From How to Con Your Kid
How to Con Your Kid, Continued.
Basic Cons
- Bring a CD or MP3 player with music and books on tape for extra entertainment and a little “in-flight dancing.”
- If you have a portable computer or DVD player, don’t leave home without it. Although using the TV as a babysitter isn’t a great parenting technique under normal circumstances, the in-flight boob tube will hopefully keep your child quiet and happy, which is good for you and the other passengers.
- Using blankets, build your child a tent by draping the blanket over the back of her seat. This airplane tent is a great place to read and play (bring along a mini flashlight), and may even help your child shut the world out enough to fall asleep.
- With a few magic markers and the airsickness bags, create your own in-flight puppet show.
Short Cons
“We have to stay in our seats, so do you want to play with _________, _________, or just read?”
“We can’t get off the plane yet-should we go see if there are any kids to play with or just sit here and draw?”
Games Parents Play
Name That Cloud
Try to find favorite characters, animals, people, shapes, letters, or numbers in the clouds. Take turns with your child. Tell your child to find five things in the sky-then it’s your turn.
If They’re On to You
When things get really dire and you have to do anything you can to calm your little angel before the passengers revolt, head for the restroom with your child. Sure, it’s small, but at least you’ll have some privacy.
