|
|
|
|
|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 4:56:50 PM
|
|
|
isaacsmom
Posts: 1026
Joined: 12/2/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
I wonder what exactly he is frightened about? I am surprised it even occurred to him to be frightened
He is very afraid of heights.
_____________________________
<<< My littles
*~*~*Rachel*~*~*
pirtlefarm.blogspot.com
Beware of posing as a profound person -- God became a baby. ~Oswald Chambers
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 5:43:53 PM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 8202
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
quote:
I wonder what exactly he is frightened about? I am surprised it even occurred to him to be frightened
He is very afraid of heights.
When has he been up high, how high has he been and how did he react?
You could always tell him that when you go up in a plane, you go up above the clouds and that the clouds are like cushions and that all you can see is the blue sky. Also that you will all be sitting next to each other, that he doesn't have to sit next to the window if he doesn't want to, and that the plane is so big inside that it's like being in a house.
_____________________________
"Manda.....you said what I tried to say, just much better"
sharonjef, October 2009
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 5:47:12 PM
|
|
|
monamie
Posts: 607
Status: offline
|
At one time, he wanted to fly a plane, right? Maybe we can work something out at the little airport. Or maybe with Melanie's husband. He could look at the plane, sit in the plane and talk to the pilot.
But he'll have to be convinced before he boards the plane or he'll really panic when you board. That wouldn't be good....
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 5:54:01 PM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 8202
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: monamie
But he'll have to be convinced before he boards the plane or he'll really panic when you board. That wouldn't be good....
Do you really think a 4 yr old would "really panic" and not believe mum and dad that it would be okay and not just do what he's told)?
I think it's important to reassure but without buying into the fear. 5 months is plenty of time to educate him about planes, show him books/videos etc, prepare him, and also teach him about appropriate behaviour on planes (ie no shouting or crying). He can also be taught how to calm yourself down (with breathing exercises) if you feel worried about something. With either of mine, as well as some education and reassurance, I would have told them that they needed to believe me that it would be ok, and that this was how it was going to be, and that they just needed to get used to the idea, because that's how we were travelling.
I always taught my children that it was ok to be scared, but it didn't need to stop you from doing what you had to do.
_____________________________
"Manda.....you said what I tried to say, just much better"
sharonjef, October 2009
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 6:14:11 PM
|
|
|
isaacsmom
Posts: 1026
Joined: 12/2/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
When has he been up high, how high has he been and how did he react?
That I remember, just to the top of big slides, etc. on the playground. Or across the catwalk with his daddy at the sale barn. Sometimes he is fine. Other times he feels very insecure and clings and cries.
quote:
Do you really think a 4 yr old would "really panic" and not believe mum and dad that it would be okay and not just do what he's told)?
Yes, I believe he would. He has and does panic in certain situations (screams and clings). He did so today in the water while swimming, even though I was holding him and calming him (he slipped under the water last week, although he was in hubby's reach and we acted very calmly about the situation).
Actually taking him to *on* a plane would be a good idea, I think. He watches them take off and land all the time at the local airport. He also watches the parachuters at least once per week. But he cries at the mention of riding a plane.
_____________________________
<<< My littles
*~*~*Rachel*~*~*
pirtlefarm.blogspot.com
Beware of posing as a profound person -- God became a baby. ~Oswald Chambers
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 6:37:52 PM
|
|
|
isaacsmom
Posts: 1026
Joined: 12/2/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
Rachel, I wished you lived closer ... my wonderful DH would be happy to give your son a tour of his plane (while it's on the ground).
Prayers for your son / situation.
That would be great.  Thank you, Harvie. I will pray as well, that God will help him/us deal with his fear.
quote:
Have you talked about what you will be doing while on the plane? Snacks, fun stuff in a back pack, drinks, etc.? Maybe if he had reason to be more interested than afraid...
Is there a specific fear he has about the idea of being in a plane? Like falling out, parachuting, etc.?
I have talked to him about the fun of riding a plane, how they are like a big giant bus, there are snacks and drinks, sometimes movies, etc. My 2.5 y.o. DD said "YEAH!! I wanna ride airplane!" LOL. She is my oblivious one who I believe will not have any problem accepting the ride.
I'm not sure exactly what scares him so much, he says it is because it is up so high. He enjoys watching the parachuters, though.
_____________________________
<<< My littles
*~*~*Rachel*~*~*
pirtlefarm.blogspot.com
Beware of posing as a profound person -- God became a baby. ~Oswald Chambers
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 6:43:58 PM
|
|
|
monamie
Posts: 607
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: manda59
quote:
ORIGINAL: monamie
But he'll have to be convinced before he boards the plane or he'll really panic when you board. That wouldn't be good....
Do you really think a 4 yr old would "really panic" and not believe mum and dad that it would be okay and not just do what he's told)?
Have you met Isaac? 
Sissy, if you want I'll call Melanie and set up a time for him to look over the plane and talk to the pilot. Maybe even go up if he thinks he wants to.
He enjoyes watching the skydivers? He'll have to go watch Papa and Jim when they jump for their 50th birthdays.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 6:55:11 PM
|
|
|
Sideways
Posts: 3361
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Would he feel better if he knew you could close the windows close to you so that he couldn't see the ground?
_____________________________
Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile, don't forget to scream.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 7:27:57 PM
|
|
|
isaacsmom
Posts: 1026
Joined: 12/2/2005
Status: offline
|
He might. He won't consider any explanation at this time. He's very adamant. He says he just won't go. Like I said, we still have about five months, though, so hopefully we can deal with this between now and then. I think it would be good for him to tour a plane.
_____________________________
<<< My littles
*~*~*Rachel*~*~*
pirtlefarm.blogspot.com
Beware of posing as a profound person -- God became a baby. ~Oswald Chambers
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 7:31:50 PM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 8202
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: isaacsmom
Actually taking him to *on* a plane would be a good idea, I think. He watches them take off and land all the time at the local airport. He also watches the parachuters at least once per week. But he cries at the mention of riding a plane.
I don't know about over there, but here in the UK all major airlines have courses that people can go on to prepare them for flying. It might be worth calling the airline you're flying with and ask if you can come and visit with your children.
It sounds like he is afraid of feeling vulnerable, so anything you can tell him about, anything he can see/be shown about being safe on a plane, will be likely to ease his fears. It's also worth emphasisng the fact that you will all be together and that he won't be there on his own; perhaps he could also choose a favourite cuddly toy to come with him and sit by his side when he is strapped into his seat belt.
Does this airline have DVD players, with children's movies?
How long is the flight btw? And how do you react when he says he won't go?
< Message edited by manda59 -- 8/4/2009 7:38:52 PM >
_____________________________
"Manda.....you said what I tried to say, just much better"
sharonjef, October 2009
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 7:46:10 PM
|
|
|
isaacsmom
Posts: 1026
Joined: 12/2/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
How do you react when he clings and cries?
Speak to him calmly, reassure him. Hold onto him at least with one hand. We always face the situation with him. for example, once he was very afraid to go inside a cave we were touring, but hubby held him and reassured him and let him hold the flashlight, and although he cried/panicked on his way in, once he was inside he loved it. We always reassure him that mommy and daddy won't have him do anything that will hurt him.
While swimming today, however, I could not calm him and had to remove him from the situation (take him back to the shore and let him be).
quote:
It might be worth calling the airline you're flying with and ask if you can come and visit with your children.
I will call. It would be wonderful if they have some kind of accomodation like that. Airports are extremely secure over here, though, in the last eight years. Not very easy to get into unless you are specifically there to fly.
quote:
How long is the flight btw?
I'm not sure yet, with possible changeovers, etc. But I'm thinking no more than 3-4 hours.
When he says he won't go, I just say "OK" and don't press. At least for right now.
_____________________________
<<< My littles
*~*~*Rachel*~*~*
pirtlefarm.blogspot.com
Beware of posing as a profound person -- God became a baby. ~Oswald Chambers
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 7:52:32 PM
|
|
|
WhiteRoseBlessings
Posts: 18172
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Here . . . but subject to change; stay tuned
Status: offline
|
Just an FYI regarding snacks (if that's going to be important to either one of your kids) . . . it appears that some airlines have stopped providing snacks (snacks were not served on the last 3 flights I've been on in the past year; drinks were provided, but no food).
_____________________________
❖ Let's Discuss the Advent Season ❖
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 7:58:32 PM
|
|
|
monamie
Posts: 607
Status: offline
|
I've noticed that same thing---no snacks....unless you want to buy a $3 bag of peanuts. Probably no in-flight movie either.
Wonder if there would be a handheld game that he picks out himself that he could only have after he's seated. Just throwing out possible ideas.
Looks like it's an hour from here to Dallas, then 3 hours to the destination. But I just looked at one airline to get an estimate.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 8:06:15 PM
|
|
|
WhiteRoseBlessings
Posts: 18172
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Here . . . but subject to change; stay tuned
Status: offline
|
Yes . . . you can bring snacks on board; I've seen people bring all kinds of food on board.
They do play movies; but unless you pay the charge, you'll get video only and no audio. Some flights will play a t.v. show in lieu of a movie (probably depends on the length of flight?)
_____________________________
❖ Let's Discuss the Advent Season ❖
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 8:07:27 PM
|
|
|
monamie
Posts: 607
Status: offline
|
I take snacks all the time. I make trail mix or the fruit snacks from Target. You just can't take drinks, but they serve water and juice.
Be cruising the games/small computer thingies and see what you think may intrigue him. Let him help research and help decide with the understanding that he'll be allowed to play with it on the plane.
And he can still check out the plane beforehand (well, a small one) to make it not quite so scary.
|
|
|
|
|
Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 8:52:01 PM
|
|
|
PinkCarnations
Posts: 10810
Status: offline
|
Don't forget to tell him about the gum/suckers that he'll get to have.
_____________________________
Thank you Veterans.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Afraid to Fly - 8/4/2009 8:55:50 PM
|
|
|
Krislynx
Posts: 667
Status: offline
|
One book you might want to stay away from is Richard Scarry's Day at the Airport. It is fun and cute but there a a few pictures of crashed or broken planes that might just fuel his concerns. My parents had to fly last minute with my nieces (1 and 4) last year and my older niece expressed a lot of concern about the plane going too high. They told her it would go "just high enough" and then tried to distract her a bit until they were up high enough that she couldn't tell how high and she got a kick out of looking at the clouds. This might not help Isaac, but maybe it's worth a shot. I feel your pain on a smaller scale - my 2 year old has just gotten over a year long terror of the water and I kid you not a 23 month hatred of elevators! He has literally hated them since the newborn stage. Even now one of us has to hold him (he won't even walk on) and then we make a big deal out of watching to numbers count up or down. Oh, would it help to just drop it for a few weeks and then discuss it again?
Kris
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
Afraid to Fly - 
He is terrified at the thought of riding an airplane. 
MARRIED TO A MILITARY PILOT ~ PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR TROOPS! 
Yes, he'd probably love a new handheld game.
