Kids on a Plane: How to Stop the Seat Kicking

While snakes on a plane is a terrifying notion, I fear children on a plane far more. The crying. The whining. The insistent need for bathroom breaks. Lets not forget the mother of all issues – boredom. It tends to all culminate in a kicking ritual that punishes the poor sap stuck in the seat in front of the tot.

If you are the parent of the kicker or the victim of the kicker, the experience can be infuriating. I have lost my cool on several kids who failed to fear my warnings. It ended in an argument and an awkward situation. However, the entire situation can be prevented or handled in a way that doesn’t have to end with an Air Marshal holding you back after you have gone mad.

Victim

Obviously, first thing is, well, first. Turn around armed with a smile and ask both parent and child to avoid kicking seat. Doing this a gentle or firm manner right away is best. Kids like to test how far they can push you. Stranger or parent, they like to know how much they can get away with. Simply turn and tell the tot, “Could please stop kicking me seat little one? It hurts my back and doesn’t feel good.” Keep it simple and direct and make sure you have the parent’s attention when you do this.

Kids, generally speaking, will listen to a stranger more often than their own parents. However, you have some tots that just can’t sit still. If the little bugger still kicks, time to turn up the volume. Don’t yell, but do be a bit more firm and address both parent and child. “Ma’am/Sir, your child is still kicking my seat. I need him/her to stop.“

If you are afraid of confrontation, you can always ask the flight attendant for help. Whether it be asking them to intervene on your behalf or asking for an extra bag of pretzels to bargain a kick-free flight for the extra snack, don’t be afraid to employ help. Once, I was moved to another seat. Note that it won’t always work out, but at least you made every effort.

Parent

First and foremost as a parent – care. Be conscious of your kids and the other people on the plane. If you make the effort to keep your kids happy, other patrons will appreciate it. Yet, you still come across those people who are having a bad day…or life…and get irate when it comes to children’s antics to stave off boredom. So, here are some tips you can use to fight the kicking temptation.

Distractions, sweets and treats are all good ways to bargain a kick free flight out of your kid. However, those are usually a temporary fix. Sometimes the tiny fib that the Captain will come out of the cockpit and yell at kickers works on the younger crowd. It sounds like passing the buck, but I assure my tots that he is just doing his best to make sure everyone stays safe.

Taking their shoes off seems to be another way to calm happy feet. It hurts tiny toes to kick away with the protection of the shoe. At the very least, it will soften the blow against the seat.

Tuck your child’s favorite toy, pillow or blanket in the seat pocket in front of him/her. They are less likely to kick their fuzzy friend.

In the event you have an uncontrollable kicker – buy the victim a drink.