, but like most children her age, sometimes little accidents do happen. She does get a tad embarrassed, bless her. But she's a very grown up little girl, has a fantastic vocabulary and is as cheeky as cheese!
We love to read books together, so we'll take a couple of those on the plane. Thankfully, we'll be able to more or less read the same book over and over. As she's not quite at the age when the same old thing gets too boring!
I decided not to get any sedatives for the flight, as I don't believe in medicating, unless it's a medical emergency or ailment that needs a minor pain killer. I think most parents do think the same and I want the whole adventure to be as fun for not only Madison, but for myself and Hannah too. Also, I want Madison to start to understand that family and friends in England, aren't able to just pop over, on a whim. I realise that trying to explain too much, too soon will most likely upset her. So, we'll explain it to her bit by bit.
I think we've got the flight pretty much covered though in terms of keeping a youngster occupied. I know most of our fellow travellers will be sympathetic to the situation if we're doing all we can to alleviate any potential flash point. There might well be others on board in the exact same predicament. However, it's every parents responsibility to do everything they can to make any journey, be it flight, train or car, as pleasing as possible. I will of course let you know how we get on!
As ever, thanks for reading and I hope some of the tips come in helpful for you and your family.
God Bless
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