toddler travel games uk image
Terrwyn A
Iâm trying to find a young adult sci-fic novel. This might have only been an Australian publication, I am not sure. It is recent (only the last ten years or so), and I do not think it was a reprint, so it is a modern sci-fi novel. It is set in the future, but the only that seems significantly advanced is the medical technology; transport, space travel, all that is still the same as it is now.
In this world, the ageing process can be stopped, but it is irreversible, and renders one infertile. As a consequence, children are rare, and after often seen as a commodity. It has changed the social structures as well as the population demographic of the world. The story follows the life of a twelve year old kid. He is owned by a man who won the boy as a toddler in a card game. The boy is rented out from time to time to act like he is a child of couples who have taken the anti-ageing solution. They frequently have to move, because what they are doing is illegal, and because someone is after them. In the end of the story, it turns out to be the childâs true father.
This is all that I remember. Thank you for helping.
Answer
I emailed one suggestion to you, Judith Ridge, who is an Australian children's/YA scholar. Another possibility is Farah Mendlesohn, who is an esteemed children's/YA science ficiton critic in the UK. She's just published a book on the topic. Her email is
farah.sf at gmail dot com
If one of those ladies doesn't recognize it, then it IS impossible.
Good luck!!
I emailed one suggestion to you, Judith Ridge, who is an Australian children's/YA scholar. Another possibility is Farah Mendlesohn, who is an esteemed children's/YA science ficiton critic in the UK. She's just published a book on the topic. Her email is
farah.sf at gmail dot com
If one of those ladies doesn't recognize it, then it IS impossible.
Good luck!!
how to keep 3 & 4 yr olds entertained on Aust to London long haul flight?
sass24
We are travelling from Australia to London for Christmas. My DH chose a cheap airline so its an extra long flight door to door (28 hrs).
We can't afford my preferred British Airways, and can't afford a stop over, so we're going Royal Brunei. They don't have game consoles and some of their aircraft don't have TV consoles in the back of the seats.
Any good ideas on keeping our very active and alert toddlers sane and trouble free for the trip? Especially as there are so many restrictions on inflight luggage.
I'm an experienced flyer, I have done the London-Australia trip 8 times myself. we also have done it when my 4 yr old was a baby.
My query is specifically about keeping them from going stir crazy for 28 hours on a plane, because they are TODDLERS.
Thanks!
Answer
I'm an ex-Flight Attendant who flies a lot with my own kids between Europe and California. Although it's a much shorter journey, I'm usually alone and I found these ages to be much easier than when I had toddlers. I think this trip would have been much worse a year ago (look on the bright side!)
There is more available to keep them occupied. They have longer attention spans and can do more in their seats. They can also be reasoned with, in other words, no we can't get up now or it's a good idea to sleep, etc.
If they haven't flown in awhile, discuss it ahead of time. The security screening is actually scarier for children than the flight itself. Now this agency doesn't apply to you (the TSA is in the U.S.) but this site gives good tips on the process;
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm
Sometimes I get resistance from my kids with putting stuffed animals on the X-ray belt. They've done it a hundred times but if it's a new airport or anyone with a different accent, it can phase them a bit.
Talk about too the people they'll see, and how they might be dressed. This will be an exotic adventure for them!
I still suggest sitting in the bulkhead seats. These are the ones which have the wall in front. They're not necessarily in the front. This will keep them from kicking anyone in front of them and they'll be able to get up and out more easily. With no individual screens, they'll be able to watch the movie more easily. If you don't have them booked, request them at check-in again.
Consider ordering special meals. Some airlines have kids' menus but ask about other selections. I get Kosher since we don't eat pork and it's usually pretty tame and familiar. The food on this airline might be a bit more exotic than that which they're used to.
Two of my kids are very active but that just meant we had to do more "laps" up and down the aisles. They understood that they weren't to make any noise and I ventured out once the meal service was finished. We talked about it beforehand.
Actually, as long as you only have two big legs to your trip and not too long of a stopover, it should be pretty smooth. As an ex-F/A who has been to Australia several times, 28 hours is about average. It's grim when you have to do this in multiple stops or have super long layovers (keep looking at the bright side!)
The portable DVD players are a good idea. Please buy an extra battery and make sure both are charged up before leaving. Bring the recharger with the UK adapter and try to charge them again while waiting for your next flight in Brunei. The battery life on portable DVD players isn't very long and it usually isn't possible to recharge them onboard (at least plan accordingly). It's so disappointing for kids when those things lose their juice midway through the flight (and I hated telling them that they couldn't be recharged onboard!)
Same goes for any computer games you bring. Bring extra batteries for those too.
Make sure especially your little one is used to wearing the earphones while watching. Practice at home if you need to. With the games, make it clear ahead of time that they are to be played onboard without the sound.
Bring new things, or at least things that are new to them (used, borrowed for the trip, etc. works too). If you have a portable DVD player, bring new films. For computers, bring new game cards. New books, new toys and dole them out as the trip goes on. My children love to color and read so that eats up at least some of the time. Activity books are also good.
Bring lots to eat and drink. Don't be stuck in the terminal without enough time to buy something to drink with a thirsty and cranky child(ren). Yes, the restrictions can be bad at security but the worst that can happen is that something is taken from you. There are no fines or lectures. Just bring what your children will eat or drink and if you have to give up anything or dump it, just do as instructed. You're only out a few dollars anyway, at the most. Personally, I've "gotten away" with a lot of stuff and I think they are sympathtic to families with small children. We're really unlikely terrorist suspects.
I use sippy cups to prevent spills. This could be emptied before you go through security. Remember too that in Brunei, you'll be staying in the secured area anyway so anything you buy there is fine. Hopefully, you'll be there during the day when the shops are open.
Each of my children carry their own small backpack with toys they picked. Don't let them carry any of the snacks or drinks.
Make sure you all get plenty of sleep the night before so you have the energy to face this big journey.
Since I get a lot of questions on this subject, I wrote an article about 7 years ago on the subject which I've put on a blog to share with other parents, many of whom have contributed as well. It's totally non-commercial so please feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
London is beautiful with the lights at Christmas time. I lived there six years and it's truely magical during this season...and cold. Make sure they understand about it being winter there. No Bar-B-Que at the beach this year!
Have a great time!
I'm an ex-Flight Attendant who flies a lot with my own kids between Europe and California. Although it's a much shorter journey, I'm usually alone and I found these ages to be much easier than when I had toddlers. I think this trip would have been much worse a year ago (look on the bright side!)
There is more available to keep them occupied. They have longer attention spans and can do more in their seats. They can also be reasoned with, in other words, no we can't get up now or it's a good idea to sleep, etc.
If they haven't flown in awhile, discuss it ahead of time. The security screening is actually scarier for children than the flight itself. Now this agency doesn't apply to you (the TSA is in the U.S.) but this site gives good tips on the process;
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm
Sometimes I get resistance from my kids with putting stuffed animals on the X-ray belt. They've done it a hundred times but if it's a new airport or anyone with a different accent, it can phase them a bit.
Talk about too the people they'll see, and how they might be dressed. This will be an exotic adventure for them!
I still suggest sitting in the bulkhead seats. These are the ones which have the wall in front. They're not necessarily in the front. This will keep them from kicking anyone in front of them and they'll be able to get up and out more easily. With no individual screens, they'll be able to watch the movie more easily. If you don't have them booked, request them at check-in again.
Consider ordering special meals. Some airlines have kids' menus but ask about other selections. I get Kosher since we don't eat pork and it's usually pretty tame and familiar. The food on this airline might be a bit more exotic than that which they're used to.
Two of my kids are very active but that just meant we had to do more "laps" up and down the aisles. They understood that they weren't to make any noise and I ventured out once the meal service was finished. We talked about it beforehand.
Actually, as long as you only have two big legs to your trip and not too long of a stopover, it should be pretty smooth. As an ex-F/A who has been to Australia several times, 28 hours is about average. It's grim when you have to do this in multiple stops or have super long layovers (keep looking at the bright side!)
The portable DVD players are a good idea. Please buy an extra battery and make sure both are charged up before leaving. Bring the recharger with the UK adapter and try to charge them again while waiting for your next flight in Brunei. The battery life on portable DVD players isn't very long and it usually isn't possible to recharge them onboard (at least plan accordingly). It's so disappointing for kids when those things lose their juice midway through the flight (and I hated telling them that they couldn't be recharged onboard!)
Same goes for any computer games you bring. Bring extra batteries for those too.
Make sure especially your little one is used to wearing the earphones while watching. Practice at home if you need to. With the games, make it clear ahead of time that they are to be played onboard without the sound.
Bring new things, or at least things that are new to them (used, borrowed for the trip, etc. works too). If you have a portable DVD player, bring new films. For computers, bring new game cards. New books, new toys and dole them out as the trip goes on. My children love to color and read so that eats up at least some of the time. Activity books are also good.
Bring lots to eat and drink. Don't be stuck in the terminal without enough time to buy something to drink with a thirsty and cranky child(ren). Yes, the restrictions can be bad at security but the worst that can happen is that something is taken from you. There are no fines or lectures. Just bring what your children will eat or drink and if you have to give up anything or dump it, just do as instructed. You're only out a few dollars anyway, at the most. Personally, I've "gotten away" with a lot of stuff and I think they are sympathtic to families with small children. We're really unlikely terrorist suspects.
I use sippy cups to prevent spills. This could be emptied before you go through security. Remember too that in Brunei, you'll be staying in the secured area anyway so anything you buy there is fine. Hopefully, you'll be there during the day when the shops are open.
Each of my children carry their own small backpack with toys they picked. Don't let them carry any of the snacks or drinks.
Make sure you all get plenty of sleep the night before so you have the energy to face this big journey.
Since I get a lot of questions on this subject, I wrote an article about 7 years ago on the subject which I've put on a blog to share with other parents, many of whom have contributed as well. It's totally non-commercial so please feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
London is beautiful with the lights at Christmas time. I lived there six years and it's truely magical during this season...and cold. Make sure they understand about it being winter there. No Bar-B-Que at the beach this year!
Have a great time!
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